Positive Evolution

Beltane Horsedrawn Gathering  28-30 April 2017

 

As I'm sure I've said in previous reviews for this festival I always look forward to this event. For many the first festival of the summer and a chance to hook up with friends that may have not been seen over winter. As it is attended by many travelling folk and site dwellers it if often the first time seeing some friends since the last festival in September as people hibernate on their sites and park ups or go abroad for the winter months.

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This year as for the last few years I ran my stall in the daytime selling my handmade cards, jewellery and mobiles as well as my art work and photographs. I didn't get much time to go off and take photographs as the stall was pretty busy and I didn't take any of the bands I saw as I just wanted some time off!

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This is a proper old school festival with a brilliant vibe but it is getting bigger every time and this year saw a much larger gathering of people. Sadly because of this it has lost a bit of that personal feel. Going back a few years you could arrive on the Friday and see all your mates and make some new ones and you would continue to see them over the weekend. This year I didn't bump into some friends until the Sunday despite us both being there all weekend. Having said that it is still a small intimate affair with no fences and no security. The people police themselves and there are generally no real problems.

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The main bands I saw were on the Sunday night which was a trio of my favourites starting with The Sporadics followed by Back to the Planet and ending with Tarantism. All were brilliant, all should have played longer especially Tarantism who had to cut their set short at the end due to no power left.

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I also got to see a couple of my friends play on Sangers stage, the lovely Cara Means Friend and first time performer Ria who got through her set like a pro despite being terribly nervous at her first gig.

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Also some money was raised by all sorts of us there for a dearly loved traveller friend Adi who recently passed away. Hopefully he can now have the send off he deserves :)

 

Below are a selection of photographs from the gathering.