Three Chords and the Truth UK

Moseley Folk Festival celebrated its 20th staging in fine style with a near-capacity crowd descending on Moseley Park for a re-defining weekend of music, both observing convention and ripping up the rulebook. From the bigger names that eased the ticket selling process to those lower down the bill driving the creative renewal, there was something on offer to all music fans alongside some just basking in the last throes of the summer rays in a friendly inclusive arts atmosphere. After a few years of experimenting with three music stages, the festival has now settled back to two offering a seamless experience. Folk on the Slope is the designated spoken word space presenting talks, poetry and comedy, hence the festival rebranding itself Moseley Folk and Arts. Damien Dempsey      The three headliners had significant fan presence inside the park. All gave performances in line with expectation and created a passionate atmosphere in front of the stage especially hot Irish band...

Seven stagings in and the The Long Road has long created its own identity. Festival goers flock to Stanford Hall in all shapes and attires getting out of it what they want. It’s a loose family tied by a thread embedded in an alternative culture where roots are deep and stems branch out in many directions. People find their niche and extract a sense of fulfilment across a long August Bank Holiday weekend. Whatever the life span of the event, 2026 made its mark in more ways than one. Amidst the storms, mud, rain, evacuations and stage closures, the show went on. The recent passing of an icon was always going to cast a shadow over the event in a positive way. Country, Americana and roots music in all its guises won the day, whether portrayed by the legends or played by the new generation. It was part-DollyFest; part-MudFest and when the ground dries out, all parties can fondly reflect upon a successful outing. Festivals are both a haven of shared experience and an individual pursuit. You ...

  Friday Maverick fizzed into life on the stroke of five o'clock. A brace of options lay in front of early Easton Farm Park arrivals, both resident festival favourites. Violin-playing Chris Murphy got the nod over hard rocking Jon Langford on the basis of a couple of interesting releases this year. Murphy was once again appointed Artist-at-Large, meaning he could literally pop up playing on anyone’s set, and his own ignited an evening of fine music on The Peacock Stage with an improvised solo performance. Loops, vocals, audience ventures and virtuoso violin playing gave substance to this LA-based musician’s set. From a fresh off the press record produced by fellow fiddle player Seth Lakeman, an engaged crowd enjoyed ‘ Clean Break ’ and heartily joined in on ‘ Never Learned to Drive ’ dedicated to that marginalised LA community- non drivers. A great start to the weekend. The Peacock Stage, with its barn location and iconic backdrop, proved the major chosen space for the evening w...