Sunday Overview

Guess who stayed up all night and seriously wished he hadn’t? The heat was unbearable and it was impossible to catch some shut-eye later in the day. During the night as new friends joined us under our gazebo we learnt of the sad fatality of a punter the day before and we hoped it wouldn’t effect the festival. We also had a little trouble annoying our neighbours (sorry!) with our noise.

I do feel a bit guilty about this to be honest. Considering OTT is a quiet peaceful campsite and my complaints at other festivals of noisy neighbours. Combined with the sleepless night of noise and chaos at Reading festival the week before, I did feel a little aggrieved at the noise and tried my best to keep the protagonists as quiet as possible. But it was a losing battle, sorry again to those campers who had to endure it, though they had their revenge superbly, making much noise once they were up and keeping me awake in return. Next year I’m not staying up in the hope it stays a little quieter!

Anyway, with the festival finishing in the late afternoon we once again had to slave in the hot sun to take the tent down and stow our stuff in the car for the journey home, missing Chechelele and their choral singing of traditional World music and the duo of Marsden Blant and Squire. But we were able to catch some delicious food at the ‘Organic Chai Tent’ in the campsite before they ran out of food. I have to also mention their curry the night before was superb.

The real ale had long since run out and bar ale ‘Priory’ (where does this stuff come from, I’ve never seen it anywhere else?) was the order of the day for hair of the dog as we found a spot on the floor of the main stage marquee to watch the Forty Thieves Orkestar. More belly dancing in front of the stage, with some of the audience joining in, clearly they’d learnt a wiggle or two at the Arabic Belly Dancing Workshops. The band looked familiar with the lead violinist also a member of Celloman’s band. The traditional gypsy music combined with laptop generated beats provided a great escape from sore heads!

As an extra treat the next band Mukka joined the Thieves for a bit of a jam session before playing their own set of traditional Eastern European gypsy music and Transylvanian yodelling. Very different and a little bit frightening, well the Transylvanian yodelling/shouty woman with a fixed grin was, but the speed of the music was frenetic almost dervish.

Patrick Street a hybrid Irish folk supergroup were due to play next, but tiredness and emotions were getting the better of me and so we left after their second song. To be honest it didn’t sound like they were up for it much either. We said our goodbyes to everyone we could find, before starting on the long journey home. Another festival season was over and it was another perfect end. Many thanks to the organisers for putting on another superlative little festival. See you all again in the spring.

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