Woodford Folk Festival – December 30th 2010 – Live Review [P1]

Review: Kenada Quinlan
Photo Credit: Silvana Macarone

The first day of blissful dry weather and the number of smiles has doubled at the sight of the sun. Tallulah Rendell’s first port of call before her 6 week tour of the continent is a string of gigs in the usual Woodford fashion. Strumming soft emotive of blues driven rock, the half-Australian, London based solo artist resembles the tones of PJ Harvey. Taking inspiration from an operatic era, Rendell’s quaintly captivating structures decide to haunt at instances, delivering momentary bouts of individualism.

Rushing passed the Didgeridoo making workshop, buskers and grass-hoppers on stilts bewildering young children – to the 12-bar, who are offerring Guinness on tap and strange tasting cocktails prior to Thrillbilly Stomp. “Yeah we’re pretty old school” admits Mandolin player Bill Bradney before breaking into their own brand of thigh slapping, finger jerking country sounds. Enough to break out your inner choreographer, the number of stompers multiply as new friendships are formed knee-deep in relentless flying soil. Welcoming a guest washboard player to the stage, vocalist Liz Edwards apologises to their new compadre about the subsequent key changes. Skipping with limbs in the air through ‘The Dickhead Stole My Hoe’ and Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’, this Lismore 4-piece fire up The Blues And Roots Stage effortlessly.

Donating your lunch money to save a tree in a bid to assist the breathing of the human race on your merry way to The Grande, instills a brief feeling of accomplishment. On stage and undercover from the burning heat, Monsieur Camembert have already conjured up their own dancing sludge-fest front and centre. Well known for their Leonard Cohen covers, this gypsy jazz ensemble jovially swing their way through lengthy structures, while the double bass instrumentalist bounces in time. Crowding the stage, the 10 strong provincially inspired musicians create generous atmospherics, dancing in unison amidst the setting sun.

Brisbane based reggae fanatics Kingfisha are pleasing crowds in the Trailer Trash area with their traditional blend of dancehall. Those in attendance are hopping delightfully from one foot to the next and spinning aimlessly on a cover of Willie Williams’ ‘Armagideon Time’. Mohawked ladies and the dreadlocked musical appreciation network smile consistently to each note of the slightly repetitious yet expertly delivered compositions.

… Read Part 2 of the Woodford Folk Festival review here…


Related Articles:
Woodford Folk Festival – December 28th, 2010 – [Photo Gallery]
Woodford Folk Festival – December 27th, 2010 – [Photo Gallery]
More Woodford Folk Festival articles….

Related Article and Galleries by Kenada Quinlan:
Interview: POLAR – The New Noise
Interpol “Interpol” – Album Review