Review of the 2008 Festival received from Pete Massey of The Marrowbones:

What a weekend! - This festival must been one of the best-kept secrets in Cheshire. However, the secret is now out!  It must surely be the ‘jewel in the crown’ of Cheshire Folk Festivals The Festival only started modestly 3-4 years ago and has grown steadily ever since. It is held on the grounds of the O.C. Club in Bridle Rd, Bromborough, Wirral, Merseyside. The village of Bromborough is on the A41 8 miles out of Chester towards Birkenhead & Liverpool (12 miles). The festival really has a lot to offer in that the O.C. complex houses a large dedicated concert theatre with excellent acoustics and comfortable seating, plus upstairs another small theatre and function room. These are used for smaller concerts and rolling folk club, sing-a-rounds, and work shops. If this isn’t enough there is even an outside marquee for never ending sing-a-rounds and sessions. So whatever the weather, you are sure to have a good time. The field and grounds are flat and ideal for camping and caravans. Plus nice clean toilets and hot shower rooms. Good food is served in the bar (and the beer is reasonably priced!) all day. There is ample free car parking space on tarmac and the overflow field.

This year the weather proved fair and the festival stated with a concert on Friday evening with Martin Carthy heading the bill. Also on bill was local singers Phil Chisnall, Zoe Mulford, and John O’Connell each putting on a fine performance.

Saturday afternoon concert found another local act Alison Parker & the Third Man opening for Jez Lowe with the first of his two spots, - brilliant of course! Followed by the Shellback Chorus, Johnny Silvo, and the headline act for the day with the first of their spots, Chris While & Julie Mathews.

Saturday evening concert found local act Vocal Point opening with Fiona Simpson following. Next up was the riotous Keith Donnelly, followed by Johnny Silvo and finally the last set from Chris While & Julie Mathews to finish.

Sunday dawned with another fine day. It almost seemed a pity to go indoors to see the concert, but with Jez Lowe headlining a bill with Joe Topping, Full House, Les Barker, and Harvey Andrews the shade was most welcome. Needless to say each artist put on a brilliant performance and left me wondering if the evening concert would come up to scratch.

Well it certainly did! Colin Henderson opened for Anthony John Clarke followed by Harvey Andrews before the final guest the Tom Topping ‘big’ Band. Big it certainly was. I counted 7 of them. Tom of course is a very popular local singer with a big reputation. They soon had the whole theatre singing along. The atmosphere was electric, and a superb ending for the festival.

In between the main concerts there was plenty of other attractions going on along with Appalachian Dancers, Traditional Welsh Dancers, and even Belly Dancers! Craft stalls, I managed to catch a few of the sing-a-rounds, and I have to say from what I heard, the standard of singing was very high, - (but it would be being near Liverpool the capital of culture!) Strangely, - there was no Morris Dancers to be seen! 

There you have it! “The Jewel in the Crown” of Folk Festivals. In my opinion. So if you are looking for one to visit next year, take my advice try this one. Its not too expensive, very friendly staff and stewards, with a selection of artists to suit every taste.  In fact I don’t know why I am writing this review! - The word will get around and the rest of the world will be there next year!

See you there next year!
Peter Massey.