Spent some time at the National Folk Festival today. If you have never been before I can highly recommend it. Canberra puts on amazing weather at this time of year and today she didn't disappoint. So swing by, non-Canberrans you don't know what you're missing.

Saw lotsa lotsa bands. DIDN'T see the Yearlings (dammit, Leah!). Saw a crazy young Balkan band called the Woo Hoo Collection and danced through the whole set. Saw a guy playing old Steve Earle covers at the Stockyard while eating damper dripping in maple syrup.

Probably the best though was the highly anticipated face-off between circus performers and morris dancers in the Majestic. This ran as a kind of reality tv game show pitting the buff physiques of the circus guys against the, um, colourful hankys and knee bells of the morris dancers. Hilarious.

The circus won but really you've got to hand it to those morris dancers. Those guys must be seriously in touch with their masculine & feminine sides wearing raffia hats with woven ribbons and flowers, not to mention again the knee bells (?) and large hankerchiefs. They have either oodles of self-confidance or are in desperate need of a shag to sort them out. Do tell if you have any experience with these matters, I'd be most interested.

PS Thanks for your kind words about the band, I've had a bit of interest re drumming. We can't afford that bloke from Melb with the blond tips, so we're still looking if you're keen. xx

Comments

[downtomysoul]

Apparently there was also a guy who made a clarinet out of a carrot and played a camp stool like a flute? Now I really wish I could have gone!

[Jean]

I always used to like watching the morris dancer when I visited the Faversham Hop festival. Yes they are a breed apart but such a joy to watch.