FolkEast Festival

Hello....... So last weekend I went off to FolkEast with some friends, for a weekend of fun, music and crochet.

My friends band were playing on the main stage and invited me along, yay for backstage passes and therefore the cleanest porta loos I have ever seen.

Sadly the weather was a bit changeable, which resulted in some this, not a good mix with wheels of any kind, when we got there a jcb was pulling cars out of the mud in the car park eek.  

So really not the best conditions for a wheelchair, everyone was super helpful though, from the crew at the festival to other festival goers who we only to happy to help with the chair.

The biggest thank you goes to my friend 'C' who did a amazing job hauling my wheelchair and me backward through the mud and bumpy parkland as it was not the most wheelchair friendly site.

But despite that we had a wonderful time.

After the logistics of getting onto the site, we were in need of a nice cuppa and found a fabulous tea tent.

Everything about it was just my cup of tea from the vintage tea sets to the flowery table cloth to the oh so yummy cake I shared with my sister.

and by the time the music started the sun was shining.

So we headed off to the Sunset stage to listen to some Folk music.

First up was Rum Kelter from Norfolk who played a wonderful traditional set of Irish and European Folk music there is a link to there site 'here'

Next up was my friend and 'Hatful of Rain' who play Americana roots music with a British folk twist. They are such a great live band, playing around a single mic, they released there second album 'The Morning Key' earlier in the year

Here's the video for the first single off the new album.

We also saw 'The Rails' perform who were great sorry no picture, but here's a clip I found online.

Later in the evening 'Blowzabella' played a amazing set with so many people up and dancing,to there mix of European folk music. They were followed by Bellowhead more on that later.

One of Saturdays highlights for me was seeing 'The Willows ' who played a beautiful set, another British band playing Americana, they were followed by the 'Hackney Colliery band' who blow the roof off.

Just before we left we caught some of 'Fay Hield and the Hurricane Party', 

now who's ready for some crochet!!!

The yarniness at this festival was sooo good with a designated crochet and knitting tent

running so many workshops shall we have a little peak?

Happy Happy so much yarny goodness

The crocheted wheelbarrow was suggested as a alternative transport system for me

and I couldn't resist a sitting down on the yarny bench and trying the guitar

But this bike was my favourite by far, just the pom pom wheels made my heart sing

and the fab daisy saddle

I love it so, especially the strawberry lining in the basket, I wish I had a bike just like this

plus how great is this fellow, the yarny ladies of FolkEast sure have been busy.

Here's one final look at the display inside the tent, 

there is no picture but I took my crochet along and made some flowers for my scarf while listening to the wonderful music, the perfect way to spend a weekend.

In the dark the festival site look like a wonderful fairyland

with wood carvings lit up to perfection.

These photo's are thanks to my sister who went off with her camera for a little wander

capturing the magic.

Before Bellowhead took to the stage to close the first night.

Back at the cottage we had time to fit in a little music too.

 Such a wonderful weekend, I'm paying the price for the fun now with a bit of payback from my ME/Lyme disease but it was well worth it even though my back has still not recovered from bumping around in the wheelchair, but I'd do it all again for sure.

Clare xx