Tolpuddle proves an invigorating weekend of music and socialism

I've been meaning to go to this free festival, you pay for camping, for years, and finally managed to get there this year. An event which is held over three days, longer if you attend the 'Green Action At Work Camp', the event is laid back with music happening from midday until midnight on Friday and Saturday, and early evening on Sunday.

I came away from this event buoyed, it was not only packed full of like minded individuals and friendly talkative individuals but it reminded me of a time when politics was much more closely linked to festivals. Here was a large Cuban contingent, CND in force, green issues at the fore, posters for Ban the BNP rallies, and a host of other causes, and campaigns alongside all the union stuff - obviously, this being a TUC-organised celebration of 175 years since the Martyrs' key struggle in the fight for trade union rights.

Food was priced around £4 for a good meal, with vegetarian options and a range of Otter ales at £3 plus real cider and a lager option. The campsite was right next to the arena which was all at a slight slope, and the car park a few hundred yards further on. There were an abundance of 'I Still Hate Thatcher' T-shirts, and much socialist iconography, pictures of Che Guevara abounded, and you could even get a free tattoo of the South American revolutionary.

At night walkways were lit with LED tube lighting, the toilets were totally spotless all weekend, well stocked and there were plenty of voluntary stewards and security keeping the site running smoothly. I saw not a jot of trouble all weekend, nor even any anti-social behaviour across an age group that varied from babes in arms to the elderly. There was also provision for disabled parking and the whole site was easy to navigate for those using wheelchairs despite the incline.

It wasn't until Sunday's banner festooned grand procession that I realised how close the village itself was, located directly beside the Martyr's Museum at the epicentre of the festival site. The site had a kids area, and Woodcraft Folk providing fun and games for the nippers, and Whilst lacking in workshops, it was alive with debate, discussion, good causes, and stalls for those with a desire to shop. Each Trade Union offering a bundle of free goodies from frisbees, and torches to wacky sunglasses and foam toys to keep the kids happy as well.

Friday's music started at 7.30pm with five piece Urusen, I however spent most of their set outside the marquee which housed the music chatting to new friends, and sampling the ales. The second act however Who's Afear'd caught my attention with their tales of Dorset and scrumpy cider they had the crowd singing along, and proved a perfect warm up act for the knees-up fest which was Jigsaw who had the place danicin' with a load of well known covers.

The weather held off reasonably well all weekend, and the next day we spent most of the time in the main field watching Blackdown Samba, and listening to the Bristol Radical History Group's tales of Captain Swing, and the 1830 Swing Riots including the fascinating fact that they rioted during the day, and partied with colourful clothes, dressing up, music, and dance when night fell, sounded like early festivals to me.

The open mic area next to the bar was also popular with band's often drawing large crowds, and some acts came all the way from America to play. 6 Day Riot were the first live act to kick off the Radio Gagarin Saturday night closely followed by the funny (genuinely) Marxist Magician who delivered his magic tricks with some great socialist commentary, and having a large painting of Marx singing 'I'm A Little Tea Pot' had to be the highlight for me.

Chancery Blame & The Gadjo Club treated us to some frenetic fiddling, and must have spent an interesting weekend on the road, playing to a Buddhist Monk festival the night before and heading for nearby Larmer tree straight after their performance. Offering a nu-folk mix of Hungarian, West London, and Balkan traditional tunes, with saxophone, double bass, and electric guitar and dancing beat. Their mainly instrumental pieces they got the crowd at the front dancing, particularly impressive was a dark song about 'Peter Pan'
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Dublin City Workingmans Band beat the previous night's headliners in getting the packed marquee dancing, and their high energy set of classic Irish tunes, along with their Irish banter created a terific live show. It turned out it had poured down outside whilst we were jigging, no one seemed to have noticed.

Sunday started with sunshine, but the high winds brought clouds skidding in to smother it, and we all expected a drenching that never came. Sunday is the main event of the festival with the Main Stage opening for music from band's like The Shee, and Cuba's own groovin' Raices Cubanas, plus Union speakers from the USA, Cuba itself (both appeared optimistic for Obama to end the blockade), and Trade Union legend Tony Benn who spoke complete sense with his disarming humour once again.

Between all that as coach loads of Unionists arrived to swell the numbers, the Marquee continued it's musical programme. The duo (currently looking for a drummer) Not Made In China entertained with their own well worked material, and even threw in a cover of 'Tainted Love' with Gavin Blackhall sitting on the front of stage with a tiny plastic keyboard. Rev Hammer continued the entertainment with some good humour between his well constructed songs of love.

Then there was the march, a short wander through the town to turn around and return for the main event of Transglobal Underground, as good as ever, and a bearded Billy Bragg who brought with him a prodigy from his Jail House doors project. The young singer portrayed a grim tale of life at her majesty's pleasure and returned Bragg's guitar to him during a huge round of heartfelt applause. Bragg a regular at Tolpuddle revealed that numbers were up on previous year's and certainly the place was packed to the rafters.

We sang, we danced, we listened, we marched, we spoke, and we drank the bar dry before striking camp and heading for home at around 7pm. It had been a great weekend, if your politics tends towards socialism, and you enjoy a good dance, I heartily recommend it.

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