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Smiles all round on Sunday at the conclusion of the 4th
Sedgefield Folk Festival. This year the committee introduced a number of new
events into the programme. The Friday singaround was hosted by the Guisborough
Friday Folk club who transported their normal club night to Ceddesfeld Hall
- result, a full room with many more visitors.
The ever popular, ever improving John Wrightson Band started the main Friday Concert. John’s skill
as a songsmith can never be in doubt and the band’s spot was excellent in
every way. Flossie Malavialle
entertained as only she can. Her popularity will only increase as she guests on
the County Towns Tour with Show of Hands
in November/December. Then what better way to finish than with Mr North East
himself. Jez Lowe, prolific songwriter, BBC 2 Folk Award winner, along with
the Bad Pennies. A brilliant concert.
Several workshops were held on Saturday morning for
ukulele, fiddle, Northumbrian pipes and spoons. These were either for
participants or those who just wanted to listen and learn. Tops in the
popularity poll went to the inimitable George
Welch when over 30 participants were
uke-tutored by the legend in his own lunchtime! Tutors and participants alike
were enthusiastic and hopefully more will be introduced in 2010.
Throughout the day Locos in Motion danced out at various locations. This was the first attempt to involve dance teams. It was a great addition to the weekend and we hope more sides can be persuaded to come in 2010.
Another first for the Festival went better than we had
dared hope. An afternoon concert in the Parish Hall, running at the same time as
the Scratch Band led the Ceddesfeld singaround. Youngsters from local schools
and music groups gave polished performances in front of a near capacity
audience, Marie Little and then George
Welch and Stewart Hardy gave top quality performances to an appreciative
audience.
Then to the Festival’s jewel in the crown, the World
Spoon’s Championship. Many competitors, some proficient, some unusual, some
bizarre, all enthusiastic, were left in the wake of the creator of the Roker
Ripple and The Fishburn Flick. Yes, Bert
Draycot won back his title! Blake
Reid was crowned Junior World Spoons Champ (well he is better than his dad!).
Thanks to the ‘Scratchies’ for playing ‘Tell me Ma’ 26 times still
smiling!
Ceddesfeld was full during the evening session when The
Old Age Travellers led the night with a huge variety of visiting singers and
musicians. The Festival acknowledges the fact that many people enjoy
participation rather than listening to an organised concert programme.
Now to the Evening events. The concert in St Edmunds church
was always intended to one which would be tailored to the locals of Sedgefield
area. Well over 100 people enjoyed the Spennymoor
Brass Band, classical guitarist Anthony
Davidson, the Northumbrian Pipers
Association and the Church of God
Church Gospel Choir. It is great to have this as part of the festival.
Kate Doherty is destined to succeed in the music arena, her evening spot was superb. All self penned songs, carefully arranged and beautifully sung, what a stage presence! Katie uses keyboard to accompany her songs, but tonight she also introduced guitarist Jos Clap. The evening was off to a fine start. The middle spot was given over to Lancastrian Bram Taylor, fresh back from supporting the Proclaimers at Mariposa Festival in Canada. Recently Bram has begun to work with North Easterner Roly Hindmarch, on guitar and bass and their spot tonight really showed how much they enjoy entertaining together. The audience warmed to the songs and patter.
Then, for some, it was a trip down memory lane as The Acoustic
Strawbs brought the final concert to a close. As Dave
Cousins remarked, ‘its frightening to think our first album was 40 years
ago’. The songs are still as striking, the arrangements as unique, the sound
as dynamic, it just takes a little longer to get on and off stage. The present
acoustic line up includes Chas Cronk
and Dave Lambert and their final song
‘Lay Down’ was sung by an appreciative audience.
Sound throughout the weekend was excellent with John
Wrightson or Roly Hindmarch on the desk. Thanks also to Gary from the Sedgefield Players on the Lighting console. Final
thanks must go to Peter Hines who
MC’d all the concerts and kept the audience entertained in the ‘panic’
periods, great job Peter!
The Sunday Singaround was a wind down, sober up session, yet the room at Ceddesfeld Hall sounded like the start of a festival not the end.
The Festival could not have succeeded without the help of countless volunteers who don’t take the limelight but are there to put up tables, sell the raffle tickets, count the cash, park the caravans, sweep up and all the other thankless tasks.
To all those involved in any way the Festival Committee would like to say a huge;
This website will be updated at regular intervals so put it on your
favourites list.
Please e-mail us with your thoughts or suggestions on how we can improve the weekend for you, our customers. In the meantime, if you have any photographs you would like to contribute to the gallery below, please get them to us - we would love to see them.
All photos are shown as thumbnails. Click to enlarge in a new window.
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