Ely the Second
Sunday was actually fairly sunny which dried out a bit of the ground was nice. Because I can't bear to see people struggling I volunteered to do extra shifts and, in between packing away my own stuff and tent and carrying it to the car, I ended up doing an extra morning shift at the campsites. There was a small misunderstanding at noon when I was summoned to the Merchendising tent for my shift when the steward organiser had told me it was more important to steward the campsite and she was switching my duty but we got it sorted out amicably enough and I spent the afternoon selling T-shirts and whatnot. I don't think I messed up the till but you can never tell. Was quite surprised by the number of men who stripped to the waist in the middle of the merchandise tent in full view of everyone to try on T-Shirts because they wanted something close fitting so I had to respect the woman who decided to the same (She did leave her bra on before anyone gets to excited!)
Have to say that working in the merchandise tent was quite nice. Everyone was pleasant and relaxed, I was out of the sun and, because we were right next to the Main Tent we could hear (if not see) the acts there. Enjoyed listening to Pilgrim's Way as always but Mrs Ackroyd were interesting. They were a couple of women and a piano singing the poems of Les Barker. Now, I love Les Barker, as I may have mentioned before, but this really grated. I don't know whether it was the voices or the tunes or what but we were very grateful when they finished.
Having finished my last duty (and left my name if they needed me on the understanding that they wouldn't need me between 8 and 9 pm when Kerr and Fagan were on...) I finished loading all my stuff, (ah, the joys of trying to pack a tent away when it's muddy, slightly damp underneath and there's a stiff breeze), nabbed the last steak sandwich from Mash, Bang, Dollop (and very nice it was too!) and plonked myself in the main tent again. I enjoyed the Willows. The lassie at the front sings in a really affected way but somehow makes it work. It was almost reminiscent of some of the seventies folk rock stuff and I really quite liked them. After them was my discovery of the festival, Broom Buzzems. Two English lads who are now based in Germany who sing, play guitar, fiddle and northumbrian pipes. One of the lads was from Northumberland and it showed in their choice of tunes and I though they were great. They are touring in the UK in the Autumn but mostly in Cumbria and Scotland. May have to investigate. Finished off the festival with and Kerr and Fagan and they were just as good with a different set to the Saturday night. Must remember to book my tickets for Cecil Sharp House in September.
Managed to drive out of the bottom field exit with no trouble at all and had an easy trip home (iadmittedly it went a lot easier once I realised that the reason my headlights looked dim and the full beam didn't work was because I was travelling on my sidelights again...)
Not my most relaxing Ely Folk Festival but still fun and, if I'm free, I'll steward again next year.
Last night I took my fiddle along to rapper and, horror of horrors, actually got it out of it's case. I had a bit of a go at playing for the stepping practice (once I'd made everyone turn the other way and they's all promised they wouldn't listen). I wouldn't say it was an unmitigated success but I think I picked up some new things to work on. My main stumblling block was that I was terrified which knocks my confidence with the tune and rhythym somewhat. Very different to playing with the band in Armaleggan where you've got alot of support and I can operate on the (possibly accurate) assumption that nobody can hear me. In rapper, you're on your own with nothing to cover you should it go wrong and, the second that thought lands in your mind, go wrong it does. I've always known this but it really brings it home when you attempt it for the first time.
Anyhow, I am going to practice rhythym to the metronome and keep having a go if t'other Mabels will let me during stepping practice and see if I can build up my confidence a bit.
We're dancing in Oxford next Tuesday to wish Baby Mabel luck before she leaves. Had better remember to take the swords with me...
Something Nasty in the Woodshed are playing in Banbury tonight. I really like them, they're fun and hilarious and it's only £8 and Banbury is fairly close...Suspect I know what I'll be doing tonight then (after I've done my washing for the weekend at Warwick Folk Festival (may be a little excite about this. The Festival, that is, not the washing)