Indeed, it really was a superb weekend and my first experience of Weyfest. It was the most enjoyable festival I've ever had the pleasure of...and I've been to few since since '71.
It's a beautiful and fascinating site, well laid out.
Not having to be an orienteering expert when travelling between the camping area and the stages was nice, (unlike some of the bigger fests).
The marshalling was very well done, visible and accessible but not 'in ya face', but then this wasn't a corporate affair like the Victoria and Hyde Park gigs of recent years. This last point was emphasised by the sensibily priced mechandise, no £25 t-shirts and £10 programmes! Fair pricing by all the vendors I thought, special mention for The Furnace and in particular their coffee... [Mmm.] I wolfed it down.
Highlights for me amongst the stage acts were, generally, Robin Trower, John Otway Big Band, 3 Bonzos & A Piano. As for pieces, The Christians rendition of Harvest For The World (and their 'nod' to the Temps. **Papa Was... which wound me up briefly when they didn't actually play it properly)....but like a good Christian, I could forgive them easily as they brought on the Isley's number.
**kudos to TC for noticing what day it Was! Angelflame was wonderful during the Space Ritual ; missed her at 'Arts' Crazy World the next day as I had to be faffing about elsewhere, but at least I could still hear the set from the campsite. Julia K was worth getting soaked for (though I thought my trollies would dry out quicker than they did).
Speaking of kudos, who was the Beekeepers stage announcer early Sat. p.m.? ;-D....I think it was straight after the Otway set, when he made some announcement...it might've been about vehicles, I dunno now... but anyway, was his 'delivery' a freaky fluke, or had he actually made a study of the Woodstock announcer!? His tone, tempo, enunciation etc.. was a dead ringer (i.e. for an English version) of something I heard on the Woodstock film ; it was so funny!! Whether intentional or not, quite brilliantly done!! :-)
I meet loads of wonderful folk ; there was a terrific vibe throughout. Don't know what the numbers were? 2 to 3 thousand on the Sunday? Whatever the number was, it should be capped at that imho. Anymore and it would become choked. Taxi driver that brought me from the station said locals think the numbers have been dropping the last few years. I hope it remains viable with attendance as it was this year?
It was an unexpected pleasure what I found on the campsite at night. Great to see sensible H&S in place without brainless 'working to rule'. Seeing folks being responsible, discreet and inventive was warming, that's the way to do it! A bit of wok-u-like does yer good ;-)
Was there anything I didn't like?
Guess I'm not The Blockheads fan I thought I was? Think I'll stay with what I know from the studio stuff in future...the rhythm section was fine but..well, nevermind, I thought the set was out of kilter with the rest of the weekend 'doings' generally (or maybe it was just me?) While I'm at it, they also were the first set I noticed to use the ghastly 'prison break' lighting as I call it. It's been going on at gigs for years now and I don't like it. I know its good to see the lights sweeping across the audience when watching a live concert on dvd (I can't think why else it's done), but if want my retinas burnt out by flash lights, I'll go and upset someone at MI5 ok. I don't want to have to close my eyes. Yes sure, I can move to the peripherals (at a fest stage at least), but there the sound is muddy. I wish lighting crews would pack it in. I loath it. It's stage lighting, it should be directed at the stage (with maybe a small exception for some filming on occasion). Again, it's probably just me....I'm the guy who sticks a finger in his ear when a screaming siren on an emergency services vehicle tears by me on the street....I guess most peeps aren't that bothered about it?
Oh yea...;-B~ another thing, too many lovely engaging people around the bar area making me loose track of time.... and consequently missing seeing bands I'd been looking forward to...lol.. as happened with The Groundhogs and MT's Wishbone Ash.... I don't get out much you see, so the social aspect was marvellous for me. Peeps were so friendly, it was very refreshing.
Fabulous time was had! Many thanks to you, the rest of the organisers and all concerned. [pats self on back] and why not.. the whole thing was a WTP package after all, We The People helped make it happen!
James Watson