Wadebridge 2010 Stories!

Did you come along for any of Wadebridge Folk Festival 2010? If so, we'd love to hear what you thought about it. You can fill in our Feedback Form or just email us any stories or comments (which we may use on this website or in our marketing).

We'd also be delighted to see your photos of the event - if you'd like to share your Wadebridge photos, please email them to festival@hobgoblinwadebridge.co.uk. Any photos sent may be used on this website and in our future marketing (credited to your name).

Wadebridge 2010 Festival Review by Mannie McClelland

What a Scorcher!

Gorgeous weather down in Cornwall over the bank holiday weekend was an added bonus to a marvellous action-packed festival, which is being acclaimed by many as “the best yet.”

The streets and squares were alive with dancers, buskers, processions and street entertainers. Song and music sessions overflowed from the pubs out into the streets, contributing to the overall feel-good atmosphere.

Highlights

There were so many but for me a few deserve special mention:

The opening concert on Friday night featured Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick, heroes from way back playing together again. It was a sell-out and the fans were not disappointed, as we were treated to a blend of old and new material, superbly performed. This was the icing on the cake after an already splendid set of performances from Stompin' Dave Allen and Steve Turner – a welcome returner to the festival.

Stompin' Dave – you have to see it to believe it! Have you ever before seen “Duelling Banjos” performed in two parts by just one guy on one banjo? At top speed – while continuing to stomp on his box! Never mind the various other feats, such as juggling with his fiddle and bow, without missing a beat, and the excellent music he can play so fluently. A truly memorable, five-star evening.

Andy Irvine was the headliner on Sunday night, and he received a well-deserved standing ovation, and kindly did two encore numbers, as well as consenting to autograph the mandolin which was one of the evening’s raffle prizes, much to the delight of the winner. He admitted at the beginning of the performance that he was “quaking in my boots” as he had sat and watched the two previous acts, Keith Hills, (a last minute addition to the bill) a brilliant singer guitarist, and the vastly entertaining Blabbermouth with his unique style of interacting with the audience. But of course Andy rose to the occasion, showing us just why he continues to be such an acclaimed performer. Another golden evening.

An unexpected delight: two truly original performance by Will Kaufman – a name many may not (yet) have heard of in the folk world. Will held his audience spellbound with his documentary-history lesson style presentation of the work of Woody Guthrie – punctuated with his superb guitar playing and singing, and his evocative slide show of archive footage setting Woody’s life and work in its historical and social context. Totally absorbing and extremely moving, and if you get a chance to see this, don’t miss it.

There was so much going on it wasn’t possible to see everything – but I have heard praises sung about many of the other events, such as the Poisson Rouge Breton dancing, the Barron Brady performances, the Cornish afternoon concert with Leski, Mike O’Connor and other local artists. I would have loved to see the Saturday night concert, with the Exmouth Shanty Men and Dogan and the Deerhunters, as I have heard rave reviews, but I was busy calling dances at the Ceilidh at the time!

As feedback continues to come in I hope people will be letting us know about other acts which they personally thought should be mentioned.

The Exmouth Shantymen delighted many with a range of colourful and lively performances, including a special workshop for the kids, a huge success.

Which leads me to mention: The Children’s festival.

A new addition this year, a range of events co-ordinated by Jo Hope were attended by up to 40 children each day. Events kicked off at midday, with a music workshop in which the under 7s (and their mums and dads) banged and bashed and rattled and rolled through dances games and songs. All ages of children then enjoyed face-painting, crafts and dancing, and they watched puppets, Punch and Judy, juggling, unicycle tricks and fire-eating, and had their own special event with the superb Exmouth Shantymen.

There was much much more going on - I've barely even mentioned all the fun-filled ceilidhs, the folk club events, sessions and singarounds - if you were there, please continue to let us know your views, and tell us what you want to see next year.

And if you weren’t there, sorry, you missed a real treat – but why not put it in your diary for next year? (Watch this website for details).

Finally, many many thanks are due to all those who gave their time and energy so generously, before and during the festival, to the stewards, to the people in Wadebridge who contributed with raffle prizes and programme advertising and other sponsorship, (especially Skinner's Brewery), to our excellent sound man Clive (Solo Audio), to the artists, who always seem to give their very best to this unique and friendly festival, and of course to all who turned up to enjoy the events – we couldn’t do it without you.

See you next year!

Wadebridge 2010 Festival Review by Shayne House

From www.wadebridgepeople.co.uk

The bank holiday weekend saw the streets of Wadebridge come alive with the sound of folk music. Saved from being axed in 2007 by Hobgoblin Music and Skinners Brewery, the Wadebridge Folk Festival drew in record crowds this year.

Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick, played together for the first time in 14 years. Tickets for which sold out almost immediately.

It wasn’t just the indoor gigs that drew the crowds, the streets were heaving with people all weekend as they enjoyed a vast array of street entertainment, from buskers and jamming sessions, to Morris dancing and choirs. As well as a great vintage merry-go-round, there were also children’s games, face painting and music to keep the little ones entertained.

The festival certainly had a great vibe this year. It just seems to be getting bigger and better each year. There was definitely more street entertainment, which I think, opened it up to more visitors and families, and it would have had an enormous impact on local trade as there were queues out the door to Malcolm Barnicotts Bakers as I waited patiently to get pasties for the family, and The Molesworth Arms was 6 deep at the bar. I’m sure the hot bank holiday weather was also a great help.

I think all involved in organizing funding and running this great event, as well as the performers, should be congratulated on a superb performance. ---------------

Photos on this page courtesy of Heather Newlands (www.morrisdancersofengland.co.uk, Philip Pemble and Shayne House (www.wadebridgepeople.co.uk).