Proceedings start at lunchtime and as this event is kid friendly we’ve brought the family with us, some of the artistic workshops aren’t up and running immediately, but there’s environmental quizzes, free bags and masses of badges and stickers to keep them occupied while we grab a coffee.
There’s some tasty food on offer on the co-operative stall and it’s all gone after a couple of hours but there’s the Caribbean food stall out the front with great smells wafting over the venue.
Kids are well catered for with a Mask Making workshop, a craft area, where they are copying Islamic letters when I look in. Upstairs in the studios there are dance classes and organicARTS are getting their hands dirty making pictures out of natural products. While in the Spacex they are turning Japanese, painting with tension line inks.
We wander around the faiths of Exeter area, where Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Mormons, Bahais, Humanists and Wiccans are all getting along and happily taking photos of each other.
In the café area Rosa Rebecka is singing sweet Swedish songs as well as her own material and happy to explain their origins. Saeed Hashemi meanwhile is playing a two stringed instrument and singing traditional Afghani songs in the marquee before Nyckelharpa play their weird Swedish instrument and some classic folk jigs.
Chartwell Durtiro plays his mbira and has a tremendous raport with the audience where they sing a melody back to him. Then Jali Sorry takes to the stage playing his kora with a tabla player and four schoolchildren accompanying and the auditorium remains busy, with kids colouring in and carrying in their craft pieces. Later, they are joining in with Sam Mbogo Storyteller to create a performance of one of his tales.
The crowd are also enthusiastic as Nii Black Wander – throws himself acrobatically around the room and juggles large metal bowls. He keeps the crowd clapping along before handing over to Jenako with a feast of dance and drumming.
We head upstairs for a dance workshop with Dragonsfly, Breton dancing looks easy, but blimey it takes it out of your hips. Moves learnt in preparation for their live show this evening, we return downstairs and make for the only place still going the marquee and Joy Parke singing gospel songs and classic jazz standards, sup a few beers and sign a few more petitions and even the local MP Ben Bradshaw is here to soak up the atmosphere.
Kids are leaving with balloons and armfuls of stuff and everyone’s thoroughly enjoyed it, well attended, should be after all it was free and the weather helped it feel like a festival.
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Ashton Court Festival 
