I’ve been frequenting Purbeck Valley Folk Festival for several years now, and the lineup always offers great variety, from the familiar to welcome discoveries. Year on year, organisers Catherine and Paul put together a festival that stands them out from the crowd. Looking through the full-day lineups for this year (15-18 August) here are my daily seven favourites from the Friday to the Sunday (check out the Thursday lineup on their website):
Friday
John Smith – In October last year, John released Hummingbird, a folk album featuring mainly collected traditional songs alongside three originals. In his review of the album, Glenn Kimpton declared “Smith, one of this generation’s most important folk singers, is overdue in putting some of these valuable old songs on record and his take on them results in his subtlest album to date; a pure work of skill and appreciation.” He concluded “Hummingbird is Smith’s most impressive album yet, even if it doesn’t want to shout about it. A work of mature and subtle beauty… this album should be heard by everyone.”
Thea Gilmore – Back in May, Thea Gilmore treated us to her new album, Small World Turning which David Kidman reviewed for Folk Radio in which he concluded “another splendid collection of songs from one of the UK’s top songwriters, still very much at the top of her game and still refreshingly unafraid to tell unpalatable home truths and speak out in defence of her uncompromising take on today’s world.”
Old Man Luedecke – We recently reviewed Easy Money, the latest offering from Old Man Luedecke which finds him dreaming about his ship coming in, still a parent but now grappling with the newness of middle age, dad jokes, love for an abiding partner, the death of a parent, along with some calypso-feeling local Nova Scotia history thrown in for good measure. This is sure to be a great set of humour, tales and great tunes.
Grace Petrie – Queer As Folk, Grace’s eighth studio album certainly picked up a lot of press and deservedly so as she called on both personal experience and observation to deliver a potent album that was as much a call to arms as it was a reflection on the ills of society today. She always manages to work up a crowd, and this is sure to be a winner with the Purbeck audience.
Trials of Cato – Originally from North Wales and Yorkshire, The Trials of Cato’s debut album ‘Hide And Hair’ really did cause a lot of excitement. Formed in Beirut while the three band members were in Lebanon working as English teachers, Trials of Cato are Tomos Williams on guitar, Will Addison on Irish bouzouki and tenor banjo, Robin Jones on mandolin and tenor banjo. In his review of the album, Peter Shaw made it clear to the Folk Radio readers that this was something very special: “If there’s a more exciting debut album from a folk band this year, then I haven’t heard it. This is a very special release, and I can only suggest you get on board for hopefully a long and thrilling ride to come.” Don’t miss them!
Pons Aelius – Having won the Danny Kyle Award in 2015, a platform that’s launched many a career including Karine Polwart (with Malinky in 1999), Rura and The Chair, this Newcastle-upon-Tyne-based sextet went on to releases their debut album Captain Glen’s Comfort in 2017 – a colossal sound-world, drawing influences from far and wide, yet managing to unite them under one roof. The band’s double bass, guitar and the bodhrán rhythm section provides a solid yet vibrant foundation for ambitious flute, whistle, bagpipe, mandolin and banjo lines. Expect plenty of energy and be sure to wear your dancing shoes – something the Purbeck audience are not shy of.
Goat Roper Rodeo – Hailing from North Wales it’s great to see this trio of ‘young guys with old souls’ return to Purbeck whose music I once described as a cross between the Incredible String Band and Hank Williams. I’m looking forward to hearing some of their new tunes from their latest album Tall Grass.
Saturday
Karine Polwart – From her 2018 Laws of Motion to her most recent Scottish Songbook, Karine Polwart just seems to go from strength to strength. Whilst she can lay her very own stamp on a cover, as she has done on her latest release, she also packs a potent message in songs like I Burn But I Am Not Consumed which “opens with a story, moves on to a journey, and closes with a prophecy.
“one of the clearest, most compelling, most eloquent voices out there.” Neil McFadyen, Folk Radio UK
Afro Celt Sound System – Afro Celt Sound System are a band that continue to seek out and explore new musical adventures, with utterly captivating results and their last album “Flight” was no exception. I last saw them at WOMAD, and even the pouring rain didn’t deter the party-like atmosphere that unfolded in front of their stage.
Flight succeeds on so many levels it’s impossible to do the album justice in a few words. On one hand we have the classic, enthralling multi-cultural joy of Afro Celts Sound System in full flow, on the other we have a thought-provoking series of live performances that are as engaging as they are contemplative. Flight is an enthralling, wide-ranging album that brings new rewards with every listen, Afro Celt Sound System are a band that continue to seek out and explore new musical adventures, with utterly captivating results. Neil McFadyen – Folk Radio UK
Bird in the Belly – Bird in the Belly features alt-folk artist Jinnwoo and traditional folk duo Hickory Signals, plus multi-instrumentalist and producer Tom Pryor and visual artist and musician Epha Roe. Their debut album ‘The Crowing’ was declared a “Folk Album of the Year” by The Daily Express. This is an excellent opportunity to hear something, both fresh and rewarding; you won’t be sorry.
PicaPica – Featuring vocal duo Josienne Clarke & Samantha Whates and Adam Beattie and Sonny Johns on instruments… “a tiding of magpies picking shiny moments of tone and timbre from 60s west coast, sunshine pop and indie-folk.” A set to lose yourself in.
