Maria Virto

“ FANCY a weekend out? Tickets for Weyfest 2007 can already be booked online.

The first weekend in September should be highlighted in the festival calendar as the friendly, chilled, event gets bigger than ever thanks to the 10 acres of this year’s new venue, the Rural Life Centre, in Tilford. 

Weyfest has been running for 17 years with the aim of providing a varied, uncompromising musical event for everyone and always supporting a local charity. This year the beneficiary will be the The Old Kiln Trust, the charity which runs the Rural Life Centre. The festival organisers and the museum have been working together to offer the public a great music event in the best possible environment.

Three stages will accommodate over 40 bands. the Village Green Stage and the Old Kiln Stage will keep the audience dancing outdoors, while acoustic music will have its own place at the Rustic Stage where there will also be a music workshop run by the Surrey Strings of Merton Abbey.

Some, like local favourites True Deceivers or Jackie Lynton, who co-wrote the Status Quo’s  Again and Again, and his band, who have performed for likes of Ozzy Osbourne and the Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, return for this year’s event.

Osibisa and their fusion of Africa, Caribbean, rock, jazz Latin and R’n’B are popular where ever they play, and guitarist extraordinaire Rodney Branighan comes to Weyfest from the USA via Glastonbury.  Rodney’s speciality is playing two guitars at once, and to awe-inspiring standards.

The Old Kiln Light Railway will be in action to give steam and diesel-hauled rides during the two days of the festival on September 1 and September 2.

Updates and additions to the programme, as well as last minute surprises, can be found at www.weyfest.co.uk.

Tickets are available online and can be booked at a discount price. Free entry for children five and under. All Weyfest tickets include access to the Rural Life Centre and free parking.”

“The weather stayed fine for the outdoor part of this local charity event, held in the beer garden on the Exchange hotel, Farnham. Unfortunately an accident just outside Farnham had caused problems for much of the audience, though this provided the unusual delight of being able to watch the first few bands while seated out of the sun.

First on the bill were the The Flying Tigers, who did what was needed, in that awkward job. Their lead singer Tracy Murphy has such a powerful voice to blast it out on the heavy rock numbers, but can also go into soulful mode on the slower R&B tracks. Next up were Ciao Buddha, who's debut CD is called 'Rise', and they certainly woke up the crowd, and most of the neighbourhood too. A great 3-piece band.

There were short 20 min breaks between the sets, while the bands carted their equipment in and out, but this gave ample time for the audience to pay a visit, or buy refreshments at the bar. Then it was the turn of The True Deceivers, with a folky-country-rock blend of musical styles. By the time the UK Blues Project started playing there was quite a crowd gathered. There is nothing like the blues to make you feel relaxed and chilled on a late summer afternoon. They also had a new CD available called 'No Rush'.

Then came the Dayglo Pirates, with special guest Glenn Cornick (a former member of the real Jethro Tull), who can usually be found playing with Wild Turkey. First came the older progressive set, and then a few more recent rock numbers. The lead singer Paul Forrest, in heavy coat, which he discarded to reveal green tights and multicoloured waistcoat, danced around the stage and playing his flute with one legged cocked. Sadly his mandolin wouldn't play but it was still an outstanding and memorable performance.

At 8pm the lucky few of the crowd, who'd booked early, then moved inside, for the finale, a performance by the Jackie Lynton band. This was due to complaints from the hotel's neighbour, about the loud, funky music and some ordinary people having a good time and raising lots of money for a good cause. Many thanks and gratitude go out to all the bands who played at WeyFest 2006 and to Steve and Julie, who run the Exchange Hotel, for hosting the event.”

Maria Virto

“THE music at Weyfest at the Exchange Hotel, Farnham on Saturday, was so good that in spite of all the interruptions caused by a neighbour trying to stop the event, everyone attending enjoyed it.

The festival, to raise funds for the Treloar Trust caring for children with mental and physical disabilities, went ahead but all the gigs had to be moved forward. For that reason, my partner and I missed the Flying Tigers and Chiao Budha.

Fortunately we were on time for the True Deceivers. Deep South sounds filled the air chilling an audience slightly worked up by the nuisance caused by knowing they were under scrutiny from the authorities. The Deceivers gig ended in a crescendo with uplifting covers and the liveliest of their own material.

My partner particularly enjoyed the UK Blues Project. Him being a fan of Clapton, Hooker and Moore, liked them enough to buy their latest CD. I enjoyed their gig more than Clapton’s at Hampton Court, mainly because all the members of the band were equally talented.

One of the stellar moments came when the Dayglo Pirates were joined by Glen Cornick. The original Jethro Tull bassist must have been particularly affected by the last minute changes as he had flown from the States the day before. But nobody could tell. The performance was flawless and energetic as were all of the bands who fought adversity with humour and professionalism.

The festival had to break for an hour for the equipment to be moved indoors for the last band. On our return it was up to Jacky Linton and his band to pick up the mood. And did they do it! It made us feel sorry for the people who couldn’t fit in the pub and missed a great gig.”

