The Pretty Grim Squire-mobile arrived onsite shortly after two o'clock on Thursday afternoon. With assistance from wannabe Junior Squire Dylan, Stuart and Vicki we got the caravan awning up in the face of rising winds. Dylan even bravely volunteered to peg it down as the rain started so that we were able to shelter from the storm and drink the first of several beers. An hour or so later and the rain had passed over allowing us to get another caravan awning up and then we were all ready for the first ever Folk East Curry and Quiz Night.
The quiz started off well and we had a respectable score after four rounds. Then it was time for the interval and the food, provided by the Froize. The curry, or rather curries, was absolutely fantastic; we were served a platter with chicken, vegetable and venison curries, rice, naan bread, poppadom, chutneys, raita and onion salad - all for the bargain price of £5. The only drawback being that it took so long to serve everyone that the interval became rather drawn out. Several members of the team had lost interest in the quiz by this stage so we retired to the caravan.
The festival proper kicked off on Friday with more rainclouds advancing on Glemham from the west. Most of Pretty Grim congregated at the Broad Roots stage to see the Broadside Boys open the festival in their own inimitable style. We then had a couple of hours to enjoy wandering around the stalls before our Morris dance workshop. Fortunately the last members of Pretty Grim arrived just in time, after having had their caravan towed through the mud by a JCB. After our demonstration of Wrekin Havoc, no less than 25 people stepped forward to learn the dance, with more people looking on from the sides of the marquee. It was probably our best workshop to date with more or less everyone performing the dance quite well, and certainly enjoying themselves a great deal.
The workshop was followed by a dance spot with Golden Star, who are old friends of Pretty Grim, and Rattlejags, who we had never met before. Then it was back to the campsite for tea, while we listened to The Rails. Our camping spot, just behind the Sunset stage, meant that we heard several bands that we didn't see. Finally we rounded off the day with Blowzabella and Bellowhead.
Saturday saw more dancing at lunchtime and then again later in the afternoon. This time we were joined by Haganeth, who are a great bunch of blokes, Fiddlesticks, and the Thameside Mummers, as well as Golden Star and Rattlejags. It was great to share the workload with so many other sides.
In between the dancing I managed to see The Willows, The Hackney Colliery Band, Gigspanner, Addison's Uncle, and Blackbeard's Tea Party - none of whom I had seen before. Blackbeard's Tea Party were a wonderful footstomping dance act who showed their roots as a ceilidh band, but also showed that they are much more than that now. Addison's Uncle were playing the Soapbox Stage, a venue which I had missed last year but which is well worth a visit. They play a mixture of up tempo toe tapping tunes and more wistful folky ballads. I am looking forward to seeing them again at Oxjam in a couple of months.
Sunday lunchtime saw us descend on the Blaxhall Ship, in the company of Haganeth. As we arrived there was a gale blowing a cold drizzle across the field and straight at the pub. Fortunately though the sun had come out by the time everyone had arrived and we had another good session, including a joint White Ladies Aston with our guests.
Back at the Festival site I took in Mishaped Pearls, Keston Cobblers' Club (who were lots of fun), Hannah Scott (who sung gripping songs with a commanding presence on the small Broadroots Club stage), and the Mari Joyce Quartet (who were reminiscent of Nick Drake). I had been planning on seeing False Lights and Blackbeard's Tea Party (again!) but three days of Morris dancing and boozing took it's toll and so I ended up back in my caravan listening to the Sunset Stage headliners from my bed.
As well as the music and the Morris dancing Folk East has plenty more to offer. Our Grimlets enjoyed donkey rides, felt making, ear-ring making, wand making, and jewellery making - all at very reasonable prices. My own personal Grimlet persuaded me to go to the mobile cinema with her to see a short film about Southwold and the Adnams brewery; I hope that I can see more of their films next year. Folk East is a truly wonderful festival which deserves to grow. I look forward to seeing you there next year, especially if you haven't been before.