Review
It’s been a long time since I added to the blog and this post started when the Broadstairs Folk Week festival guide and yellow wrist-bands arrived. This always required some preparation and research and, although intended as a preview, it was not completed. So, this is a record of what we enjoyed.
In no particular order…
See the graphic here…
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/ixkEyS6npqD2SHcA/
Queen’s Road Baptist Centre
Kathryn Tickell and The Darkening
https://www.youtube.com/embed/FUTTQlCctgI?si=9TpKvbXZghiMOT6-
https://www.kathryntickell.com/biography/kathryn-tickell-and-the-darkening
Great musicianship from everyone including the Northumbrian pipes and clog dance.
Oysterband
https://www.youtube.com/embed/ch-t8UaGMPA?si=KMgXQMlGWwp9IqG1
A fairwell tour from this local band and very polished.
Daphne’s Flight
https://youtu.be/LX5dmfi3J5o?si=Jg8EMW3ZyuXzP6u0
https://www.daphnesflight.co.uk/
A personal favourite of ours – with a new album! Miranda Sykes has slotted in wonderfully and had her kiddy with her. We are booked to see Chris Whiles and Julie Matthews later in the year both as their duo and in St Agnes Fountain, the Christmas band.
The New Radio Ballads ‘In the Footsteps of Evans MacColl’.
Six themes and songs broadcast by the BBC in 2006 deserving another round of attention.
Le Vent du Nord
A special dose of Quebec folk. We were delighted to see them again.
Tim Edey
Best ever with excellent guests.
Broadstairs Sailing Club
Our favourite venue was very popular this year. Brunch guests included Red, Green and Blue, Lauren South (spotify: Tiny Boat, 2024, shruti-box with a voice like Kate Rusby), Huw Williams (fine stories of finding himself in the music business), Jez Lowe, Four Gone Conclusion and A J Clarke (funny as ever). Notable support included Natasha Norodien.
The Acoustic Hour is introduced by Sally Ironmonger and Brian Carter who feature themselves on the last day. Guests were Ashen Keys three Kent-based women, Alden Patterson, Keith Donnelly (a couple of great stories, one about Guildfest and one about Gazza), Bob Fox, and Ben Paley.
We enjoy the informality and intimacy of the morning sessions at the Sailing Club.
Jez Lowe, Talk to Me Dirty in Geordie
https://youtu.be/LPp5xdF0egk?si=TGrkoazVQTFAR_id
Crampton Tower Museum
Special mention must go to the Kent Song Collective who put on a show called “It’s Electrifying! Songs of Energy and Potential”. Also the Girl Talk for their amusing observations.
In a church hall in The Vale we saw a superb performance by Ewan Wardrop called “Sweet Thames – The London Folk Club Story.”
At The Sarah Thorne Theatre
Stuff we didn’t see…
Bonfire Radicals
Monster Ceilidh Band
https://monsterceilidhband.co.uk/
From my Facebook post
“Phew! What a scorcher! 24 degrees in Broadstairs. Water and fans essential tools at our favourite morning music venue. Footbath not necessary.
Must be hot for Morris people wearing black velvet pantaloons and long polyester socks. (Not illustrated here.) We did see some Morris people having brunch of sausage roll, carrot cake and Guiness.
Plenty of people on the beach and some visiting young and old Folkestone sh1tehawks looking for their next victims.”
A whole host of FB posts here…
https://www.facebook.com/profile/518812749/search/?q=broadstairs
We managed to fit in a coastal walk to Ramsgate harbour and had a coffee in the largest ‘Spoons in the country.
2025 will be the 60th anniversary of Broadstairs Folk Week and the first with a new artistic director after Jo Tuft has retired. New era!