Festival; Fotos; Few Words: Beardy Folk Festival, Hopton Court, Shropshire. Friday 16th June to Sunday 18th June 2023

 

 

Jenny Colquitt

Jenny Colquitt brought a full band to Beardy Folk this year after last year's solo debut to demonstrate the upward trajectory of her evolution as a distinctive singer-songwriter.

Daisy Chute

Daisy Chute is an adaptable and hugely talented all-round songwriter and musician at home at a folk festival as much as her many other projects. Her Beardy debut was a smart booking.

The Drystones

The Drystones had to improvise with an enforced downsize from trio to duo format but were undeterred and defiant bringing some innovative ambience to the main stage. 

Fossilheads

The Fossilheads were full on activists, entertainers and undoubted festival favourites offering a unique take on climate change and corporate greed while wrapping a strong message in humour. 

Mark Radcliffe & Co

Mark Radcliffe is a Beardy Folk regular always finding a new accompaniment to fuel his love of playing live folk music while on break from the media duties.

Alden & Patterson

Christine Alden and Alex Patterson once again take to a Beardy Folk stage this time in duo format while still playing an affable style of charming folk music. 

John Smith

John Smith was the classiest and most accomplished artist gracing the Beardy Folk stages on Friday delivering a batch of seriously high quality songs in a performance that knew how to captivate a festival crowd.

Stables

Matthew Lowe and Daniel Trenholme aka Stables impressed with an enjoyable acoustic stage set  proving that an interesting innovative take on a popular cover can work well at a festival alongside acres of original material.

The Longest Johns

The Longest Johns invited many a shanty style singalong in a very contemporary way to highlight how they sprung to prominence and proved a popular booking in a well-received Beardy Folk debut. 

Mik Artistik's Ego Trip

Closing the acoustic stage was the unique and eccentric Mik Artistik's Ego Trip. Think Jerry Joseph and a northern social club comedian with a rock backing band and you’re on the right track. Bizarre to say the least but he went down a storm.

Skerryvore

The clock was turned back on many fronts at this year’s Beardy Folk. The original stage configuration returned and for the 3rd time (1st since 2019) Scottish folk-rockers Skerryvore sent a rapturous crowd home singing and happy. If anything they stepped up a notch on a grander scale than last time and were totally on top form for a rousing hour and 20 minutes.

                                                     

Filkin's Ensemble

Opportunities for Filkin’s Ensemble to play together are rare for practical reasons. Therefore this 15-piece Midlands folk supergroup jumped at the chance to open the main stage and impressed all prompt enough to be there at noon.

Fly Yeti Fly

The name rang a bell but this was the 1st time listening and watching Fly Yeti Fly as they opened the acoustic stage/tent. Their style of folk impressed with a hint of Americana blended in. Definitely an act to follow as the set was thoroughly enjoyed.

Novelty Island

“All music is folk music” part 1 including a bit of eccentric classic pop with an electronic twist. Shaking up the contemporary folk world but it works & who’s judging. Memorable set from Novelty Island.

Nati Dreddd

A beautiful voice and sparkling charismatic wit are the starting points to describe the introduction to Nati Dreddd. She impressed from start to finish with a set that thrilled and entertained. Think of a cross between Julie Fowlis and Dolly Parton as many new fans were acquired.

Sound of the Sirens

Stepping up from a duo to a full 4-piece raised the bar for Sound of the Sirens and they played a well-received and entertaining main stage performance to set the tone for the day’s dancing with their upbeat numbers.

Filkin's Drift

Hidden treasures at festivals can be found in secluded spots. The Orangery gets a small print listing but many folks found their way to catch the stripped down core of Filkin’s Ensemble, namely Filkin’s Drift. Beautiful folk music in an idyllic setting.

Track Dogs

When you have a legendary delayed introduction to a festival, you might as well deliver a legendary performance. Track Dogs made up for 4 years of obstacles to show a dancing main stage audience why they are a must-see live act. Brass infused bluegrass is the aperitif for a band adept at mixing so many styles under a folk banner.

