Since May of this year I have been up and down the country to various "Folk festivals" - here are a few photos - maybe you were there too - I hope the pix bring back memories of a truly wonderful Summer of great music and people. 

May 2000 - Holmfirth, Yorkshire - due to technical difficulties - I pressed the wrong button -  I lost all my digital gig photos. The photo below was taken on the way to Holmfirth - my first visit to Yorkshire but definitely not my last! Holmfirth is a perfect setting for a festival. The venues are all within walking distance of the campsite. The cinema, where Chris and Julie performed, must have the most comfortable seats of any venue in the country! 

July 2000 - Bromsgrove festival  

This was held in a marquee in some fields next to a lovely pub in the middle of the countryside. Chris and Julie performed on what must have been the coldest night in July ever. We all needed coats and blankets including the performers!

Trowbridge Village Pump Festival

This was my first time and I'll definitely return. There was a great atmosphere here. The site was way out in the wilds and had a river running through it. The music went on until the early hours. Great food, great shops. Chris and Julie did two wonderful gigs and Chris memorably joined Show of Hands on "Dark Fields". There was a great line-up of artists at Trowbridge. Some pix below of Waterson Carthy and the Sensitive New Age Cowpersons (playing music as God intended - bluegrass style!)

Waterson Carthy - Norma weaving a spell.        The Sensitive New Age Cowpersons            Chris While and Julie Matthews

Julie - photo taken by Cally (aged 8)

Warwick  Festival

Lovely flat campsite on a school playing field, good facilities but the site was lacking in atmosphere. Saturday night's fireworks were the best I've ever seen, exploding into chrysanthemums and red and green circles.  Jez Lowe and the Bad Pennies did a great gig in the school's new theatre - great venue. Chris and Julie did two gigs in their own right and added a little "je ne sais quoi" to Little Johnny England's performance of "Dixie Chicken" along with annA  rydeR.

Sidmouth Festival

After Warwick I got festival withdrawal symptoms - the only answer was to go to another one. At the last minute I decided to go to  Sidmouth - only a two hour motorway journey from home - in the end, I did the journey three times in 5 days! Sidmouth a beautiful Regency seaside town - quite un-spoilt and not over commercialized - the festival gave the town a real "musical" buzz. The splendid esplanade and seascape were enhanced by a never-ending line of musicians and morris dancers. However, the festival arena was uninspiring and other venues were all over the place - the Bowd marquee being a car drive away from town - although a bus service was provided. Another down side to Sidmouth is the fact that camping is only available to season ticket holders (very expensive) but, looking at the campsite with its slopes, I don't fancy camping there anyway. The other thing which could spoil your enjoyment of this festival is the queuing lottery - preference is given to season ticket holders and even after queuing you are not guaranteed entry to the gigs of your choice. Despite these gripes I will return next year.

For me the festival was dominated by the very talented and lovely Kellie While - she appeared twice with the Albion Band, with E2K and as a solo artist. I hadn't seen Kellie with E2K before and it was a joyous evening. Queuing for this event was a beautiful experience because the marquee was in the middle of the countryside and the view over the rolling Devon hills in the evening was memorable. I was lucky enough to get a ticket for BBC Radio 2's live Sidmouth folk event (thanks Jules) starring Chris and Julie, Show of Hands, and Ralph McTell. This was dead exciting and I will never forget the acapella version of Ralph's "Streets of London" by all the aforementioned stars.

Ken Nicol, Joe Broughton, Neil Marshall, Kellie            Kellie While, Bedford Hotel, Sidmouth                Kellie and Chris

Simon Care, Chris, Kellie and Julie - "Tenacious Girl"        Steve Knightley, Ralph McTell, Phil Beer, Julie Matthews, Chris While

What a great summer!