YORKSHIRE DALES CM FESTIVAL

AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY long weekend at Funkirk Farm is the place to be for a huge helping of country music and the camaraderie of frivolity that is abound at this type of hobby themed music festival—especially one steeped in success as is the Skipton event with its long degree of enjoyment over many years of practice, thanks to the skill of its directors Kaz Hassani, Roger Wild and their team of friendly and willing helpers.

The inclement weather has become a feature of this event but then again the weather is generally the opening gambit in British conversations and as one wag observed. “Britain’s  festival country music has four seasons. Rain, rain, rain, and more rain! This tends to set the resolve of the fans that turn up in their droves to enjoy the offerings.

I missed the opening night of Custers Last Band, The Hanks and Cross Country. My informants told me that it was a smashing start and a grand way to open any festival. I actually missed the start of the Friday afternoon show because I was pitching my tent but I sang along to Dave Cash while pegging out and blowing up my air bed. I gingerly made my way through the carpet of mud to catch some of Jim Ryder & Adam James who I reported last year was to split up but since then have got together again. As always they gave a good show of their talent. Liverpool based husband and wife duo Fools Gold provided a class ending to the first afternoon show by catering for dancers and listeners alike.

Along with friends I dined in-house at the festival restaurant which served a good and plentiful selection of food at the right price as did the well stocked bar. To the camper like me this is always a welcomed bonus and a great convenience.

The Friday evening show was a three band spectacular of note. Opened by The Crown Top Kings, a fairly local jump jive swing outfit of familiar faces that I was seeing as a unit for the first time. What an absolute delight these four performers are. They went down a storm and the full house audience loved them. Scotland’s heroes Brian Hughes & The Lonesharks brought their self-penned magic to Skipton again delighting the crowd with their talent. The Picasso Brother from way up in Lancashire had it all to do to match what had come before and they did this in style by adding a little rock ‘n’ roll into their country show which proved to be ideal for the late evening party crowd that was up for it before retiring to bed, or even impromptu late night sessions built with the intention of not wanting a splendid night to end.

Saturday, after a plate full of in-house breakfast, I had a ride into Skipton to visit the street market and quaff some of the town’s fine ale—had a driver so drinking was not a problem. Missed Dave Woolas dance class and The Soggy Bottom Boys from the North East. Caught Lynnette Marie from Nottinghamshire and enjoyed her professional approach especially when she mastered a sound problem with confident ease. Root’n Toot’n, the hillbilly outfit from the North East, came on as a four-piece band and entertained the audience with some good songs and audience participation which the fun loving Skipton audience loved. More North Easterners, Little Rock brought the afternoon show to a close with a lot of style and good music.

Liverpool’s West Virginia, a long established four-piece band, brought their show to the festival with a mixture of country and rock ‘n’ roll performed in a fun loving way that delighted the Skipton masses and set the scene for others to follow. Australian Travis Collins & Heartland once again excelled and seems to target the Brit Festival season for his visits even though he had a few club dates worked in between the festivals. A good plan for an x factor act who is setting the scene on fire. Henry Smith’s Country Dreams had it all to do in following two splendid groups but the Southern England-based outfit are truly festival bill toppers.  They featured the fiddle playing American John Permenter (top of story) in their line up and quite simply stormed the place to offer a grand finale to the Saturday show. Festival disco Dave Woolas and compere Mick Sager certainly played their part throughout.

Sunday saw Blackpool-based Chris T Bone Jones showcase his humour and self-penned songs before locals Custers Last Band reappeared to entertain and become accepted by the crowd. Singer-songwriter Ade Payne and his band shown their obvious skill even though they are hardly country as I know it unless I am missing something and this is new wave Brit country. Briticana could be the word. American regular visitor to Skipton Boomer McLennan (above) put the country music back on course with his dynamic show and band. Again the crowd loved every minute of it. The American civil war organisation presented “An American Trilogy” a spectacle of colour and respect for the past in American history.

Muscles & Curves from down south provided a good and interesting appearance that pleased both the dancers and listeners alike. Boomer McLennan and his band made their second appearance of the day and again provided a storming show in true country style. Lancashire’s Swing Commanders suffered chronic sound problems while everyone was in agreement that MT Alan Audio had provided an excellent sound and lighting service to the whole event. Again perhaps it’s me but I am not a fan of this swing band in their present format even though I am a fan of western swing. I left early being disappointed at the end of a day that could have been perfect.

Monday found people leaving the very muddy site in droves heading for home. I tried to stick it out. Saw a sparkling showcase performance from the Kent youngster Rosie Horne, a girl with a bright future. Yorkshires daughter Nancy Ann Lee shone diamond bright throughout her set again in proof that there is talent abound in this country. Calico Jack Band is better known in folk circles but this band proved that both folk and country music can be seamless. Enjoyed their show very much indeed. The old master Raymond Froggatt and his four-piece band once again brought out the Frog green army to show how it should be done with a set of self-penned songs and friendly asides. They drew a standing ovation once again.

After the afternoon show I had to make a decision and the outcome was to pack up and leave the site because the place was a mud bath mainly through vehicle movement.

Missed Wrangler, Raising Cain and John Permenter Band —all tried and trusted bands and I have no doubt that I will catch up with them all again soon. Four hours later I got towed off the site by a four by four, soaked to the skin but I sang all the way home because the Yorkshire Dales Music Festival has that effect on you and certainly draws you back year after year for more of the same.

Once again my thanks to the festival organisers and their whole team for yet another superb festival. See you next year.

By BRIAN AHERN