Mally and the Hayburners

Defying the limitations of the acoustic tent were Mally and the Hayburners for a slice of teatime rock ‘n’ roll. The crowd responded well to boundaries being pushed.

Cut Capers

"All music is folk music” part 2. You can imagine Cut Capers injecting energetic life into folk festivals up and down the land. They are the ultimate good time band with plenty of rhymic Latino-styled class beneath the unabated show. They went down an absolute storm  and many heeded the call to dance. Totally infectious folk funk.

Gaz Brookfield

Got into the music of Gaz Brookfield at last year’s festival and caught him in Stourbridge later. This year he headlined the acoustic stage/tent on Saturday and ripped his heart open to an appreciative and receptive listening crowd. Just the tonic the artist and music fan needs.

Seth Lakeman

The legend that is Seth Lakeman has been headlining festivals for many years. What you saw late on Saturday night was a folk legend in his usual imperious form. Ageless, timeless and the embodiment of high quality consistency.

Joe Hicks

Kicking off the main stage activity on the final day was Newbury-based singer-songwriter Joe Hicks whose laid back style and fine band made the most of a sound system that was crystal clear all weekend. A new artist who impressed on what became a theme of the festival.

Becky Syson

Becky Syson wasn’t about to trade her positive outlook for the archetypal dark folk song. So it was feel good happiness all the way when opening the acoustic stage on Sunday.

Martin Carthy

No introduction required. Just one man on stage and a lifetime of songs. The inaugural legend slot.

Lunatraktors

You can’t beat a bit of off-the-wall hidden escapism at a folk festival. Lunartraktors returned to Beardy Folk after opening a stage in 2021 to bring their engaging eccentric idiosyncrasies to the burgeoning Orangery alongside some welcome political rhetoric. The emerging scene of the ‘other side'.

Shellyann

Wooing a main stage audience on Sunday was the powerhouse country pop sound of vocalist Shellyann and her band. She came armed with a fistful of originals and a liberal share of smart covers including doing Brandi Carlile’s The Story justice. Another jigsaw piece of Beardy Folk's eclectic nature that went down well with an active and danceable crowd this year.

The Lost Notes

On fine festival form were Birmingham’s very own The Lost Notes making the return trip to Hopton Court to woo the acoustic stage audience on Sunday teatime.

Thorpe and Morrison

Another sneaky detour to the backroads revealed a delightful conservatory set from Thorpe and Morrison seeking refuge from the storm-afflicted Orangery. Their music is special anywhere but none more so than unamplified in this super setting to a privileged crowd

Truckstop Honeymoon

All the way from Wales via Kansas and Louisiana were the festival’s true mavericks Truckstop Honeymoon. An authentic slice of real deal Americana with an entertaining stage demeanour doing its bit to fight off the inevitable impending Shropshire rain.

Merry Hell

Fighting the storm like they fight injustices in this country. Merry Hell were on top form taking a festival crowd on their rousing crusade of wit, serious comment and excellent brand of fiery folk music. Now, as Beardy Folk regulars as you get.

The Magpies

They may have their own festival in August but for now headlining the acoustic stage (a storm refuge) was the domain of The Magpies. The usual sparkling fiddle playing of Holly Brandon and astute guidance of Bella Gaffney was joined this year on guitar by Ellie Gowers showing another string to her bow.

Rusty Shackle

You couldn’t argue with the Sunday headliners this year. Rusty Shackle soared to the challenge of closing things and absolutely nailed it. Not knowing them beforehand was no hinderance as you left Hopton Court singing your heart out to songs born to top the bill at a folk festival. Strong, fun, contemporary, loud and receptive. All round good stuff. 

Sorry nothing from Thursday's three acts as didn't go. That's your wrap on Beardy Folk 2023. See you in 2024.