Listening to ... Frances Folk Gathering
I'd decided that I wasn't going to go to the Frances Folk Gathering this year.
I couldn't seem to inspire any of my friends to come along and anyway the atmosphere seemed to be slipping a bit in recent years. A mob of undesirables seemed to have moved into town and they used the Gathering as a good excuse for a party and to reclaim 'their pub'.
Still, I had some lingering regrets.
I consulted the weather forecast on Friday. Warm on Saturday, HOT on Sunday, HOT on Monday. Not ideal, so with a sigh I resigned myself to making other plans for the weekend.
I went to bed around midnight and read a chapter or two of a book. Lights out around 12:30.
For some reason I awoke at 3:30am and my brain kicked in immediately — wide awake. After tossing and turning for an hour there didn't seem to be any prospect of going back to sleep.
"I might as well get up", I thought to myself, so I rolled out of bed and into my dressing gown.
"What do I do now?" I wondered. "Sit around twiddling my fingers waiting for the sun to rise?"
"Bugger it all, I might as well throw a few things in the car and head for Frances".
Which is why I could be seen heading out the gate at 7:00am with the caravan in tow.
Of course, as soon as I hit the road I started to feel very drowsy. I had to stop for a couple of hours somewhere the other side of Hotspur for a nap, after which I felt considerably better.
I stopped briefly in Edenhope to stock up on supplies, and made it to Frances just after midday.
I was hoping to park my van at the footy ground, but going by recent experience I thought that I might struggle to find a spot. Most are taken by Friday.
I needn't have worried — there were plenty of good spots available, so leaving the van still hitched up I wandered into town to get a programme. I'd turned up not a moment too early. There were several interesting sessions just about to start so I got right into it.
I was walking to the first venue when I bumped into some Bridgewater people. I was half expecting to see them, they're regulars, so I hung out with them a bit over the weekend.
It didn't seem as busy this year — perhaps a few were deterred by the weather forecast — but Saturday was just a perfect day.
This year was the 20th Frances Folk Gathering and the committee had managed to convince some sponsors to stump up a bit more funding. There was enough to bring 4 guest artists rather than the usual 1. They were good ones, too: Pete Denahy, Paul Wookey, Bruce Watson and Kavisha Mazzella.
I looked in on some of their workshops (very inspiring/daunting), before heading back to set up the van and make some tea.
After tea I wandered back and parked myself in the main marquee for more music. The highlight was the late session with Andrew Clermont, Pete Denahy, Paul Wookey, Hugh and Janet Gordon all going for it.
It had been a long day so I hit the sack and slept like a log.
It was certainly hot on Sunday, but OK if you stuck to the shade.
This year I decided to stay on Sunday night rather than pack up and go home which a lot of people do. The crowds thin out and proceedings become even more relaxed. The evening session with Andrew Clermont, Paul Wookey and Hugh Gordon was a ripper. Paul Wookey led the best rendition of Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone", just one highlight out of many. I'm glad I stayed for it. I'll be doing that again in future.
What a great weekend. I'm so glad I made the effort. The music was great — probably the best that I can remember. The atmosphere was great — no sign of the "Undesirables". Not too busy.
I checked out some of the nearby lakes on the way home. Still plenty of water in them. I might plan a trip to Ratz soon.
I couldn't seem to inspire any of my friends to come along and anyway the atmosphere seemed to be slipping a bit in recent years. A mob of undesirables seemed to have moved into town and they used the Gathering as a good excuse for a party and to reclaim 'their pub'.
Still, I had some lingering regrets.
I consulted the weather forecast on Friday. Warm on Saturday, HOT on Sunday, HOT on Monday. Not ideal, so with a sigh I resigned myself to making other plans for the weekend.
I went to bed around midnight and read a chapter or two of a book. Lights out around 12:30.
For some reason I awoke at 3:30am and my brain kicked in immediately — wide awake. After tossing and turning for an hour there didn't seem to be any prospect of going back to sleep.
"I might as well get up", I thought to myself, so I rolled out of bed and into my dressing gown.
"What do I do now?" I wondered. "Sit around twiddling my fingers waiting for the sun to rise?"
"Bugger it all, I might as well throw a few things in the car and head for Frances".
Which is why I could be seen heading out the gate at 7:00am with the caravan in tow.
Of course, as soon as I hit the road I started to feel very drowsy. I had to stop for a couple of hours somewhere the other side of Hotspur for a nap, after which I felt considerably better.
I stopped briefly in Edenhope to stock up on supplies, and made it to Frances just after midday.
I was hoping to park my van at the footy ground, but going by recent experience I thought that I might struggle to find a spot. Most are taken by Friday.
I needn't have worried — there were plenty of good spots available, so leaving the van still hitched up I wandered into town to get a programme. I'd turned up not a moment too early. There were several interesting sessions just about to start so I got right into it.
I was walking to the first venue when I bumped into some Bridgewater people. I was half expecting to see them, they're regulars, so I hung out with them a bit over the weekend.
It didn't seem as busy this year — perhaps a few were deterred by the weather forecast — but Saturday was just a perfect day.
This year was the 20th Frances Folk Gathering and the committee had managed to convince some sponsors to stump up a bit more funding. There was enough to bring 4 guest artists rather than the usual 1. They were good ones, too: Pete Denahy, Paul Wookey, Bruce Watson and Kavisha Mazzella.
I looked in on some of their workshops (very inspiring/daunting), before heading back to set up the van and make some tea.
 |
| Frances Footy Ground |
It had been a long day so I hit the sack and slept like a log.
It was certainly hot on Sunday, but OK if you stuck to the shade.
This year I decided to stay on Sunday night rather than pack up and go home which a lot of people do. The crowds thin out and proceedings become even more relaxed. The evening session with Andrew Clermont, Paul Wookey and Hugh Gordon was a ripper. Paul Wookey led the best rendition of Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone", just one highlight out of many. I'm glad I stayed for it. I'll be doing that again in future.
 |
| Irish music in the pub |
I checked out some of the nearby lakes on the way home. Still plenty of water in them. I might plan a trip to Ratz soon.
 |
| Lake Bringalbert |