MOONBEAMS SUMMER GATHERING, LITTLE KELK. 12/07/08.
Who would have thought that a star-studded music festival in a tiny Wolds village could rival the exhilarating splendour of festivals of Glastonbury's ilk? Very few, I'm sure.
But then how many people would really believe that an annual music festival of any sort has taken place in Little Kelk for the past four years? Even fewer, I'm positive. But it's true.
As always, this year's 'Kelk-fest' was organized with lethal precision by Leila Slater, the mastermind behind 'Moonbeams' acoustic nights in Driffield. In some respects this year's festival was a big thank you to all those folk who have supported her nights over the past year; in others it was a grand excuse for a good old knees-up amongst family and friends in homely surroundings.
Armed with a line-up so fantastic that it could potentially have made organizers of established Folk festivals extremely envious, ten solid hours of music was the net result, with the likes of Hornsea's Abbie Lammas playing an early set before rushing off to a gig in Filey, such is the demand for her live shows now people in East Yorkshire are realizing just how incredibly gifted she is.
As afternoon gave way to a cool and overcast evening, Zoe and Dave Bottomley strove to warm up the crowd in spite of the weather. As always, they succeeded in style, with Dave playing guitar and Zoe wowing the large crowd with her divine and haunting vocals. Driffield boys Jasper & Smirt, meanwhile, belted out top-drawer banter and a startling set of songs to match, an introspective rendition of McGuinness Flint's 'When I'm Dead And Gone' being the most moving number. York lad Sam Forrest then stepped up and sat down. Well-known for being the singer and guitarist in top Indie-Rock band Nine Black Alps, who are based in Manchester, Sam always seem to be busy singing and playing in some capacity. His Nine Black Alps commitments aside, he writes and performs solo material, too, hence his inclusion on the 'Moonbeams' bill. Softly crooning to his delicately strummed guitar, his wistful songs have an utterly entrancing quality. His girlfriend, Hayley Hutchinson, joined him on stage a few songs into his set, going on to treat the Real Ale-guzzling crowd to songs from an album that they've recorded together under the guise of The Sorry Kisses. Hayley then loped into a mini-set of her very own consisting of songs culled primarily from her brand new album, the bewitching 'Love Songs For The Enemy.'
Darkness might have fallen outside, and children were drifting into the fabled Land of Nod with ever-increasing urgency, but The Wayfaring Strangers were in no hurry as they coolly eased into their set, a huge double bass dominating the humble stage. It was almost midnight before they sloped off stage after a rapturous response, leaving the last act of what had been an extraordinary day to serenade the mic stand and play for all he was worth.
Former frontman of The Seahorses, York man Chris Helme needs no introduction; indeed, many 'Moonbeams' supporters had been lucky enough to catch him play at the very first 'Moonbeams' in 2007. Looking dapper in suit and bowler hat, he wryly joked that he was 'going for the "Clockwork Orange" look.' Having supported Shed Seven in York the previous night, he might still have been exhausted (even if a pre-performance powernap had helped to recharge his batteries), but he wasted no time, keen to air as many songs from his freshly unleashed solo album – 'Ashes' – as time would allow. Blessed with an extraordinary voice, emotions ran both high and low in each of his tracks, his need to express his deepest thoughts and feelings about love culminating in a performance so captivating that the crowd couldn't applaud him enough. 'Pure' was just that, while his cover of Marissa Nadler's 'Yellow Lights' couldn't have been more soul-stirring. Coincidentally, Leila Slater dubbed her acoustic sessions 'Moonbeams nights' in tribute to her favourite song by Chris. Flattered that she'd felt so moved by the song, he performed the beauty without hesitation, prompting lumps in throats to protrude all round. He even flung in a marvelous acoustic version of The Seahorses' anthem 'Blinded By The Sun,' a treat that provided the most surreal five minutes of the night as minds were cast back to how Chris had once supported the likes of Oasis when The Seahorses were at their height of their powers. Still, it was the final song he performed that had the most profound effect; a cover of Jeff Buckley's 'Be Your Husband,' he surrendered his guitar in favour of a steady hand and foot-fathomed beat that echoed around the barn. His voice soared to transcendental heights, all the while the hand-clapping and foot-stamping leant a mesmerizing, hypnotic and euphoric quality to the song. Little wonder then that the ensuing applause almost brought the barn down.
All in all it was a dazzling day of music from start to finish. In light of having witnessed such a sensational wealth of talent, all of Leila's family and friends who had provided invaluable help with the day also got a much-deserved round of applause. As for Leila, she could barely contain her delight at how great the day had been. Her love for live music knows no bounds, and that's why Driffield at large is surely waiting with baited breath to discover which acts she has got booked for the Autumn 2008 season of 'Moonbeams.' Trust me when I say that she's got some colossal treats in store, so watch this space…
(Steve Rudd)
For more information about 'Moonbeams,' please visit www.myspace.com/moonbeamsacoustic