Off The Tracks Spring Festival 2009
Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th May 2009Donington Park Farmhouse Hotel, Isley Walton, Donington, Leicestershire, England MAP
£65 for w/e inc camping; children (12-16) £30
Last updated: Wed 13th May 2009
The best cure for a hangover (apparently) is to begin drinking again as soon as possible. Might not work for all, and it is not by any means fool-proof, but you have to give it a go, right? Did the cooked breakfast thing but it just doesn't have the same effect. Despite everyone's best efforts of the previous night there were, fortunately, plenty of real ales to be chosen from....mmmmm food, erm beer.. breakfast.
Neck were up next, a kind of a 'Pogues-U-like' bunch, banjo, tin whistle, the works... the odd cover version but mostly full throttle fiddle-de de. After that, according to the programme, was a beer break. and there was much rejoicing. It's official, Good lot, these festival organisers, they think of everything.
Meanwhile back in the barn, The Doberries were enchanting the assembled crowd. Dreamy, melancholic, wistful songs that captivated a few hearts and they too had some dancers. Yours truly, if truth be told, and er.. well... one other person.
Back in the safety of the courtyard, Harare, had droves of folk on their feet, brilliant African rhythms, fantastic guitar with the main man playing the wonderful marimba. Joyous and uplifting, a pure joy.
Banco de Gaia rounded things off nicely in the barn for those who couldn't shake off those dancing tiger feet. Again, sublime. Nobody wanted him to stop playing, but all good things and all that...
I realised I hadn't paced myself very well, wibbled my way to tent, I did well, I found it. It was still where I'd left it. Result! Sparko.
review by: Phil 'The Van' Lenthall
photos by: Phil Bull
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