This weekend gone, my wife and little-ones, mee mate Phil and X Marker "Weepeskythistle" went to the Beverley Folk festival in East Yorkshire. Beverley is a lovely little Market Town in the Yorkshire Wolds and a crackin' place to host an event, if a little wet... it rained... rather a lot as it happens.



There was a wealth of folky culture on the programme. Some great artists and dance groups to be seen but I thought I'd give you a flavour of some of the stuff we enjoyed.


Phil asked if he could borrow a Kilt from me so he could see for himself what all the fuss was about. My roo-skin hat discussed in another thread also acts as a handy brolly in the downpour as well as a parasol when the sun does peek out. If you're wondering about the flags by the way, we were pitched next to a Bloke from Yorkshire and his Scottish Wife.


Phil and I have been mates for 40 years and he has long 'admired' my kilt wearing from a safe distance. He told me later that it's the most comfortable man's garment he's ever worn... I hate to say "I told you so..." It's taken me a year or two but he's another convert.


This was home for the weekend. That's Beverley Minster in the background. We're camped on the sports pitches of the local Leisure Centre.


The family settles in once the tent is pitched. Check the pram-wheels out.


On the fringes of the music, there were lots of craft stalls selling all kinds of handmade stuff from full on musical instruments (some beautiful guitars, mandolins and violins in one corner) to ceramics to silver bits and bobs to this Bloke who for £1.50 would use his cycle-powered jigsaw to fashion you a wooden name-plate for your bedroom door. My daughter got me one that says "Best*Dad" but only 'cause I can be talked into buying sweeties.


The obligatory face painting was also available.


So No1 daughter had to have a go.

There was lots of little groups of musicians everywhere and it was very much a session oriented festival during the day where you could bring your instrument and voice and just sit in with like minded people and jam along. There were also three main venues. The Main stage, The Concert Marquee and the Wold Big Top.

Bands performing (to name but a few) were The Tom Townsend Blues Band. The Toy Hearts, The Mighty Doonans, The Hope Choir (from Rwanda), Martin Carthy, The Peatbog Faeries...