We set off form our layby kip at about 8am, stopping en route for a fresh coffee and biscuit (£9!) and at Dorchester Jim popped into the music shop as it opened to buy a new guitar lead. After taking it in turns driving, we arrived at Bridport at 11.so, waved into the festival campsite after showing our camping pass on our mobile phone – forgot to print it off before leaving home – and got the tent set up after puzzling over the poles which had all become detached from their bungees. Found we were camped in front of Ben Morgan Brown who performed for us at Bluebell Roots once and we’ve met a couple of times since.
The walk from the campsite to the town centre is about 10 minutes on a footpath – the campsite is 5 minutes walk from a large supermarket too – so we carried the instruments to the Dagger Stage sound engineers’ gazebo where we left them while we had a quick look around. Very hot day. It was surprisingly quiet for a Saturday afternoon, we expected the main arena to be heaving. On getting back to the Dagger Stage (at Bucky Doo in the High Street) we saw the Lost Trades busking acoustically to the front row because their was a power cut in the town, most businesses being affected. The power came back on for their final number which was a relief and fortunately they are playing another set in the main arena later in the festival. Ben Morgan Brown was up next and he’ll have been the power was back on because he plays fairly quiet guitar which would have been lost in the crowd noise. A good audience had built up by then.
Our set went down really well and we thoroughly enjoyed playing. The sun was out, we had some friends and family there and had a nice comfy tent to sleep in for the night – what could be better? The stage is a large level low stage covered with a big gazebo looking out over a cobbled square with seating behind some barriers and on benches at the side. The sound guys were great and the sound seemed to be good from where we were standing and the video sounds ok. Our friend Sarah took a load of photos for us and the official photographer for the festival took some. We were disappointed that our photo was missing from the programme but it seems that Jim may have sent the logo instead when he sent off all the blurb and sound tech info.
This year we only had the one slot at the festival – last year we had three, but there are so many acts to fit in. It’s a long way to travel for one short set but we love Bridport and the festival and really like Chris who runs it. Our wrist bands got us into the main arena but not the evening ticketed gig so we went to watch a fiddle session at one of the town pubs but had to sit inside with the rugby on the TV and people enjoying a loud chat as there was no more seating out on the patio. Stayed for one drink then headed back to the tent for bangers tea and an early night. The generators for the showers were going and there were some morris dancers practising with bodruns but we still managed to get to sleep. The next morning the generators had run out of fuel so it was peaceful for a while but when they came back on we both had a shower – at a festival! Luxury. We headed back up to the main arena to join in with the singaround session in the beer tent, run by No Strings Attached, which was good fun but had to be cut a little short as the band on the main stage started early.
We looked for Chris to collect our fee in cash for the gig but couldn’t find him. Vicky, one of the volunteers, is a force of nature and took charge, speaking to Chris on her mobile and getting his agreement for her to pay us. We got packed up as soon as the dew had dried off the tent and set off at 12.30 (with the boot open!), arriving home 4 hours later after a good straight run. We had half an hour to chat with Bill and Sophia who had just got back from honeymoon, before we had to dash off to set up for Bluebell Roots.