Ey Up Mi Ducks! Part one.
This weekend is going to be one of those impossible to sum up festivals. Ey Up Mi Duck – what an absolute triumph! We arrived on site on Friday afternoon and were immediately directed to ‘Camp Copier’ by Jamie (this was our corner of the campsite, not Mark’s nickname – although it might yet have a dual purpose!). So after finding a suitable spot to park up we set about sorting out van things before cracking a drink and settling down with our neighbours – Jacquie, Aimee, Mark and Amanda were already in situ, soon enough Kev, Julie and the kids would arrive and Jamie would be relieved of his stewarding duties.
It was a bit of a headspin (in a nice way!) to have an artist wristband for the first time, too!
The entertainment in the evening would all be in the clubhouse – as we’d got an earlyish set the next day we all decided not to be too ridiculous on the drinking front, the best laid plans and all that! As we moseyed on down to the clubhouse we found some rather splendid ciders on offer – and Al Rate kicking off the music. Difficult slot, it was a talky room with lots of folk catching up, but Jacquie and I made a point of watching his set – at one point the gentleman whose name I’ve forgotten (but he was drawing folk as they played) settled nearby – and promptly started drawing me rather than Al! Awkward!
I really enjoyed Al’s set – he kicked off with Lady Chatterley’s Bower, and attempted to fight the background noise with Americana-infused folk – Greenback Dollar was in there, A Protest at the Protest and Sinnerman (with some vocals help from a chap whose name I didn’t catch) – my notes are a bit sketchy at this juncture, it has to be said! It reminded me that I really must make an effort to get to see DH Lawrence and the Vaudeville Skiffle Show soon, though. If nothing else it had me listening to their album when driving about today!
