I rolled up 10 minutes after my scheduled soundcheck start time. No problem. I was done in a very professional 5 minutes flat with the expert help of Graeme on sound. The Tindalls - who kicked off the evening - went on, finished and before I knew it - there I was on the Brewery Stage at Bromyard Folk Festival well into my opening solo set. The atmosphere was great and the crowd were fantastic. I received such a warm welcome from everyone I met over the weekend and saw nothing but enthusiasm for the music that I and all the other artists were bringing to the various venues and stages. I don't think I can recommend this grand weekend in Herefordshire - tucked away at virutally the end of the outdoor festival season - highly enough. Not only is the line up interesting, varied and enjoyable but the character and asthetic beauty of the surroundings is first class. After the mainstage on the Friday I had three more gigs in and around the sites - they use venues in Bromyard itself as well as a green field site just on the edge of the town. I particularly enjoyed playing at a lovely little venue called The Falcon Mews. Set in what looked to be an old barn or malthouse the acoustics were superb and good enough for a totally acoustic set free from fold or feed back ! It was a joy to sing there and I would have happily played for longer than I had been allocated. In the same venue that afternoon I had seen what turned out to be my personal musical highlight - a trio called "The Young'Uns" from Hartlepool. Now it would be fair to say that sea shanties aren't really my thing but these (relatively young) fellas brought such energy and wit to their presentation of various traditional sea-faring ditties that no-one could fail to be drawn deep into the performance. I hope to catch them again in the North East sometime. Other highlights included Jez Lowe & The Bad Pennies, Roy Bailey and Skyhook.

On a different front - special mention to Mark and Tonia who run the Crown & Sceptre where I was residing for the weekend. The accommodation by their own admission wasn't the greatest - they're waiting to have a re-furb after taking over from the brewery and don't officially do rooms at the moment - but nothing was too much trouble. Even when yours truly broke a thumbnail (vital to the guitaring nature of my performing livelihood you understand) Tonia turned up with some super-strength nail glue out of hours to enable to show to go on. Dedicated hosts indeed. And finally......a nod to the finest pizza I've ever had on a festival site. I'm ashamed I can't remember the name of the catering establishment - but whoever they were their Greek Style 7 inch thin crust kept me going on all three days. I'd love to go back to Bromyard sometime and hope that you get the chance to go yourself.