Quality to the fore at Otley Folk Festival

Then there were concerns about whether the recently drenched Knotford Nook campsite would be be fit for use and how might a suddenly absent pub venue be compensated for.

The biggest concern was whether the previous artistic standards could be maintained.

But when the music and dancing arrived, success shone all around for another a high-quality event enjoyed in summer conditions by ticket holders, visitors and residents.

Thursday night saw things get under way with concerts by local stars at the cricket club and Korks wine bar, where in a new duo with Nick Hall, Michelle Plum’s smooth and highly-professional vocals made sure listeners would be seeking her out again later in the weekend.

When Friday evening came, it brought a choice of 20 acts at pubs and main venues throughout the town.

Excitement stalked the streets from The Whitakers on Kirkgate via Korks, The Courthouse, Civic Centre and cricket club, to the rugby club’s fine function room where 19-year old newcomer Ruth Notman’s singing impressed an audience both for what it already is and the prospects of where it might take her.

Meanwhile, back at the wine bar Mawu – experienced artists in a new trio, delivered cleverly-arranged material with great musical skill, worthily preceding the full electric force of the Duncan McFarlane Band in a performance greeted as ‘immense’ and ‘slamming’ by those present.

The heat was on again when the band appeared on Saturday at the Civic Centre and the cricket club on Sunday.

After the Saturday gig, Duncan’s stamina was up to the challenge of being one of five noted songwriters singing and talking about their work at the Conservative Club.

Wry smiles from audience and performers alike recognised that the entertainment came from players who with the exception of Otley’s one-man-politics-free-zone Gerry McNeice, all expressed socialist leanings to various extents.

Foremost among these was mighty-voiced Alistair Hulett, the international Glaswegian who appeared over the weekend both solo and with his band The Malkies, featuring some clever musicians.

Political irony was remarked on from the Methodist Hall stage on Saturday evening, when West Yorkshire’s most renowned musical activists Chumbawamba brought good cheer and thoughtful concern for an embattled world.

Using delicate harmonies in their singing, and controlled power in their playing, the whole band was in finely honed condition after their European tour.

The eight main venues were in use on Saturday, which also offered 12 hours of music at a dozen pubs spreading from the Yeoman and the Junction to the Drinkers Delight and the Cross Pipes. Saturday was also the main day for street entertainment by 16 Morris sides – threequarters of them from outside Otley!

Their activities were concentrated at Waitrose car park and round the Maypole as well as at the Bay Horse and Woolpack yards, where displays also rattled the air on Sunday. But music is the mainstay of the festival, and beautifully-sung material rarely comes better than Coope Boyes & Simpson, who gave their audience the great pleasure and moving experiences they came for at the Civic Centre concert on Sunday afternoon and again at Korks in the evening.

World-renowned singer-songwriter Vin Garbutt’s performance at Korks enraptured an afternoon audience with favourite songs, a number of which were on-the-spot requests. Vic was back as Festival headliner in the evening with a show at the packed Civic Centre, helping everyone to wind down in a state of delighted relaxation with his meandering conversation and with songs that showed a balance towards his newer work.

Teesside’s veteran songster has been in front of audiences since the early 1970s, but all around him at this year’s festival, youth and recent arrivals were showing a fully-formed ability to entertain listeners whose expectations are high.

In addition to names given special mention above, people will be wanting to hear more from Rachel Goodwin, from Bella Hardy, and from the four-piece Kerfuffle.

Do any uncertainties remain then at the end of a weekend so thoroughly enjoyed? Some people asked how much use of electric instruments and drum kits a folk festival can stand?

But there remains a seething supply of talented players and willing audiences for mixed styles of music, when so much pleasure come from the immediacy of the experience and the closeness between player and listener.

So there’s a feeling of confidence it can all happen again next year despite a significant disappearing venue as the Civic Centre closes for transformation.

In fact the great Otley Folk Festival is not accustomed to so much advanced noticed of the hiccups along the way. And besides, its strong staff of organisers, led once again by Steve Fairholme and Derek Haller, has a pretty decent record of coming up with the goods, for which a lot of people are still glowing with gratitude.