Tag: Mike Read

Early start for the first full day of the Festival, picnic packed and off we go!

As we had our wrist bands we sailed into the main area and headed for our spot in the Big Top.  Out of the sun but we could get in and out easily to see other live acts around the site plus loos and bar obviously!

Highlights for me were True Foxes who I had seen before when supporting Steve Knightley on his previous tour.  They did not disappoint and with beautiful voices and harmonies, Alistair Russell (compere) said he was so pleased to see a full audience for the first act of the day in the Big Top.  The True Foxes later joined Steve Knightley in his Winter Yards slot later in the afternoon.

Multi-instrumentalist and award winning Tim Edey was on next.  An absolute wizard on guitar.  You could hardly see his fingers moving.  The impression I got was one of a humble artist who seemed a little surprised at the huge audience watching him.  Tim now lives in Scotland but travels the globe with his guitar and melodeon for solo and collaboration gigs.  He has collaborated with the likes of The Chieftains and Christy Moore in the past.  I really enjoyed his performance and again in the Little Top later on in the afternoon.  An Audience with Mike Read was a true delight with regular interviewer Alex Dyke.  I did not realise Mike had so many strings to his bow as it were.  Tennis Player with the true professionals, so many radio shows to his name, acclaimed Radio 1 D J in their heyday. He gave us a tune after his interview on guitar.   A very interesting life and still making the most of it!

First time for me for the Young ‘Uns. (I know, where have I been)!   What a brilliant set.  Such humour, quick wit and fabulous lyrics telling today’s stories.  Keyboard and frontman David Eagle is also a blind stand-up comic and absolutely had the audience in his hands.  We didn’t stop laughing while being amazed at how clever they were at writing lyrics.  Tommy Emmanuel was amazing but a little too long a set for me and others around me, but no doubt about it, a consummate guitarist.

Belting set from Fridays headliners The Dhol Foundation ably led by the fabulously energetic Johnny Kalsi.  Tremendous warmth and energy with such a stunning visual set from the musicians and the amazing dancers.  How those drummers hold their instruments and jump up and down all night is just incredible.  Well done Wickham for booking The Dhol Foundation again!  Exhausting just watching them!  I thought the Big Top was going to explode!  Roll on Day Three!

Jean Camp

Festival website: https://www.wickhamfestival.co.uk/