I am Ashley Elsdon

someone who's doing some things

Category: Festivals

This is mainly going to be music festivals, but it could be any kind of festival I suppose.

So that was the Edinburgh Fringe

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This year’s Edinburgh Fringe felt bigger than before. In fact, it felt a lot bigger in many ways. The crowds seemed denser and much more difficult to navigate through, and even the cab drivers said it was a bigger event than in previous years. I’m not sure if that’s true or not, but it felt like it.

I did enjoy this year’s fringe. As always there were highs and lows. Amazing shows, and things that are better left unremembered. But that’s the way it has always been, and I’ve been going for quite a while now.

Going to the Fringe is always a gamble. Just because a show has a 5 star rating doesn’t mean it’ll actually be good or indeed that you’ll like it. Added to that, the weather is an even bigger gamble, although you could argue that it’s always going to rain if you’re in Edinburgh for the fringe, and I’d say that’s a pretty safe bet.

But it was good this year, and it was fun on the whole. It’s a tiring holiday though. It’s the kind of holiday that you come back from more tired than when you left, and that’s getting increasingly difficult.

I’ll be posting thoughts on my favourite shows over the coming days, but as for those that didn’t appeal to me, I’ll leave them alone and won’t bother boring you with them.

GBBF 2015

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A lovely day at the GBBF 2015
A lovely day at the GBBF 2015

After a break since 2012 I went back to the GBBF. It’s still in Olympia, but as the weather was somewhat overcast it didn’t get too hot in there during the day. But it was a good festival. I’m so glad I went this year. There were some cracking ales there and some very nice food too.

A couple of ales that stood out for me were:

Women of Steel Ale from GBBF 2015
Women of Steel Ale from GBBF 2015

This was quite a light ale, very fruity and citrus flavoured. I really enjoyed it, although I know it isn’t to everyone’s tastes.

Also …

Campfire Mild at GBBF 2015
Campfire Mild at GBBF 2015

I liked this mild for a number of reasons. Firstly, it was a nice mild, and I don’t tend to drink mild much these days. It had a lovely burnt flavour that wasn’t too overpowering at all. Secondly, I liked the name, which reminded me of The Boards of Canada, The Campfire Headphase, and thirdly, I really liked the design. So I think I may need to locate some of these in the not too distant future.

This year was also unique as I actually managed to get my glass home with me! The last few times I’d been to the GBBF I’d not bothered as normally I’d either mislay it on the way home, or it would get broken. This year it lasted all the way home!

WOMAD memories 3: The Portico Quartet

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The first time I saw The Portico Quartet was at WOMAD a few years ago. They were amazing and made a really big impression. Of course, now they’re no longer the Portico Quartet, and they’re just Portico, which is fine. Their music is quite different now, but I still like it. However, for me I think it lacks the impact of the first time I saw them live at WOMAD. That was amazing.

WOMAD memories 2: Nouvelle Vague

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Another great memory from WOMAD days was of Nouvelle Vague. I went to see them in the Big Red Tent and thought they were amazingly good fun. I subsequently bought quite a lot of their tracks. I say their tracks, of course for the most part they are covers, but what excellent covers they are. Truly inspired.

I’d like to see them again, I think they had a good stage presence, but I need seem to see them on anywhere. I think I’d go if I had the chance.

WOMAD memories 1: Mitsoura

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As I was thinking about WOMAD I started remembering some of the high points over the years and I thought I’d share them. One such high point was when WOMAD was back in Reading, before it moved to Charlton Park in Wiltshire. I remember seeing Mitsoura for the very first time there. They were amazing. Something truly new and completely different from anything I’d heard before.

I went to see them again after that and bought their only two albums. I was disappointed that they didn’t do more. It was a shame that they only made those two albums, but that’s how it is. Even so, I’m glad I know their music. Glad I had the chance to see them live a couple of times. That was all down to WOMAD.

Back at the Liberty Festival with SoundLab

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SoundLab at the 2015 Liberty Festival
SoundLab at the 2015 Liberty Festival

So this is the second year I’ve been at the Liberty Festival with SoundLab. This year was a bit damp and wet, but fun nevertheless. We still had a lot of people come along and play and enjoy themselves, so it was a good day all in all. I’m glad that I was able to be a part of it.

iPads at SoundLab Liberty Festival 2015
iPads at SoundLab Liberty Festival 2015

Even though it was wet we had a steady stream of people wanting to try out new ways to make music, and experiment.

A bit of Theremini and AlphaSphere
A bit of Theremini and AlphaSphere

A day at WOMAD

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Obligatory WOMAD flag picture
Obligatory WOMAD flag picture

I wasn’t able to spend the whole weekend at WOMAD this year, I was only able to go for the day this year. Which was ok. The weather was pretty awful on the Friday, so the Saturday was a good option in the end.

So as always here’s the obligatory photo of the flags. I think you have to take one as part of the terms and conditions of the ticket. I heard a few interesting things on Saturday. Possibly the most interesting was Hannah Peel, who I’ll be listening to some more of soon enough.

It was also good to see Hossam Ramsay doing a workshop at WOMAD this year. Quite a while ago I did a workshop where Hossam taught for a day, and that was excellent. I really enjoyed it.

Hossam Ramsay at WOMAD
Hossam Ramsay at WOMAD

So I’m glad I went. It was good to meet up with some old friends and see how the festival has come on in a year. I’ve been going for a long time now, not as long as some of my friends though, and it’s sort of become an annual tradition.

I like WOMAD, but this year it felt a little crowded. I’m not sure why. It was good to go for the day, this year that was enough for me.

Oxted Beer Festival 2015

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Oxted Beer Festival glass.
Oxted Beer Festival glass.

A nice festival and bigger than last year, or so it seemed. At least it must have been a bit bigger as they actually ran out of beer at the Oxted festival on the Saturday night. I’m not sure that I’ve ever been to a beer festival where that’s happened before.

It was a good event. Music wasn’t bad, food had some interesting choices too. But if anyone offers you a sausage role called a ‘ring burner’, just say no. Take my advice.

Wrist band from the Oxted Beer Festival.
Wrist band from the Oxted Beer Festival.

No Beyond the Border this year sadly

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DSCN1646

This is a picture I took one of the first times I went to beyond the border and it always reminds me of that lovely story telling festival. It isn’t on this year, which is a shame, although I do realise that it is more sustainable for it to be every other year. It makes sense. But I do miss it.

Hopefully I’ll get along to it next year. It’s a long time to wait though.