Phil King Band – The last time I saw Bristol-based Phil King at Purbeck was in 2012 when he kindly agreed to record a session for us (in the back of our van) which we featured here. Fast-forward to 2016 – the release of his album The Wreckage, recorded live at Real World studios, saw him expanding his profile considerably. His music filters such influences as Dylan, Young, Drake, Welch and Oberst through an individual lens and instrumentation that includes harmonium, pedal steel and accordion. One to savour.
Megson – In his review of their last album Contradicshun, Thomas Blake made no secret of the fact that he felt this was Megson’s best album to date – “It is no overstatement to say that Contradicshun is a masterpiece of shared creativity, the fullest flowering of a partnership that has been nurtured for fifteen years. It is Megson’s most complete album and their best to date.” Their power lies in their sheer range of ideas, their willingness to try something new, so be sure to catch them.
Ranagri – On their last album ‘Playing for Luck’, Johnny Whalley declared that “Ranagri have reached a sweet patch, four musicians showing cohesion and confidence that seems to have imbued them with a sense of adventure.” They have played Purbeck before, and I’m sure the audience will be welcoming them back with open arms.
Sunday
Crooked Weather – There are some big names on Sunday, but this is a band I’ve yet to see live; quite possibly the biggest highlight of my weekend. This East-Yorkshire-based band’s biography doesn’t even begin to hint at the magic that they have to offer. Their music remains fresh whilst also capturing some of that vintage 70s psych-folk sound. They are like no other modern-day band.
Mama’s Broke – I literally have just seen this Canadian duo performing at Sidmouth yesterday, and we reviewed their debut album Count the Wicked here – a journey through rural early 20th century Americana that’s fizzing with melodic ideas and tales to tell. Danny Neill’s review says it all, and they meet all those expectations live. “Debut albums as strong as this should not be ignored” – neither should their live performances.
Cara Dillon – Seriously, how could Cara not be on this list – One of the most celebrated singers in Irish Folk music and BBC Folk Award winner, her last album ‘Wanderer‘ offered some of her most moving performances to date. This will be one of those sets that will remain with you long after the festival is over – an intimate and warm performance alongside a healthy sprinkling of musical excellence of the highest order. You’d be mad to miss it.
Sam Kelly and the Lost Boys – They are back again at Purbeck after last year’s brilliant performance and no surprise really, seeing as their set was previously one of the best of the weekend. At one point, I looked around, and everyone in sight seemed to be singing. Their album Pretty Peggy has pretty much cemented their reputation as a great party band – as last year proved, they were one of those warm highlights of the weekend that just stays with you and this is sure to be another.
Flook – In his review of their latest album Ancora, Dave McNally concluded “Ancora picks up where Flook left off with Haven 14 years ago, delighting us, again, with their unique, exciting sound and their ever-inventive arrangements. Expectations more than fully met – simply a brilliant album.” Judging by the sound of the audience at Sidmouth this week during their performance at The Ham, this will be a lively set requiring those dancing shoes again.
Marry Waterson and Emily Baker – In 2014, Emily Barker performed at Purbeck with her band Vena Portae. At the time I was very much aware of Marry Waterson as a duo performer, first with Oliver Knight and later with David A Jaycock but I’d never have guessed Marry would team-up with Emily. The result was quite unexpected and magical as the boundaries of Barker and Waterson’s renowned roots styles saw them venturing into a diverse union of genres – contemporary folk and country nestle comfortably alongside lilting blues. This will be very special.
Marth Tilston – It’s fair to say that Martha has become something of Purbeck festival favourite, so much so that her music and laid-back style could happily join the thread that organisers Catherine and Paul have sewn into the very character of Purbeck – a festival that is incredibly relaxed, open-minded and something of a musical journey. With her album Nomad, Martha invited us to make a fire outside under the stars, Dive into a big green moon, fly over a world of robots and humans queuing together for the cinema, dance in a scribbled fever in a downstairs bar, be a fish swimming round a tank planning escape, climb out of the car and lie in the field asking what is the solution for our humanity and this tiny blue pearl we spin on… and to never dwell on the path not taken. Be sure to join her, her performances are blissful, much like this festival.
Music is not the only thing that makes Purbeck so perfect. I’ve been taking my kids here since 2012 and they have never tired of things to do. Treasure hunt, storytelling tent, theatre and games workshops, toys swap-shop, welly wanging, hoola-hooping, space hopper obstacle course, circus skills and loads more. For the crafters among you, Purbeck offers the perfect atmosphere to get creative – Hammer hot metal at Ab Forge, create a willow masterpiece, tie-dye your own bandanna, forage the festival site to fashion a festival headdress or decorate your own stone. You can also take advantage of the Pop Up Pottery plus much more.
Then there is the Poetry Slam competition, the annual beard-off, workshops, fancy dress and the Purbeck Rising competition seeking new musical talent. Oh…and great food and drink. Here’s a glimpse of last year’s festival:
For tickets, the full lineup, bands playing on Thursday and more visit: http://www.purbeckvalleyfolkfestival.co.uk