Maria Virto

We were delighted when The Hollybush in Frensham decided that Treloar’s would benefit from their weekend music festival. Although rain clouds threatened, WeyFest 2004 was a great success for everyone – musicians, The Hollybush and Treloar’s.

Thank you to everyone who made it happen, including Bob Simpson of SPC who sponsored the whole event and Simon Stockton, Colin Webb, Sarah Lomas and Paul Marsh for all their hard work. Weyfest 2004 raised over £1100.

How To Do Just About Everything

Read EHow Staff expert Patricia Tebbe's tips on how to do.......Weyfest!

More than 1,000 people attended the Weyfest 2007 Music Festival at the Rural Life Centre in Tilford, where they were entertained by more than 40 bands on two outdoor stages and even more solo performers on the indoor acoustic stage.

Passing without incident, Weyfest 2007 is already being hailed a great success by the event organisers, as congratulatory comments pour in from the attending public, the artists who entertained them, the traders who provided the refreshments and other attractions and the Rural Life Centre trustees, management and volunteers who have the responsibility of taking care of the museum site and its unique collection among which the event was staged.

The quality of musicianship at Weyfest events has always been high and this year was no exception, from headliners Steve Gibbons and Osibisa, who had the audiences on their feet singing and dancing, through to the host of other performers who not only kept their audiences entertained but also took time out to mingle and enjoy the whole event alongside them. Delta Radio attended in support as on-air media partners, with OJ Nathan James clearly enjoying his role of MC on both of the outdoor stages.

As one performer happily commented after the show "There was something special about Weyfest, the standard was really really high. Weyfest 2008 is a bit of a must for those that missed it this year. In a way it was probably one of the best music festivals I've ever been to."

Much to the relief of all involved, the weather remained dry throughout the event and putting the icing on the cake for what will undoubtedly be an experience to be repeated for many years to come.

The organisers, who have been granted a license by Waverley Borough Council to hold the event on an annual basis, would like to thank everyone involved in making the event such a success. They are already planning next year's event and are calling on any businesses which might be interested in sponsorship opportunities to make contact as soon as possible by e-mail to info@weyfest.co.uk.

The highly praised website at www.weyfest.co.uk will remain online and continue to bring news, views and offers, as well as launching the forthcoming Weyfest Club with a range of member incentives.

Farnham Herald 7th September 2007

VIC Cracknell can add to his credentials that of talent hunter.

While at Weyfest in Tilford we were drawn by Vic to the acoustic stage with the promise of a very special gig, mixing

flamenco and world music.

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Our expectations were far surpassed by the exhilarating performance of the former ACM student, Byron Johnston.

Byron not only engages the audience but he transports them on a rollercoaster of emotions.

As soon as he plucked his guitar, we left the setting at the Rural Life Centre and were off to Spain.

There, we relaxed on the beach, we were assaulted by bandits, we mixed with the Arabs in Andalucia and the courtesans in Madrid and reluctantly were brought back from our adventure as the piece finished.

Crowd taken on a musical journey (7th September 2007)

All this is achieved thanks to Byron’s ability to intuitively use his mastery as a guitarist to relate his personal experiences.

It is a case of a sound being worth a thousand words.

Byron includes elements of percussion influenced by Flamenco and twists them and makes them a universal

language extremely appealing to all ears. I was probably the only person in the audience that picked up the slight discordance when he attempted a small extract of the Concierto de Aranjuez.

An unavoidable occurrence as the guitar had been bashed and used in unimaginable ways earlier on in the same piece and was bound to be a bit out of tune for this particular classical excerpt.

But this is just being picky, Byron is dextrously talented and daring and therefore, he conquers.

Things got even better as violinist extraordinaire Anna Phoebe joined in for a jam with Byron.  I have never witnessed such chemistry between two musicians and two instruments.  Byron put Anna to the test, challenging her with one of his own compositions, Fahrenheit 55.

And the magic was still there, even with an unknown piece. The duet was a real quality act, real music to our ears.

If Byron and Anna have not yet decided to record together, they should, and if their music gets heard by Jools Holland I bet he’ll be dying to take over from Vic Cracknell as the discoverer of such boundless talent.

Byron and Anna were one of the highlights of Weyfest 2007 which was a refreshing experience, full of real talent, none of this recycled boy/girl band rubbish we are forced to put up with these days. 

These hotchpot of unique acts included the chilling southern comfort from the True Deceivers, the nostalgia and madness of Bill Posters Will Be

Band, the unbelievable skill of Rodney Branigan, die hard rockers like Jackie Lynton.

Legends like Steve Gibbons and Paul King, the newest local talent of Susie Clarke, plus a pianist rapper were other treats and like any festival that prides itself in being really up-lifting, there was a hand-clapping, body-moving set with Osibisa.

The symbiosis between the Rural Life Centre, beneficiary of the funds raised this year, and the organisers of Weyfest has turned out to be a winning formula and Weyfest 2008 is already set to take place next year at the end of August.

Maria Virto

First printed in: Surrey Advertiser