Folk Day at the Proms

Phil and I went to Folk Day at the Proms on Sunday. First we went to Kensington Gardens, and saw Bellowhead play a few numbers. They were on excellent form - lots of tunes to dance to - madly in the midday-ish sun. Then we were wandering over to another tent and saw Pete Cooper playing for a mini ceilidh, so we had a little dance in there, too...nice to see Pete and Sue, but a very long time since we've had a lesson. Soon it will be Whitby, and the folk week so we'll see Pete and Sue a lot more then.

Anyway, we went to look at the Serpentine gallery, and the striking outdoor structure before going to the Albert Hall and the free folk prom. It was amazing, in particular the four piece Musicasz, who then had a play off with the orchestra, joined by Folkestra. can't be more specific as we didn't have a programme.

Then there was a break, and we went to meet Di, Alan, Bernadette, Yasmin and Jim to go into the main evening prom. Phil and I managed to get tickets for the Ceilidh, but the others didn't. So the folk prom -  Bella Hardy, pretty and talented, the last two songs she played were the best. Martin Simpson - seemed to be playing/singing cover versions ! There was a song 'when a knight won his spurs...' that I'm sure we used to sing in assembly at primary school, also a version of Matty Groves - brilliant dark folk soap oper, a song about wishes, very beautiful, but I think was a Pete Seeger song. Thing is, loads of folk music is new interpretations of old stuff, sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. Magical guitar playing. Perfect. 

Then....Bellowhead. This is the best I've seen them play, and that's saying something - I guess it helps that there was room to dance, unlike in Lewes - they really were exciting to watch, dance and listen to - all quite momentous being in the Albert Hall. To cap it all there was a Ceilidh - cleverly organised - rousing dance tunes, some played and danced at breakneck speed- a good warm up to Folk Week indeed. So Bellowhead, when are you playing at the Southbank again?

Hastings

Went to Hastings for much needed R and R the other week, courtesy of a boost to my finances from my mum. It was an interesting experience. Had browsed on the net for places to go to nearish to London, and Hastings seemed easy. Next job, find somewhere to stay. Minstrel's Rest bed and breakfast comes out near the top if you Google it, so we went there, Phil being a minstrel and everything. Also, one of the two hosts was a Phill,(two els) and ex-minstrel. That was it then. Away we went. we got out at Ore station and walked the wrong way...it seemed very dingy near the station, but we knew we were near the sea and relaxed instantly. We phoned the b and b to say we were lost, and co-owner Michelle arranged for Phill to come and get us. Excellent. We got there, it is a normal looking house, in a normal street, but once inside, you are in a medieval fantasy. Each room is different, with meticulous attention to detail. All the toiletries have been re-bottled and labelled by Michelle, and all smell fantastic. Guess what chocolates were in the room? After we settled in, we went off to find somewhere nice to eat. Walked up to Ore villlage but didn't fancy anything there, so walked down to the sea front, a beautiful walk, and looked at the sea...then as we were wondering were there might be a nice place to eat, Phil saw a couple walking down a back street and thought that might be good place to go and look, and it was!!!! nice pubs and fish restaurants, hidden away, and we had a delicious meal at Pomegranate. Taxi back up a very steep hill, was only four quid. we slept well that night.