Festivals etc.

Hi all,

I've just come back from a busy couple of weeks of shows and workshops. Warwick Folk Fesival, Folk by the Oak, Sidmouth and Cambridge Folk Festival dates with the Jackie Oates band sandwiched four days teaching at the first ever Cheltenham International Guitar Festival. I say first, because for the last fifteen or so years, it's been held in Bath. Same faces, different town, but just as much fun as usual. I had the priviledge to work with some truly lovely people, and a lot of laughs were had as well. The general format is that we work on songs and techniques during the week which culminates in a student showcase concert at the end of the week, in which nerves of steel are demonstrated by those for whom the stage is an entirely new place to play!

As for Jackie's band, we played some lovely gigs, including four seperate appearances around Cambridge Folk Festival, and one at Sidmouth, sharing the bill with Julie Fowlis, an artist of whom I have long been a fan.

The great thing about festivals, is the chance to hear artists I've not previously got around to checking out: Highlights for me at Cambridge were the Carolina Chocolate Drops and Salsa Celtica.

The next stop is Shrewsbury, then on to Towersey. See you there!