ORGANISERS have deemed the first Village Pump Folk Festival to be held at Westbury’s White Horse Country Park, a great success.
The festival enjoyed a weekend of top class music, and a great atmosphere. The weekend was a rebirth of the successful festival in Trowbridge, which has built up a reputation for quality folk entertainment since it was established in 1974. Top names in British folk and roots music – such as Cara Dillon, Show of Hands, Seth Lakeman, Karine Polwart, Oysterband, and Ben Waters – performed over the weekend as well as local acts and open mic sessions.
Festival director John Alderslade said, “On our Facebook page, people are saying how much they enjoyed themselves and asking when they can buy tickets for next year! The message is that we achieved what we set out to do, the sun came out and everyone had a great time. The Pump will be back again next year.”
Clive Woodland, a member of the organising committee said, “What came across to me was how happy everyone was. Those from the old pump site were really happy it had gone back to how it started out – small and friendly, where you could meet up with old friends. Everyone I’ve spoken to said they loved it.”
With around 1,800 visitors through the gate, plus many more stewards, organisers, artists, and traders on site, performers were delighted to play to appreciative audiences. Music was performed on three different stages.
Clive explained, “On the main stage, Seth Lakeman and Reg Meuross were hugely popular on Friday while on Saturday evening, festival patrons Show of Hands gave a performance that many long-time fans thought was their best ever. On Sunday night, Oysterband had the audience joining in choruses and dancing and waving their arms before Ben Waters, the boogie woogie king, took to the stage with his oh-so-cool saxophone-playing 11-year-old son as a member of his band, bringing the festival to a rocking finale.
“On stage two, in the Country Park’s dance hall, highlights of the weekend mainly featured local and up and coming acts. Comedy was provided by long-time Pump favourites the Merv Grist Players with their musical “Fat in a Bap”, the tale of a ne’er do well family from Radstock who attempt to make a fortune in the fast food industry. Saturday afternoon featured a number of up and coming young acts.
“The Club Tent, stage three, featured acts from local folk clubs and also provided the opportunity for visitors to the festival to get up on stage and play a song or two. Local favourite Mike Scott from Bath performed his quirky songs on stages two and three. All round the site, impromptu sessions were happening – sometimes out in the sunshine and sometimes in the dedicated sessions tent.”
Also featuring over the weekend were Morris dancers, plenty of stalls, and a family tent with puppets, clowns, games and storytelling.
Clive said, “There were some extra things like having the White Horse illuminated and the chimney, and that added to the atmosphere I think. There was a good variety of interesting traders, with all the bright and colourful clothing you’d expect at a festival, with jewellery, and even fairy wings! There were a couple of fairies on stilts and that was all part of the atmosphere. The sun came out, people were happy to sit outside with the music, and we just kept seeing people smiling.
“The staff at the country park couldn’t have been more helpful, both in setting up and over the weekend.
“We feel that all the effort has paid off, there have been large teams working really hard and it’s all been worthwhile.”
