Folk Radio UK reviewer Johhny Whalley recently headed to Ibiza for the Costa Del Folk festival where he kept a festival diary…
Monday, April 29
Yesterday’s new arrivals are first up on Infinity Stage, the two Pauls, Sartin and Hutchinson, better known as Belshazzar’s Feast and before the first note’s played I’m smiling, a smile that will be with me the rest of the day. Their music mix, traditional English dance tunes, Mozart, whatever else takes their fancy, is sufficient to make anyone sit up and take notice. Add in their anecdotes and stream of side-splitting asides and you’ve a package that’s hard to beat, they’re also in the Club tonight and on main stage tomorrow, bated breath time.
Belshazzar’s Feast
Hannah James provides a fine contrast, in terms of presentation at least. But the quality is just as clear, carefully crafted songs well sung, and she’s not afraid of addressing topics that should concern us all. Her accordion and footboard give good support to her songs and she adds a taste of her step dancing. That will take centre stage tomorrow, though, when she will perform the solo version of her Jig Doll show (read an earlier Folk Radio interview here).
The final artist of the morning is Tim Edey, for his last scheduled appearance. Though, I think it’s safe to say until he gets on the plane home nothing can be ruled out. Tim’s stage presence often appears chaotic, like yesterday when, mid-tune, he asked stage crew to sort out his “octopus”, the tangle of cables and straps around his melodeon. This morning I’m right beside the stage and keenly aware of a very different aspect of Tim’s performances. At his feet, a loop pedal, and his use of it, at its simplest merely to combine guitar and melodeon, but with a lot else besides, is staggeringly good.
Off to the main stage for the afternoon concert, kicking off today with one of the great finds from last year’s CDF, Track Dogs (main image). Based in Madrid, but consisting of two Irishmen, Garrett Wall, guitar, ukulele and vocals and Dave Mooney, bass, mandolin and vocals, an Englishman, Howard Brown, trumpet, cajon and vocals and an American, Robbie K Jones, cajon, banjo and vocals. Their music is impossible to categorise, there are elements of bluegrass, Irish folk, Latin rhythms galore and the combination is lively, uplifting, irresistibly danceable and audiences just love it. It’s not just the music that audiences connect with, all four contribute to building an immediate rapport and performances tend to conclude with them going fully acoustic and strolling through the crowd. On the back of Track Dog’s success at CDF last year, promoters in the UK have started to take notice, check the band’s web pages for gigs and festival appearances.
Track Dogs are followed by Richard Shindell, quite a contrast in style but again, not in quality. An outstanding songwriter, Richard’s set is packed with songs that grab your attention, maybe it’s the melody, maybe a line in the lyric that hooks you, but, one way or another, they’re never going to slip into the background. Talking with Richard later this afternoon is going to be a real treat (interview to follow this week on Folk Radio UK).
The Tweed Project returns for the closing set and again fill the stage with youthful energy. Their second appearance amply confirming that, after just a few months, this Anglo-Scottish collaboration is delivering music that ignites a fire in the listener. I’m finding the potential in this combination of talent truly exciting. And there was no better illustration than their arrangement of Greg Russell’s song, The Silent Majority. Already a powerful song when Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar perform it, it becomes irresistible with Pablo on guitar combining with Greg on bouzouki, Ciaran decorating almost every line with his fiddle, Evan’s driving bodhrán, Ali on whistle and extra vocals from Josie. Afternoon concert over, it’s off to meet with Richard Shindell, creates a bit of an issue for me, though, it’s ceilidh time and I’m missing it again, Simon Care will never forgive me. Watch out for the interview when it appears on Folk Radio, it was worth missing the ceilidh.
Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar are back on stage to start the evening concert. At times it seems they’ve hardly been off stage in one guise or another since they opened on the first morning. They’ve won a lot of new friends over the last few days, wowed by their music, of course, but there also seem to be large numbers wanting to take Ciaran home with them. The Mighty Doonans have been CDF regulars since the start and are welcomed back after a couple of years absence. Though they’re no longer called The Doonan Family Band, it’s still a real family affair. Irish roots shine through with traditional material, along with the music of their North East England homeland. Mix that with some more contemporary material and arrangements that make use of their vast range of instrumentation, from Uillean pipes to saxophones and you’re delivered a thoroughly entertaining hour.
