Review: Ely Folk Festival

Subject: Review: Ely Folk Festival
From: GUEST,squeezeboxhp
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 11:50 AM

Just got back from Ely FF and must congratulate the organiser's on a great job well done except for the guy who was sorting the weather out and got it 2 days late LOL

Subject: RE: Review: Ely Folk Festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 12:00 PM

Largely agreed. For my taste more English 1954 definition FOLK would be nice, but Last Night's Fun again demonstrated what superb musicians they are, with a precision matched with dynamism beyond compare. Show of Hands pretty good. Spiers and Boden also pretty good (but I didn't like the "stomp box"). Some lovely harmony singing from the African band. Some nicely done English folk from Shambolica, mixed with a quantity of Americana. Mawkin Causley also very good, do like Jim Causley's vocals.

A fine session on Sunday night into the small hours with a range of stuff from folk to "guilty pleasures" 60s and 70s pop.

Subject: RE: Review: Ely Folk Festival
From: Kev The Clogs
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 02:13 PM

Just got back form Ely.

Another fine folk festival - well done to all involved.

Show of Hands were FANTASTIC (as always) as were Spiers and Bowden. Enjoyed the overall feel, style etc of most of the sessions.

The final session in the "dry" beer tent was not so good when a number of "semi professional luvies" turned up and the standard singaround protocal went out of the window. No doubt this was caused by the large amount of punch that was consumed, but I felt that the "plot was lost" during this session, so much so, that I said "sod it" and went to bed.

Hope to be back next year.

Great stuff committee, keep it up!

Kev
Ps - I'm sorry, the official T-shirt was awful - didn't buy one - it looked like it was a six year old washed out has been. The "22" version was SO, SO, SO GOOD!!! it did what it said - Who was on!!! I would have bought an "old style" one, but never the new one. If the "old Style" was good enough to keep for the posters, direction signs, programmes etc - then why bin it for the T-Shirts.

Roll on 2009 Ely commitee - with you all the way

Subject: RE: Review: Ely Folk Festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 02:33 PM

Kev - that's a real Ely Sunday session. One year we had a bunch of Djembe players in. The only real down side was when certain someone sang a song that is so hackneyed that it just isn't done any more. That was embarrassing. The galloping squeezers are fine so long as they don't take over. The threepenny bit player got several goes as a step-dancer. It isn't "around" - it's a free-for-all! There is etiquette in general. I only saw one person played over all night.

I bought a tee-shirt. It reminded me of a certain well-known 70s female rock violinist trying to pee up her fiddle...

Next year can we have Jon Loomes and Bluehorses (separately) please?

Oh, and Kenny Cramp's cider.

And Crop Circle among the beers.

Subject: RE: Review: Ely Folk Festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 02:37 PM

Oh, yes, my usual moan on the sound. Most of the acoustic guitars in main stage 1 sounded like sandpaper.

I understand the argument that Show of Hands put on in their "Meet the" spot that the acoustic guitar needs to reach to the back of the hall, but surely it can do that and still sound like an acoustic guitar. Use FX if you want to - but have the instrument's sound apparent.

Also sibilants in the voices were too scratchy.

Subject: RE: Review: Ely Folk Festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 02:53 PM

Actually, there was another cringe. A different certain person of wide ranging but limited playing ability without own instruments borrowing a range of instruments off players in quite a different league. I kept wanting to say "They are not with me".

Subject: RE: Review: Ely Folk Festival
From: Kev The Clogs
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 02:55 PM

Hoff, was that person female with vision issues by any chance?

Subject: RE: Review: Ely Folk Festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 05:36 PM

PM me Kev, or ask me on Tuesday.

I also have to say two more things.

Where are the rest of the Elygoers? They are on other threads but not this one.

The Sunday night absolutely made my festival.

Subject: RE: Review: Ely Folk Festival
From: The Barden of England
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 06:13 PM

Got home safe and sound, and without too much of a hangover. Ely was a delight as always, and I loved the Sunday nights revelries, although my voice did suffer with the cold that I'm carrying. Ely always manages to book the well known with the not well known and ends up a truly magic mix of styles. Long may it continue, and of course the 'Sold Out' signs should mean that the festival will continue. A big, BIG thankyou to the committee, and all the volunteer workers for giving us a great festival as usual.
John Barden

Subject: RE: Review: Ely Folk Festival
From: GUEST,First time folkie!
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 05:17 AM

Ely Fest rocks! It was a gr8 line up this year! I Loved Mawkin:Causley! Very funny banter on stage and brilliant musicians. Can't wait to see them again at Cambridge.

I didn't enjoy Spiers and Boden, found their songs to be quite samey. My better half really likes them though so maybe its just me!

Janet xx :-) xx

Subject: RE: Review: Ely Folk Festival
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 07:39 AM

Mawkin Causley, Last night's fun and Idiot and friend were the high spots for me. Missed spiers and Boden as we had to set off too early.
Not much in the way of concertinas on the music stalls, and yes I have bought one there before!

Subject: RE: Review: Ely Folk Festival
From: GUEST,sarahnash
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 08:06 AM

Another fabulous Ely - sadly didn't get to see as much as I would have liked to as I was there with two dance sides and they kept distracting me with alcohol (!!) Highlight for me were Mawkin Causley but a shame they didn't have any CDs for sale. And great to see Spiers & Boden back on the festival scene as a duo after so much Bellowhead.

Incidentally, having a CD stall for the first time was a definite bonus - even without aforementioned Mawkin CDs!!

Subject: RE: Review: Ely Folk Festival
From: Mrs_Annie
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 08:16 AM

I agree, one of the best yet.
Highlights Bella Hardy with Chris Sherburn, Mawkin:Causley, Kerfuffle, Spiers & Boden, Boo Hewerdine.

The beer tent had a much improved range of beers, and the whole weekend was just spot on.
And the welsh food was good!

Sadly didn't get to see much of the dancing, because there was too much music I wanted to see.

Subject: RE: Review: Ely Folk Festival
From: Mrs_Annie
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 08:17 AM

Forgot Idiot & Friend - sorry guys!

Subject: RE: Review: Ely Folk Festival
From: GUEST,First Time Folkie
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 09:15 AM

I agree Sarah, a big shame Mawkin didn't have any CD's. According to their myspace, you can pre-order their debut E.P "Cold Ruin" at HMV.co.uk

I really enjoyed Les Barker too Annie!

Subject: RE: Review: Ely Folk Festival
From: Mrs_Annie
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 09:21 AM

What about the Mawkin:Causley flyer - bet they had fun doing that photo shoot.
(I've got 2 copies of it ;) )