Towersey Festival 2007

Traffic delays meant that we had to dash straight into the Peter Donegan Band on Thursday night, then pitch the tent in the dark afterwards. Peter Donegan gave a superb tribute to his recently deceased father, ‘King of Skiffle’ Lonnie Donegan – not too many of the old chestnuts like 'My Old Man’s A Dustman' - although there would have been a riot if he hadn’t sung it for the encore! Patrick is a Lonnie Donegan fan and knew most of the words to the songs. We had a good dance as well, great fun. Trouble was, Pat did his leg in, so he had to take it very easy for subsequent dancey bands!
Seth Lakeman was the headline act for Friday – the tent was absolutely packed with his fans, who had evidently just come for the day. Despite his fame in the pop world, there’s still no denying he’s a bloody good musician and dedicated folk song writer. Earlier, Nancy Kerr and James Fagan did an excellent set, and we discovered James’s sister Kate Fagan was also very good. The evening finished with one of my favourite bands, 3 Daft Monkeys, who often support the Levellers. Their Cornish/Yiddish crossover music was supremely dancey and an instant hit with the crowd, but they started at 11.15pm and didn’t finish till 12.40am! Phew, knackered!
Saturday we went to the ‘Three Horseshoes’ for lunch and the folk session – for which about 20 musicians turned up, crowding the listeners out of the pub, almost! Apparently some just come to the festival to play at the pub all weekend. Then it was off to workshops – Patrick went to the Stanley Holloway workshop run by Dave Sealey, which he really enjoyed. I went to the singing workshop in the main tent but it was so hot, I kept feeling faint and oxygen-starved every time I stood up to sing! Peatbog Faeries were the headliners but we went to see Van Eyken instead – good impromptu second encore outside the tent!!
Lastly Sunday night finished off with The Demon Barbers’ fancy dress party – demons and Barbies! Patrick looked naughty but nice in with black horns, whereas I looked suitably stupid in a blonde wig and pink miniskirt! Got a front spot with a good view of the clog dancers and Damo’s dragon tattoo, so we were both happy ;-)
Nice festival with something for everyone – will bring an ABEK face mask before attempting to use the campsite toilets again though!