So, how was it?
Friday night, saw Telling the Bees, Maclaine Colston & Saul Rose and Bellowhead. All were good. That said, I didn’t think Bellowhead were as good as the last couple of times I saw them, at Oxford and Cornbury festivals in 2008. Still really good, just not quite as brilliant as they were.
Did the whole Melomania thing on Saturday. I had though that this might not be happening, but discovered on Tuesday that it was on after all. Then off to the Old Tom for a session. A few hours and 3½ pints later, realised that I needed to get on and get changed and grab some lunch if I was going to be on time for my performance.
My set was OK. Not a disaster or anything. But after the initial sense of relief that it hadn’t gone badly wrong wore off, it was replaced with an overall sense of disappointment. My voice was slightly hoarse, partly due to the remnants of a cold and partly due to being a little dry; I probably shouldn’t have had the last pint in the Old Tom, and should have drunk more water instead. And I think it showed that I was very nervous.
I did get a good write-up here (tenth paragraph, not including the by-line), but that doesn’t mean a great deal as it’s fairly glowing about everyone. I am particularly amused by the use of the term ‘fearless’ considering I was so obviously frightened (although not, admittedly, about breaking genre barriers).
I’m also slightly disappointed that I think the song that went down best (and the link above would certainly back that up) was Pinball Wizard. It’s just a little deflating to realise that what people enjoy most is nothing to do with my skill as a singer, musician or even as an arranger. What they most enjoy is the novelty number, with an arrangement I nicked from one of Adlington Morris’s musicians.
Stuck around the second stage for Jon Fletcher, whom I’ve only seen before as part of Magpie Lane, and who was very good. Then saw Susanna Starling, who was also excellent (I do like me some double bass). Then I watched the Reverenzas. They were good, but I didn’t think they gained much by playing together. They are all three really good musicians (and James Bell in particular is a great performer), but I didn’t feel that what any of them were doing particularly complemented what any of the rest of them were doing.
Then I headed out to get some fresh air and a bite to eat. On returning, Huffenpuff were just finishing. At this point the next concert was starting on the main stage, but I’m not that keen on Cara Dillon, so instead I stayed at the Second Stage and watched Scarlett in the Wilderness, who were very good, and the ever-entertaining Steve Larkin.
Having only watched second-stage acts on Saturday, I stuck with the main stage on Sunday. The first concert started with Simon Care, followed by Jez Lowe and the Bad Pennies, and lastly Chris Wood, all of which were marvellous. Popped out for some lunch, then came back in the late afternoon for Maquam, followed by the fantastic Warsaw Village Band. The latter group have a huge, powerful sound that, although not actually sounding like it as such, put me in mind of heavy metal with its dramatic air and occasionally slightly menacing tone.
So that was it. As usual, a great way to spend the weekend.