Large crowds came from all over the UK and beyond last weekend to the White Horse Country Park to see the best acts of the folk world for this year’s Village Pump Folk Festival.
The headline acts did not disappoint with exciting performances by Seth Lakeman, Brass Monkey, the Peatbog Faeries, The Blues Band and the only appearance in this year’s summer festival season of one of folk’s most popular groups, Show of Hands.
The annual event is now established in the festival calendar and at Westbury. Local people turned out in force, some of them buying tickets at the last minute due to the hot, sunny weather.
Teams of Morris dancers, clowns and street entertainers – including a giant pink fairy – kept the crowds outside the marquees entertained and many chose to sit outside the open-sided tents enjoying the sunshine and the music.
In celebration, Westbury’s White Horse was lit by a powerful searchlight from the festival site – apparently floating in the night sky and the redundant cement works chimney transformed by changing rainbow-coloured bands of light.
For some people it was their first time at a festival, including one local trader who said, “It’s just great! I can’t get over how happy everyone seems. We’ve never been to anything like this and trade has been really good.”
Seasoned festival-goers too were enthusiastic, some saying that they made this their holiday, either camping at the site or staying in local Bed and Breakfast establishments. Many commented on the uniquely friendly atmosphere and great music. Local hotels benefitted further as many of the 200+ entertainers stayed for at least one night in the area.
For many, though, the event of the weekend was the only appearance of Show of Hands this summer. Each of the members of the band has a successful solo career as well as being part of one of the most successful folk acts ever and they had decided to take a sabbatical to pursue their individual projects.
But many fans – including one who came all the way from Norway – saw the names Steve Knightley, Phil Beer and Miranda Sykes on the bill and guessed that it was very likely that they would play together as well as separately. They were not disappointed as Phil, after playing a solo set, brought on first Miranda and then Steve – a big triumph for the Pump at Westbury.
Festival organisers explained, “Steve and Phil are both patrons of the event; often this role means no more than endorsing it on posters and websites, but Phil and Steve are old friends of the festival and that meant taking part in a folk quiz, question and answer sessions and – in Steve’s case – introducing other acts and camping with his family for the whole weekend.”
The organisers stressed that they are determined the Village Pump Folk Festival will remain based in Westbury, where it has been held since 2012.
Anyone interested in being involved in the planning of next year’s event or helping in any way is invited to contact Geoff Cripps at penllwynpeople@tiscali.co.uk or contact him on 07973 850289 / 01495 240371.
