“We’ve won our atmosphere back.”

That was the verdict at the “post clearing up drink” in the Bowling Green on Sunday evening. The sense of peace that had been a feature of our little festival had all but disappeared over the last couple of years but the Saturday/Sunday 7.00am stroll around the site by the night time “Boss” was a joy. The soft “hum” of satisfied campers (I could have said snoring but I’m nothing if not polite) mixed with joyous birdsong, the views of the beautiful Worcestershire countryside and the wonderful aroma of bacon sizzling in the pan – that stroll was worth a fortune - who cared if they had been the coldest July nights since records began.

And so to the music itself. FAIRFIELD confidently opened proceedings with a brisk set of songs from the new CD (yes it finished and it is on sale!) before MIKE SILVER took to the stage. Why have Bromsgrove never booked this man before? Super self-penned songs professionally performed laced with a great anecdotal sense of humour and a nice bloke to boot. Everything we Bromsgrovians ask for. Bromsgrove favourites RISKY BUSINESS then took to the stage and, as ever, produced the solid set that has made them so popular. Old favourites mixed with new songs from their latest recording presented with superb tight musicianship, brilliant harmonies and the brilliantly distinctive voice of Ruth Fuga which just gets better and better. Her gutsy rendition of Rosie Hardman’s Louisiana brought tears to the eyes of this reporter and the audience to its feet. As hoped, we were treated to The Riskies and Mike Silver performing on stage together – what an album that would make for Terry Wogan to pick up on.

Saturday got off to a flying start with the Morning Showcase of talent from the members of Bromsgrove Folk Club. GRAHAM COLLINS drew the short straw and started off proceedings in fine confident style to show why he is so popular not only at Bromsgrove but also on the local folk club/festival circuit. Our old mate DAVE BLENKINSOP, who is an honorary Bromsgrove regular (it’s a long way to come from Essex on a Thursday night!) followed up with an excellent set finishing up with The Rocky Road to Dublin – another Bromsgrove tradition. KEITH JUDSON just gets better and better. Combining songs from such luminaries as Anthony John Clark with material written by both himself and his wife he produced a set that would grace any folk club anywhere. The Showcase was topped by LADS AND DADS, another home grown Bromsgrove band, extending the line up with the addition of a granddad and a grand daughter. An excellently executed set of songs interspersed with the infective wit of Dave Shakespeare and a hair bristling version of “Somewhere over the Rainbow” from 14 year old Ruth brought the audience to its feet. Great stuff.

Fine dancing displays, unfortunately interrupted by rain, from the STEP ON BOARD Appalachian dance team and black faced ALVECHUCH MORRIS brought us to the afternoon concert and the first official performance of CRAOBH RUA who had flown in from Belfast the night before and turned up at the pub with their instruments and keen to start right away. The afternoon set was a lively affair and got proceedings off with a bang. Apart from being fine musicians, these guys are lovely people who just want to make music and join in the Craic. Next up was HARRIET BARTLETT. At 17 years of age this good looking girl has got a great future in front of her. Brilliant accordion playing that belies her tender years, a promising vocal performance, confident inter-song/tune chat without the prima-donna attitude of some young female performers (who no longer get bookings at Bromsgrove) will undoubtedly see her return. Incidentally, her Mom and Dad are thoroughly nice people too!! howdenjones and cheffins followed up. It takes a lot of doing to get an audience enthusiastic on a Saturday afternoon when all of your material is self penned but they had no problem. An excellent set by MICK RYAN AND PETE HARRIS full of fine singing and playing and not a little humour rounded off the afternoon and the audience left with a buzz of excitement in anticipation of the evening to come.

More lively dancing, this time from local Appalachian side, CAST OFF, and BLACK ADDER MORRIS gave added atmosphere to the between concert festivities. STEP ON BOARD joined in too as their afternoon set had been interrupted by rain. During the afternoon the inimitable BRUISED FRUIT, entertained the kids with juggling and balancing tricks and the odd silly bicycle thrown in.

MICK RYAN AND PETE HARRIS got the evening concert off to a bang, starting where they had left off. Their timing both in their singing and their apparently unrehearsed chat is brilliant and their selection of “silly signs seen on the way to bookings” provides a wonderful diversion from their precise delivery. howdenjones and cheffins again gave us al something to think about and to sing to and their sales of CDs afterwards was testimony to how the audience warmed to them. An extended set was granted to CRAOBH RUA to finish the night and they went at it like men possessed - brilliant musicians to a man. And so to bed (for most anyway!), with a million tunes belting through our heads.

Sunday saw  BOB LINES Sunday Morning Walk at the same time as an enthusiastic SESSION was getting under way in the marquee. Both were very well attended and both enjoyed by the participants. The session was particularly enjoyable and well attended. The World Dry Foam Flinging Championships  - for the some the reason why the Festival takes place – was won with a new record throw of  thirty one feet and one inch (unassisted by the wind) to the delight of the crow that had amassed outside (and inside) the beer tent to watch. More dancing from CAST OFF and GLORISHEARS OF BRUMMAGEM got the lunchtime crowd in the mood for the concert to come.

FAIRFIELD started of the afternoon concert with a couple of warm up songs before bringing RED 10 to the stage for what would be their final festival performance anywhere for the near future – and what a heart rending set it was with audience screaming for more at the end. They have their reasons for taking an indefinite break and we wish them well with their new venture and for the future generally. FAIRFIELD completed the proceedings with a fine set which included a tribute to the late RALPH BARTON, who was the founder of Bromsgrove Folk Club and Fairfield and the original inspiration behind the Festival. Mac Rawlins’s fine rendition of the While and Matthews classic, Memories, was a fitting memorial.

Everybody who had been involved in the behind the scenes running of the Festival including Paul and his staff from the Bowling Green, the caterers, the Red Cross, Ken Buckley and, of course the committee, were invited to join Fairfield on stage for a rousing rendition of Wild Mountain Thyme before the place fell into uproar with the traditional “Climbing Sunshine Mountain” finale. One last tradition, the singing of “pass your chairs in piles of four” to the tune of “Bread of Heaven” saw the marquee cleared, the generators switched off and, before we knew it the Festival had gone for another year. Hugs, kisses and “see you next year” from friends old and new filled the air before the Worcestershire countryside was left to its tranquillity with only the odd straggler left to stagger home.

A great, happy, harmonious, clean and tidy, weekend – just how it used to be!! Welcome back!!