It's Wednesday, we are in the campervan on a camp site in Moira, South
Derbyshire near to it's border with Leicestershire and Warwickshire - it used
to be mining country, now its the National Forest.

If someone is reading this - then I must have found an Internet connection -
hopefully that will be tonight, according to the book the site we are booked
into for tonight has wi-fi, so we will see how that works.

Last weekend we were at Stokes Bay Festival. Camped on the edge of the
Solent, we had beautiful views of the Isle of Wight (when the rain stopped)
and from our tent could watch the ferrys, hovercrafts, cargo ships and yachts
fighting for space on the busiest piece of water imaginable.

The festival was small - no more than 3000 people and had had to fight for
the right to be the - with a number of the locals objecting to its presence. It
sounds like it has been a bitter battle with lots of politicking going on, hence
the was some tight restrictions on their licence - in particular the 10pm close
time.

Thursday was headlined by Glenn Tilbrook, playing a selection of his own
songs and a few old Squeeze numbers - his own were good, but I must admit
it was great to hear songs like Up the Junction and Slap & Tickle once again.
He was followed by The Blues Band, Paul Jones, Tom McGuiness et al. must
be old enough for their bus passes, but they still play some wonderful blues
rock 'n' roll and of course know how to put on a show - great stuff.

Friday, one of the highlights were second on - Circa Compania are twelve
women who play, sing and dance to songs from around the world - often
combining different styles and traditions in one piece - breathtaking stuff. In
the evening Tony Benn appeared with Roy Bailey - telling stories and singing
songs about radical dissent - it was interesting stuff, with Tony Benn's own
cutting asides about the modern political scene and it's similarities to the
Peasants Revolt, or the Diggers or Tom Paines's Rights of Man - not sure
what happened in the second half, as the venue was uncomfortable and
anyway I wanted to see The Saw Doctors. I've always enjoyed The SawDoctors
and it was great to see them live, the humour of their songs. their own sense
of fun and the sheer excitement of their music came through at every
moment - joyful.

Saturday, and the festival site was filling up, those who could only manage
two days away from work and the day trippers, changed the feel of the place
and provided some interesting insights into the way space is used - but more
of that another time. Huun Huur-Tu had come all the way from the eastern
Russian Federation - close to the border with Mongolia. They sang from the
back of the throats, an amazing sound that merged in with high tenor voices
and the instruments of the East - wonderful music. The Ukulele Orchestra
were as good as ever - the whole notion is ridiculous, classic rock songs
played on Ukeleles - but the muscianship is stunning and the delivery superb
and the final piece - a Ukelele playing a piece by Handel whilst the other 7
members each sang a different song at the same time - summed up the skill
and beauty of their performance. Martyn Jospeh had the tea-time slot. I've
always enjoyed Martyn Joseph, he sings about faith and grace and politics and
justice and mercy with passion and commitment. But, this was an audience
who don't know him and it was interesting to see him in that setting - in
some ways he seemed to try too hard and so his warmth and humour didn't
really come across and some of the issues he wanted to raise were lost in the
sandwiches and quiches. Show of Hands are another band I've seen a number
of times, they were very much on home territory having started out playing in
pubs and clubs around Gosport - they were as entertaining and skilled as
ever. The headliners were Capercaillie, great music - we needed space to reel
but had to tap along instead - soulfilled

Sunday, we took ourselves along to Bury Road URC - we had found them on
Friday morning when we went looking for extra tent pegs having nearly been
blown away on Thursday night and decided to worship there. I don't think
they quite knew what to do with visitors - they were nice enough but seemed
amazed that a new face had walked through the door. The service was
pleasant, the singing uninspired, the sermon safe and sound - we were glad
we had been. Back at the Festival, it was overcast, damp and then torrential!
3 Daft Monkeys were a lively band playing pogo music. The violinist was the
spitting image of my brothers partner - it was weird - her looks, her
mannerisms - but then she was up on stage full of confidence - so it can't
have been Mary - can it? They were followed by The New Rope String Band -
a comedy act using a variety of instruments - violin, accordion,
boomwackers, yes boomwackers - a child's toy that Chris uses at school -
constantly telling children not to hit themselves or one another over the head
with them - which is just what TNRSB did to make music. They were followed
by Bellowhead - one of the acts that attracted us to go there - they were as
good as expected, big band folk music that is exciting, skilled and creative.
Up next Phil Jupitus & The Blockheads - Hit Me With Your Rythmn Stick - as
Chris said, "they can play that to us when we get to the Old Folks Home". But
then Alabama 3 - just didn't get it - don't like hip hop dance beats at the best
of times, but there was an aggression there that was out of step with so much
else, and then The Levellers - I loved it, Chris hated it (but we will see them
twice more in the next fortnight so she might grow to appreciate them!) -
reasons to be cheerful part 3!

Cropody next up on Thursday - more music, more to experience.