9 days, 9 ceilidhs, multiple gigs and potholes, oh so many potholes….sleeping on a hill full of potholes is no mean feat, I can tell you!

Campsites aside (or maybe included…), there is definitely something special about Sidmouth FolkWeek – I don’t even know where to begin with my highlights from the week.

First there were the ‘concert-y’ gigs – I was going to call them the ‘chilled out’ gigs, but that just wouldn’t do them justice.  Click on the names, it’ll take you to their websites…you won’t regret it, I promise…

Maz O’Connor – a folk singer and songwriter from Cumbria, who launched her album at the festival (which I now regret not picking up a copy of!) Maz’s blog says “it’s a very strange feeling to have a room full of actual people singing the chorus you wrote in your bedroom” – but how could you not? In fact, I’m still singing it now…”I’m a rambler till I die, die, die…”

Jackie Oates – the only person I’ve ever seen play a violin and a viola. At the same time….

Jonny Kearney & Lucy Farrell enchanted the audience with their mainly self-penned songs and raised a few laughs with “Lullaby“. Simple, yet captivating.

For tonight, I’ll leave you with Fay Hield & The Hurricane Party – a bit of a who’s who of folk, to say the least!