Big Session Festival 2006

Another stunning, hot weekend oop Leicester. Bill and I stayed at the Travelodge - he booked it well in advance and so we got a really cheap room. It was nice and quiet as well, although Other Val informed us that 'Vanessa and the Blacksmith' were also there (they sound like a folk song!)
Other Val kindly gave us a lift there which was very helpful. Stopped off at Gareth Turner's pub in Malton, the Telegraph, had a really nice meal and some good ale. Matt was poorly with a cold Friday morning and we were afraid he wouldn't be seeing him, but thankfully he rallied and was able to make his own way there by train. Met up with Sarah and Steve, with their lovely baby Georgia - great to meet Steve at last! Sarah was heavily pregnant at the last Big Session. Also met up with Camp Oyster again, the Oysterband yahoo group, albeit briefly as we helped put up the controversial Gazebo for them. Didn't see any OTF boardies but apparently they were about.
Bill being the organised one had acquired a map of all the good pubs in Leicester, and he and the Helliwells explored quite a few of them. I had a bit of (I think) sunstroke and had to duck out from the main pub crawl! However 'Out of the Vaults' and 'The Swan In The Rushes' are two I managed to get to - I can really recommend them to all you ale lovers out there!
The music line up was far better this year, as this is now the second year of the Sesh maybe the Oysterband found it easier to book people! On Friday night saw the Levellers - or at least the Levellers minus Simon Friend (on holiday, apparently) with Dan Donnely as substitute. He did an admirable job of singing 'Men An Tol' and playing mandolin, mouth organ etc. considering he'd only been given a week to learn the songs. Dan's own set on Sunday was well received, I joined a long queue for CDs! Missed out on Spiers and Boden as they clashed with the Levs, but I heard they were on good form - although they seemed a bit lost at the House Band session later on! They did bring out Mr Boden's new baby wearing cute ear-defenders though - aww!
On Saturday, Seth Lakeman was if anything more popular than the Levellers, with people pogoing away to Kitty Jay and Lady of the Sea - astounding! Is this the same person who played at little old Farnham Maltings just over a year or so ago? Amazing what being nominated for the Mercury Prize can do. Be good, be lucky!
Martha Tilston was on the second stage, played a really good set, accompanied by Tim and Matt - another band destined for greatness, I feel. But the Oysterband really made my day with their own set - how did they manage to persuade June Tabor to sing 'Wheels On Fire' - she seemd to love every minute and even had a bit of a dance! But that is the Oysterband for you - they really are the 'instruments of joy'!
Met up with my cousin Wayne in the morning - Brucianis was shut so we found a nice breakfast cafe in Silver Street and had very good fried breakfasts there as we caught up on all the news. Also managed to speak to my cousin Shaun who is a drummer in an 80s cover band. Still haven't seen them though, would like to, they play to packed venues so they must be good. Would love to see Shaun in his Goth makeup!
Back at the festival, listened to Dan's set, also Uisgedwr who were on marvellous form. No money for CD by then though! Gave Chumbawamba a miss, I'm not a fan, went to Ceilidh which was a bit less sweltering than last year - Random were the band, and were very good. Still can't strip the willow though!
Oysterband to finish off the festival - another good spot, and liked their new songs. Needed to recover from all that dancing and singing - we stopped at the Bell at Waltham St Lawrence on the way back to sup some ale, that helped!