‘Show Hold’ flashed up on the screen at the back of the main stage. Every festival promoter’s nightmare had arrived. Would an hour long suspension due to a ferocious thunderstorm spiking lightning strips across the site define Beardy Folk 2024? No, that lies with great music filling the Hopton Wafers air for three days and a fourth evening springing countless ‘in the moment’ thrills on erudite festival goers.
For the seventh time, a folk fraternity gathered on a weekend commandeered by an event sustainable in nature and secure in effect. A tight operation countered glitches and enabled thirty-nine scheduled performances to at least commence. The 3 Daft Monkeys will get an opportunity to complete their curtailed set next year alongside late withdrawals The Magic Numbers and the unfortunate Michele Stodart.
An accessible schedule enables each set to be seamlessly enjoyed from eleven to eleven on two stages. The main one is outdoors and now permanently placed within the site’s walled garden. The acoustic stage is now housed in a spacious tent providing timely respite. A setting encouraging more lavish performances nestled among those sparking intimacy.
Beardy Folk follows its West Midland neighbour Moseley Folk in refusing to be bound by genre constraints. ‘All music is folk music’ to a degree. Traditional, original, tunes, songs, singalongs, astute covers, tender ballads and uptempo anthems all rub shoulders. ‘Folk sans frontiers’ reverberates across the site.
The breadth of artist extended this year with Kate Rusby wooing the faithful in pole and Elsi from Norfolk taking cautious first steps at eleven on Friday. Both fit the ideal and seal the deal.
There’s a static crowd, a dancing crowd; a crowd anchored at the front from the off and those sauntering down for a late night party. All play their part. Artists will always create but an audience provides the soul.
Highlights linger in a fond aftermath planning the sequel. Nati graduating from the acoustic to the main stage with band and noise in tow though echoing the same charm and voice. The Dunwells showing the cultured side of festival pop rock; The Rosellys adding a country edge. The international heritage of Michel, Pfeiffer and Kulesh shining through; the Welsh heritage of Cynefin cutting deep. The legacy of Martin Stephenson; the emotive connectivity of Firewoodisland; the poise of Isembard’s Wheel; the class of Kitewing; the eastern charm of Mishra; the stylish song craft of Alex Lleo. Each artist adding a fine stroke to a canvas exquisitely painted. All billed are stars.
The defining moments: Jess Silk questioning the rain unplugged in Travis-style and Funke and the Two Tone Baby coaxing a folk crowd to listen through different ears. Those who discover - know; those yet to - have a delight awaiting