Word of last night’s goings on in the Club has ensured that the Nautilus Bar is full to capacity even before the end of the main stage concert. Consequently, I can’t get in! So, the delights on offer from Josie and Pablo followed by Belshazzar’s Feast pass me by.
Tuesday, April 30
Opening up on the Infinity stage this morning it’s The League of Ukulele Gentlemen or, to be precise, two out of the normal three. Andy Webster and Jerry King may not have been on stage before today but they’ve been beavering away each day with a ukulele workshop. Around twenty-five of their protégés help kick off the day with a ukulele big band, culminating in a fine rendition of Fisherman’s Blues followed by something of a ukulele master class from the duo.
Jack Parker follows, his songs and chat again making a thoroughly good impression. We finish with a second serving of Track Dogs and, it just so happens, their newly released album, helpfully titled Uke Songs by Track Dogs, makes them a perfect fit for the theme of the morning. The space between chairs and stage is soon filled with dancers. Their usual finale, playing acoustically amongst the audience, given a further twist with all four playing ukes on a song from the new album, Yeah, right. Garrett calls out the chords so, soon, all of the ukulele big band can join in. These morning concerts, with the stage alongside the infinity pool, are often likened to pool parties, but you can rely on Track Dogs to take that to another level.
Having missed out on their club appearance last night I wasn’t going to miss a minute of Belshazzar’s Feast on the main stage this afternoon. So, I settle down while the Costa Choir opens proceedings with a couple of songs and prepare for a treat. Once the two Pauls start you really mustn’t allow yourself to be distracted, their musical dexterity interwoven with comedy demands your full attention. Every change of facial expression, each spoken aside really shouldn’t be missed. If you allow yourself to be immersed, you start to believe in their fantasy world where O’Carolan really did meet Beethoven and Mozart had an Appalachian period that totally makes sense out of segueing Turkey in the Straw into Rondo a la Turk.
As in yesterday morning’s concert, following the Feastie Boys comes Hannah James, this time to present her Jig Doll show. A truly astounding amalgamation of all her skills. The obvious ones of her voice, her accordion playing, her percussion and her dancing, and also mastery of the software that she has used to seamlessly combine all these. Tour de force doesn’t even come close.
The Mighty Doonans
The afternoon ends with a second set from The Mighty Doonans, once more generating their trademark party atmosphere and getting us all in the mood for the final concert after dinner. Traditionally that ends in something of an on-stage party hosted by Show of Hands but at least part of that tradition is being broken tonight, Show of Hands are taking the first slot. Such was the impact of Track Dogs at last year’s CDF, the finale has been handed over to them, I reckon it’s in safe hands.
Show of Hands with Richard Shindell
When Steve and Phil take the stage, they’re soon joined by Richard Shindell and we’re treated to a foretaste of The Special Relationship Tour that will start as soon as they get back from Ibiza. There clearly is a special relationship between the three of them as they share songs and banter and treat us to some of the finest songs and musicianship available anywhere. The mood inevitably changes once Track Dogs take over with Latin rhythms that shout “dance me”. But even Track Dogs have their calmer times and for the mid-part of the set, they unplug and move to a single condenser mic with vocal harmonies coming to the fore. But when they plug back in the party really begins, it’s singing and dancing time for much of the audience. Gradually, more and more artists join them on stage, until pretty much all those who’ve not yet caught the plane home are giving it their all with The Weight and finally, Will Ye Go Lassie Go.
All Costa del Folk events are genuinely unforgettable but the 700 folkies fortunate enough to be at Ibiza 2019 had an experience that was right at the top of the pile. There’s never any question as to the musical quality but, with so many of the artists clearly relishing all the chances to join in each other’s music, the published programme was just the starting point. Sure, this can, and does, happen at some UK-based festivals but not necessarily in locations accessible to everyone. At CDF, with audience and artists in the same hotel, these extra-curricular sessions are available to all. Well, all who have the stamina! I’ve already started my training for Costa del Folk Portugal in October.
You can find out more about the next Costa Del Folk festival in Portugal in October here.