Quite a few years ago, we did a thread on favourite venues, with the emphasis on the quirky and the oddball. I recall that my contribution to that thread was Buxton Opera House. I was put in mind of this when I went to the first Durham Folk Festival, a couple of weekends ago. This is the successor to Hartlepool Folk Festival, which felt it needed to slip off its skin in order to grow. I had a fine old time, as I will reference in the Takeover, no doubt. But it wasn’t just about the artists’ roster. The organisers really justified the move by making the most of what the city had to offer. This leant in to different historical and cultural strands, plus, above all, the architecture. What riches!
The Wilsons are patrons of the festival and it was a delight to catch them several times. They opened the show in Redhills, the historic home of the Durham Miners Association, in the room which held the ‘Pitmens’ Parliament’ – a neo-baroque council chamber, steeped in democracy, co-operation and socialism. ‘Not too shabby’ observed Mike Wilson (aka the best singer in the land – other opinions are available, but they are wrong).
They also played the stage in the Market Square. You don’t need stage lighting when your backdrop is St Nicholas Church and stage right is the Town Hall. The latter was where the dances were held, so I stripped the willow to Banter and The Relentless Ceilidh Band in there, under the magnificent hammerbeam roof, heraldic shields and stained glass.
Saturday night was gala night, with a headlining triple bill of Alastair Anderson, Sharon Shannon and, inevitably, The Wilsons, but this time backed by the full on Easington Colliery Brass Band – there was some debate as to who would be louder. The house was packed, such that I was only able to get a limited view seat. Limited view? In Durham Cathedral? No such thing! Why look at the musicians, when you can gaze at the building considered by many architects to be the finest building In The World? Yes, you read that right.
The little piece-de-resistance was that some gigs were performed on a river cruise. Given that the Wear makes great skeins around the city, the castle, the colleges, the cathedral, this really is quite special. Macdara Yeates and Jennifer Reid made the most of the occasion, projecting across the water to innocent civilians waving from the shore, making the most of the echoes from the underside of bridges.
So, dear Afterword. Been to any out-of the-ordinary venues recently?
Mühle Hunziken, just outside Bern in Switzerland. I didn’t go recently. More like 20 years ago, but it certainly fits the bill.
@thecheshirecat I’ll be spending five days in Durham in a couple of weeks. If you have any tips I’d be most grateful.
PM on its way when I get today’s tasks done.
Thanks for the PM. A couple of things in there I hadn’t thought of. Much appreciated.
Just to say that this may be the first version of this Durham Folk Festival but I danced at the Durham Folk Festival in the eighties. Alistair Anderson was playing at that one, the hall was silent as he played his concertina until someone let out a loud trouser cough. He looked up and carried on playing. Reader it was me.