Rock Regeneration

Julian’s Bridge Water Meadows, Wimborne

The weather though forecast as changeable is thankfully dry on the second day here at Hen Fest. The campers are welcomed with lots of white and grey fluffy clouds, along with short bursts of welcome sunshine. If you thought yesterday’s line-up was good just check out what today’s has to offer. Not only do we have a multitude of top musical acts, there is also a host of activities for all the family. The organisers have laid on an early afternoon “Famfit” exercise session with Mr Jackson from the local Oakdale Junior School. There are also arts, crafts, a silent auction, healing tent, tombola and a huge raffle with some very desirable prizes.

The music starts off with singer/songwriter Joe Boiling, who brings some acoustic goodness to the freestyle stage. With people comfortably sat around on bean bags and scatter cushions in front of the stage; Joe entertains with some fine original tunes including a song called “Tokyo” which Joe explains he usually gets wrong, but today nails it with a beaming smile. There is a touching song called “Time Machine” about looking back retrospectively over a failed relationship. Joe’s girlfriend’s brother Charles Michael Duke is on the waiting list for a lung transplant and he quite rightly highlights his campaign #DonateMate. Just follow these simple instructions and we could save lives:
1) Sign the organ donor register here
2) Tell your next of kin
3) Nominate a Mate to do the same.

Joe ends his short but very enjoyable set with some appreciative and supportive applause.

Kadia make a welcome return to Hen Fest next with the trio taking to the mainstage, before a crowd of patiently waiting fans all sat hoping for them to repeat their classic performance of last year. They don’t disappoint with a collection of Cello-led tunes including versions of “Raggle Taggle Gypsy” and Katy Perry’s “Roar”. Cellist Lee must just love looking out at the audience’s reaction each time they play these tunes. To the Kadia virgin’s out there it must come as a huge surprise to see the guys play tunes like these. As well as the covers the guys perform some more traditional tunes including “The Beat of Bodmin Moor” and a tune about a pirate called “Captain Ward”. The band end with a huge crowd pleasing medley of popular tunes which exceeded last yearís count with easily 20 + songs performed.

A welcome addition to this year’s event is local singer Philip John, who pulls a big crowd over on the second stage. Philip has a voice like no other, powerful with a huge range easily heard above all the din of the festival. With just an acoustic guitar and a handful of self-penned songs he entertains the whole audience with ease. He has just released a new EP called “Sung for Ghosts” performing “Only Follow” and an epic tune called “Russian Dolls” from it.

The Darwin’s bring their politically charged tunes to Hen Fest next and in addition to last years performance, they have brought along their evolutionary brass section with them. This three-piece brass section certainly adds a new dimension, very welcome to their tunes. There is song about that villain Robert Maxwell called “Raven” and a great number called “Here in the Shallow End” that has a distinctively Motown feel to it. The highlight of the set was a newish tune called “Another English Summer” which was written about the riots in London a couple of years ago, but could easily have been about the fighting by (so-called) English football fans at Euro 2016. The only clash of the day meant I had to miss the end of their set as Quinn’s Quinney, one of my son’s favourite local bands were starting on the other stage.

Quinn’s Quinney are a band I get to see quite a lot as they play lots of festivals in the region throughout the summer. Their CD (Along with the Trav Cats) is constantly on in my car as I get told to put it on by my 8-year-old son who loves their funny reworked tunes. Today there are just five of them compared to the usual 12, this does not stop them pulling one of the biggest crowds of any of the bands. They make you sing along and smile at the same time with tunes that have hilarious reworked lyrics such as Britney Spears “Toxic” and Gloria Gaynor’s “I will Survive”. Frontman Rob Farrington holds everything together, looking around at each member giving them the casual nod when to come in. It is a well-organised chaos that works with a revolving line-up that can change with each gig they play. The band try to leave the stage, but the audience are having none of it! They demand they play their now world famous parody of Kings of Leon “Sex on Fire”; a very Dorset version called “Tractor’s on Fire”, which of course goes down a storm with the crowd and my son Luke.

A couple of new additions from across the pond have been added to the festival this year; as these acts were playing fairly close by, organiser Gail snapped them up to play. The first of these is Jason D. Thompson from North Carolina, USA, with his drummer Kurtis Bento. Jason dressed in blue dungarees and a trucker’s hat treated us to a beautiful mess of expertly played American-style country/blues. The songs are delivered in a very rootsy way with a brutal honesty that easily makes an audience warm to him.

Dana Sipos from Canada graced the stage next with her two-piece band. The first thing you notice is Dana’s voice; which is just a delight to listen to, a perfect vocal range with a crystal clear clarity. With each song played you feel yourself warming to the delightful tunes which include a beautiful song about birds called “Morning Song”. The last number; a song about an angry storm witnessed in Florida, features some very enjoyable audience participation. A truly talented performer that would be welcome to grace the shores of our small Island anytime with her beautiful music.

The volume gets cranked up a notch when rockers Sound The Siren arrive on the Freestyle stage. The band fronted by Heather Crabbe are fresh and fighting fit, ready to entertain. The band play a set of mainly original tunes which include “Badass”, “Get Out” and a fine slow burner of a track called “Rebirth”; which features some nicely arranged uplifting guitars, that create an intense build up. A good solid set that I’m sure will earn them some new fans from the Hen Fest crowd.

The Trav Cats are a band that were just made for playing summer festivals with their large following of loyal fans. Their aim is to drink the bar dry and make sure everyone has a steamingly good time at their shows. The tunes are infectious and will have you singing along within seconds of hearing the choruses. They are such a happy band and don’t take themselves too seriously, this relaxed approach always works with their audiences. They have loads of people up dancing to songs such as “We’re not a Band” and the foot stomping “Wolfman of the old Bull and Bush”. They combine electric and acoustic guitars with Uncle Graham’s stand up Slim Jim Phantom-style drumming, as well as Mike’s upbeat harmonica accompaniment. This is all held together with Phil’s constant beat of his stomp stick and washboard.

Before their performance, The Trav Cats were challenged to a festival football match by the much younger guys/girl from headliners Black Water County. The match was hard fought and won by a last minute goal by Black Water County, making the score 3-2. A re-match has been promised and apparently the Trav Cats are getting themselves in training for next yearís match.

A bit bruised and aching Black Water County climb up onto the main stage for their headline set. The tent is full and after their sterling performance last year their promotion to headliners this year will end this party on a massive high. Their Guinness and Cider-fuelled folk/rock just makes you want to move as soon as they start playing. With tin-whistle, banjo, fiddle and military-style fast paced drumming they create a beautiful noise. A loud sing-a-long of “Fields of Athenry” with the crowd sounding like a football crowd, as a lifelong Liverpool fan I was singing the alternative lyrics “Fields of Anfield Road”, but it was so loud I’m sure no-one noticed. A couple of radically reworked Bob Dylan and Franz Ferdinand covers keep the momentum high, showing this band’s considerable ability to entertain. I have been fortunate enough to see them at various stages of their career and am really happy to see massive improvements along the way. I salute you Black Water County for bringing this great festival to a wonderful close.

So that’s Hen Fest over for another year. Many congratulations to Gail Stuart and her army of minions for putting on a well-organised event with a beautifully friendly atmosphere. An unrivalled, perfectly balanced line-up of great well-selected artists who all performed well and took in the spirit of the event. The amazing news is that the festival raised over £15,000, beating last yearís figure handsomely. A brilliant effort and a great feeling that with all the negativity in the world, people who put their minds to it can still do something so worthwhile.

Videos

Links
http://henfest.org.uk