by David Auckland
It never fails to astonish me just how many people are prepared to put up with interminable delays, impersonal service and rip-off prices, lugging their camping gear half a mile or more across muddy fields, and just to attend a weekend music festival. On the other hand, I know many who refuse to even contemplate the idea, citing overheard tales of feral teenagers running amuck; long queues for inadequate and unsanitary toilet facilities; and outbreaks of trench foot brought about after three days of standing knee-deep in liquid mud. And then there are those post-apocalyptic images of discarded tents and litter left strewn across the sites by revellers too lazy to clear up after themselves.
But it does not have to be like this. What if I told you that you could enjoy the cleanest and most friendly festival experience imaginable within one hour from Norwich; that you would be allocated a camping space on arrival that is mere minutes from all the music stages; and that there would be spotlessly clean toilet blocks and plentiful hot showers? Also, there would be a good selection of reasonably priced hot food (with vegetarian and vegan options), and an excellent range of locally sourced ales at just three pounds a pint. Dogs are welcome, and you can even take your children.
Welcome to the world of Deepdale Festival, the music weekend that celebrated its third year at Deepdale Backpackers and Camping last weekend. Located midway between Brancaster and Holkham on the spectacular North Norfolk coast, a camping pitch and weekend wristband this year cost roughly £65 per person. Alternatively, you could have extended your stay into a proper five-day break for another £30 each and still spent less than half what a ticket to Latitude would have set you back. If you prefer to sleep in a proper bed and have private en-suite facilities, pay a little extra and book a room in the main hostel. Either way, everything is scrupulously clean, and all the staff are wonderfully helpful and friendly.
However, for me it is all about the music, and with a rammed three day programme beginning on Friday morning with Dublin singer songwriter Emma O’Reilly due on stage at 9.15am, I really had to really get my skates on, driving across Norwich during the rush hour and arriving at Deepdale with just minutes to spare. Next year I will certainly plan to arrive on the Thursday, savouring the pre-festival vibe, and gazing into the awesome night sky.
Friday, though, was still an absolute pleasure, with acts appearing either on the Backpackers Stage (in a courtyard setting adjacent to the main hostel) or on the larger Brick Barn Stage (surprisingly enough inside a large brick barn, where original ducting from the old grain blowers still hangs spectacularly from the roof. This was a day for discovering new (to me) acts like the shimmering voice of East Riding’s Katie Spencer, or the rich soulful sound of South African songwriter Josie Field; to become acquainted with Norfolk’s sensational Ben Denny Mo and Lowestoft’s formidable John Ward Band; to re-acquaint with the wonderful Tilly Moses, and spot familiar faces within the ranks of the Cobbler Bob String Band. Lastly, we ended the evening with a rip-roaring performance from the too-good-to-miss Morganway.
Saturday brought the Orchard Stage into play, within a marquee just beyond the Dalegate food stalls and its row of pop-up craft shops. It was here where, seated on straw bales, we were treated to Birmingham’s Niki Gregory, Somerset’s Kitty MacFarlane, and Cambridge’s Fred’s House, led by Vikki Gavin and featuring new recruit Prue Suckling on violin and vocals. For me, though, it was Norwich’s Lucy Grubb and her band that really hit the sweet spot in the orchard on Saturday with her heartfelt set of country and modern Americana. Elsewhere, the Marham Military Wives Choir assembled across the road in St Mary’s Church; Chilè impressed us with their thumping European electro-pop; violin and cello duo Fran & Flora conjured up a unique fusion of East European and Eurasion folk influences; and Das Fenster & The Alibis brought their voodoo rockabilly party to the Brick Barn Stage ahead of London-based Man The Lifeboats launching a raucous but gloriously advertent vein of upbeat folk to bring Saturday night to a close.
It has to be said that we were lucky, and most of the predicted rain fell during the latter half of Saturday night, leaving just a few sharp showers to contend with during Sunday. The quick-draining ground meant very little standing water, and virtually no mud. Blues guitarist Zeph was back, even earlier than Saturday, and performing on the barn stage whilst our coffee and bacon rolls worked their magic. Norwich’s meandering maestro Chad Mason also enjoyed an indoor upgrade, until we were able to move back to the wooden benches and firepits of the Backpackers Stage for Bernard Hoskin, and even spells of intermittent sunshine. One of my personal favourites, Galli, wooed us back into the barn for the lunchtime slot with a moody and evocative fusion of indie-folk, jazz and soul, before a really tough choice between Tin Heart Troubadours in St Mary’s Church and Marina Florence on the Orchard Stage had to be made. Marina won it for me, but by the merest of margins. Such clashes are irritatingly commonplace at larger events, but Festival Director Chris Haycock put a lot of thought and planning into staggering set times, and for the most part kept everyone happy. I only had one more difficult choice to make later in the afternoon when Norwich’s Georgia Shackleton Trio’s set went head-to-head with the wonderful Smith & Brewer.
The climax of the entire weekend for most of us arrived in the form of folk legend Martin Carthy performing on Sunday evening on the Brick Barn Stage. It was a case of standing room only as Martin delivered a masterclass with his delivery of traditional music, every song introduced with a warmth and humility that had us hugely aware that we were indeed in the presence of greatness. His set was worth the ticket price alone. Particularly hard, perhaps, for the four young musicians who make up Gentlemen of Few, originally intended to close the festival on the Backpackers Stage, but again moved into the barn because of the rain.
So, how do you sum up this festival in one sentence? The truth is, you probably can’t, but if you are looking for a friendly and extremely well-organised weekend that offers an eclectic mix of music that makes you want to dance, makes you want to cry, and sometimes just makes you go want to go ‘wow!’, then Deepdale scales the heights and is certainly up there with with the very best of the country’s small festivals. I, for one, will definitely be buying my ticket for next year.
Deepdale also run a series of live music Sunday Sessions, the next one being on Sunday October 20th, and featuring The Sheringham Shantymen.The ideal excuse for an autumn getaway to the North Norfolk coast? Details on the Deepdale website at www.deepdalefestival.co.uk
Original review: www.outlineonline.co.uk/content/deepdale-festival-/live-reviews-/121085/2486