woodland weekender

Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September
secret woodland location near Canterbury

Saturday evening involved old travelling friends Jo (with her partner Mikey as the Sussex-based duo Fell), Stef (with his partner Peni as the Wales-based duo Hen Gan) and Jim (part of Oxford-based trio Owl Light Trio). A set from Fell (Jo on melodion, Mikey on fiddle and nyckelharpa plus Jim guesting on concertina), then a set from Hen Gan (Peni on various wooden flutes, whistles, gaita, folk oboe, Stef on concertina, mandola, gaita and Welsh drum), then everyone together for one last tune. A lot more dancing than usual for these woodland gigs! The session carried on for quite a while after the gig proper (until it was just Jim weaving solo concertina magick for a few of us sleepy stragglers).

The Canterbury crowd aren't really familiar with a lot of this droney Breton-type folk music... one older attendee later told me he'd had his mind blown and felt like he'd been transported back centuries.

The weather had been looking iffy all week so I was expecting to have to cancel at least one, if not both of these gigs, but miraculously, the heavy weather came in just as the Saturday evening gig was winding down, and had pretty much blown over by the time the Sunday afternoon one started. This involved Leonie Evans again, this time with her friends Noah and Sam from the States. They swapped around on electric guitar, drums and bass, playing each other's songs, with a generally country-ish vibe, but absolutely gorgeous. Support came from 2/5 of the Allen family: father Pete and son Toby, apparently the first time they'd gigged together, playing a variety of old time, Cajun waltzes, etc., and joining the others at a couple of points during their set. This gig had a fairly small audience (the night before was pretty full), but that made for a lovely intimacy. Even little setbacks like a broken string added to the spontaneity and joy of the occasion. Thanks once again to everyone involved (and the local weather spirits!)