Rachel and Kenny McDonald of the Bridge Inn, Dulverton, Exmoor liked the pub musicians who entertained their regulars so much during the Dulverton Folk Music Festival that they are searching for local folk musicians who can make it a weekly event.
Given the warm and welcoming atmosphere they have created in their traditional Dulverton pub since taking it on in December 2006, I don’t think they will have to wait long.
Situated on the River Barle, just before it meets the River Exe, south of Dulverton, in one of the most beautiful parts of Somerset’s Exmoor, the Bridge Inn, Dulverton had an absolutely splendid atmosphere over last weekend (27th – 29th July 2007) of the Dulverton Folk Festival.
Folky sports were being played on the banks of the Barle. Plate smashing competitions, three legged races and a great beer festival at the pub. Who would want more?
I arrived Friday evening and walked into the spacious bar of the Bridge Inn to find an acoustic guitar and fiddle duo getting stuck in. The duo quickly became a trio with my flute and occasional soprano sax contributing to some absolutely excellent fiddling and singing by a couple of Bristol’s most excellent folky musicians.
Saturday lunchtime brought in more folk musicians with a melodion, whistles and fiddles. Liz Law and Terry Conway joined us for a while. Liz Law plays the dulcimer wonderfully and Terry Conway has a singing voice perfectly attuned to his guitar and the folk genre.
Later in the afternoon, Pete and John of the Crediton Folk Festival took over, contributing their own special brand of British dance hall songs and humour, which gave the rest of us a chance to disappear off to the Dulverton Caravan Club campsite for a quick barbie. Whilst tucking into some perfectly cooked chicken, I discovered that the wife of one of the musicians is an author and was fascinated to hear about her oncoming novel which is set in the Highlands of Scotland and sounds really intriguing.
As the rain started to come down, we returned to the Bridge Inn, Dulverton for more folk tune playing until we were just about played out. We even had a dancer who leaped around all over the floor of the pub and, later on, a musical saw and harmonica duet that proved very popular to end the evening.
My only regret was not to have had the chance to take in some of the concerts, which I heard were well attended.
But then there is always next year … And I’m really looking forward to returing to the Dulverton Folk Festival in 2008.
Bye for now
Rob
(News of other articles and stories by Rob Hopcott)
I’ve just heard that the Dulverton Folk festival is going ahead this year again 18th July to 20th July 2008 and am happy to give them as much publicity as I can.
