It’s Monday and the sun is shining through the window of my writing room as I reflect happily on one of the best weekends I have ever spent at the Bampton Free Folk Festival 2009 (”After the Fair”) in North Devon.
I arrived on Friday lunchtime just before twelve o’clock and there were already musicians waiting at the White Horse which is usually a good bet for a mainly traditional English folk music based instrumental session with the added flavour of bombardes and songs from the festival’s Irish and Breton friends.
Amazingly, the Friday session at the White Horse carried on for at least 12 hours, through to closing time which was well after I had already returned to my camper van in the car park to sleep.
It is hard to believe that there are so many tunes available to be played but the playing and singing standard was, as always, extremely high providing a huge store of folk music knowledge to choose from and the tunes and songs just kept flowing.
The Breton contingent arrived early evening and were welcomed with the usual riotous applause so they immediately gave a virtuoso performance of Bretonese songs and tunes despite their long journey reminding everybody why they are so popular.
Then on Saturday, starting at 12 o’clock midday, we did it all again, which was another twelve hours mainly playing and some singing. Wonderful!
Sunday was a short day and the session wound down just before tea time after another four hours of tunes and songs and then, with a total of more than twenty-eight hours playing mainly traditional English tunes under my belt, I decided to take my flute and soprano saxophone and head for home.
Highlights of the weekend, apart from the excellent Bretonese performances, included welcoming members of Exmoor Border Morris to the Saturday and Sunday sessions (including, of course, Delilah, the dog). The ‘barfing song’ (or is the right word ‘chunder’?) performed by the esteemed Squire to Exmoor Border Morris Nigel (photo above, left, under the antlers) which was appreciated by all and the energetic and accomplished stepdancing in front of the open fire by, among others, session hosts Martyn Babb and Dartmoor Pixies Jason Rice.
Of course, there is a lot more to the Bampton Folk Festival than the events at the White Horse and I heard that the Bridge Hotel, Blackberries and the Quarryman’s Rest were also busy with lots of singers and floor performers having a great time. The Variety Concert I heard was well attended and the workshops popular.
As always, I warmly extend my thanks for a great weekend to the intrepid Clare Penney and her hardworking supporters who have done a great job of making the Bampton Folk Festival 2009 such a wonderful event over the years.
Without doubt, I shall wear my Bampton Folk Festival badge with pride on my folkies hat … until I buy another one next year with another ten pounds donation to go towards the administrative costs of this excellent free festival.
Bye for now
Rob
Rob Hopcott – online writer (retired) and folk musician
Were you there? What are your memories? I’d love to hear in the comments below 
I just heard from Pete Mac that he is running musician workshops at the next folk camp weekend at Beckford in Worcestershire with folk camp leader Mic Spenceley.
