Words by Ed King / Pics courtesy of Moseley Folk Festival
As the Great British Summer splutters another late April shower or two, and secondary school looms for Sebastian and Miranda, the B13 Birkenstocks and picnic blankets dust themselves off for another Moseley Folk Festival (middle class + weather x outdoor music event = funny).
As always held in Moseley Park, this year’s Folk Festie runs from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th Sept – with (at the time of writing) tickets still available across the weekend.
Although sell outs are not uncommon here so don’t count on being able to just bowl up and buy on the door. For direct info, including online purchase points, click here
And what a beauty this year’s shindig has turned out to be, with some of the great and good from the lower rungs of the Folk ladder supporting a couple of your more inspired headline acts. Plus there’s a bit of a band-member-going-solo speckle to this year’s listings, which is always worth a punt. Unless it’s Damon Albarn, enough with Damon Albarn. Never Damon Albarn.
In the meantime, I’ve cherry picked a few feathers of Folk plumage for you to stick in your hat – should you not want to think too much about the three day lineup. All that reading, I mean…. who has the time.
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Spiritualized
They’re the first night headliners, and blow me down with a yellow Vurt feather (Google it) it’s almost too good to be true – Spritiualized playing in Moseley Park. With no dog walking disapproval asking us to “show me your key please.” Amazing. Wonderful. If they don’t play ‘Electricity’ I might sacrifice a tree.
Born, if ever a word was to be used, from the ashes of Spacemen 3, Jason Peirce’s revolving door Trip-Rock ensemble have been a stalwart on the festival circuit since forming in 1990. The last time I saw Spritiualized was closing the main stage of Glastonbury in 1993 – prompting an unesccisarily twisted walk from one end of a field to the other, trying to keep hold of five people in a sea of thousands. All the time being told something about ‘…floating in space’. Youth, what a palava; Moseley Park sounds like a much safer bet. For more on Spiritualized at MFF, visit, http://www.moseleyfolk.co.uk/line-up/spiritualized/ or https://twitter.com/officialSpzd
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Abi Budgen
A couple of local(ish) luminaries for you on Saturday, starting with the exquisite eccentricity of Abi Budgen – bringing her ‘sometimes surreal and always groovy’ solo set to this year’s Moseley Folk Festival. When not hocking her snake oil ensemble, or performing with everyone’s Little Sister, Ms Budgen is a formidable force in off the wall Country Blues, and the best kazoo player this side of I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue. Immense fun to watch, extreme and talented; what getting drunk on cider in the afternoon is all about. For more on Abi Budgen, visit http://www.abibudgen.co.uk
Stylusboy
As singer/songwriter as you’d expect to find on the Moseley Park bill this weekend, Stylusboy has been churning out ‘handmade Indie Folk’ on Polly Paulusma’s Wild Sound Recordings since 2013 – label mates to Nicky Schrire and Maz O’Connor. Supporting and akin to artists such as Newton Faulkner and Nizopli, Stylusboy released his debut album, Hospitality for Hope, in collaboration with Rachel Grisedale. And according to his website, ‘Stylusboy is currently writing his next collection of songs…’ No doubt some will make their way on stage this weekend. For more on Stylusboy, visit http://www.stylusboy.co.uk/
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Peacock Angel Band
The musical marriage of Sid Peacock and Ruth Angell, this is the six piece evolution of ‘several years as a duo’ from the eponymous artists. Also working together as part of Peacock’s Surge Orchestra, a 20 piece ensemble in which ‘out of the chaos comes moments of tranquility and beauty, sincere tenderness and deep melancholy,’ the Peacock Angell Band also brings a blend of genres and instruments alive on stage – ending in a mellifluous, accomplished and quite beautiful result. For more on Peacock Angell Band, visit http://www.peacockangell.com/peacock-angell-band-2
Bonfire Radicals
Well you got to have some more traditional Folk in there somewhere… Blending strands of Klezmer, Eastern European and Scottish Folk, this six piece can get a little raucous if you let them. Or if you don’t stop yourself and they see you. Either way, bags of slightly anarchic Folk fun – not a bad way to see out your Sunday. For more on Bonfire Radicals, visit http://thebonfireradicals.com/
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Moseley Folk Festival 2015 – official trailer
Moseley Folk Festival ‘15 will be held on Moseley Park, Birmingham, from 04-6th September.
For more about the Moseley Folk Festival, including full line up and programme details, online tickets & directions, visit http://www.moseleyfolk.co.uk/