Over 25 years the Ely Folk Festival has gained a reputation for having a superb line up of new and established acts and of being a very relaxed festival with plenty of space to relax in. The weather this year was incredible, having lots of room allowed everyone to stretch out without getting on top of each other, the new covered eating areas provided much needed shade.

Oysterband
Lau
John Tams & Barry Coope
The Demon Barber Roadshow
Maggie Bell, Dave Kelly, & the BBQ
Faustus
Vin Garbutt
Chris Sherburn & Denny Bartley
Harvey Andrews
Les Barker
ColvinQuarmby
Chris & Kellie While
Wizz Jones
Pete Morton
Woodshed Band
New Essex Bluegrass Band
Dogan Mehmet
Tyde
The Floozies
Beckleberry
Bryony Lemon & Friends

The Demon Barber Roadshow were headliners on friday night, and what a show they put on! It was a hot night and they turned up the heat even further with their songs and dancers. Their clog dancing, Morris and Rapper dance were all delivered with the wild energy that marks their performances out, add in a human beatbox and it was a hell of a show.

Colvin Quarmby had been asked back after their great performance here a couple of years back, they really turned up the energy with their eclectic and sometimes plain bonkers mix of musical styles and banter.

The Floozies are a local favourite and were perfect entertainment for a hot afternoon with their cool jazz tinged folk.

Harvey Andrews is something of a living legend with seventeen albums to his name and a career spanning five decades.

Chris Sherburn and Denny Bartley

A hot Friday night turned into a dry hot Saturday morning, there was still a buzz as many talked about last nights performances by Colvin Quarmby and the Demon Barber Roadshow over breakfast.

Saturday at the Ely Folk Festival is traditionally the main day for Morris, kicking off with a parade trough the town and culminating in much dancing outside the beer tent back at the festival (handy that). The Witchmen are one of the most striking and loud Morris sides, their pagan infused tunes and dances are exciting to watch.

The prize for the most colourful side must go to the Ouse Washes Molly side, their eye watering outfits could probably be seen from Mars...

Beckleberry opened the days music on the main stage with their gorgeous harmonies.

Lau wisely sat down for their set, it was mighty hot in the main marquee.

The Woodshed Band got everyone taking notice when they got the bagpipes out

Chris and Kelli While went down a storm

John Tams & Barry Coope, two gentleme of folk showed evryone how it is done. They held the audience packed into the marquee in their hands.

Headliners the Oysterband delivered a blistering set, the hot evening just made it betterdespite the marquee being mostly seated the front of the stage was rammed with people dancing. Ray Cooper leapt off the stage into the crowd, still playing his harmonica!

Meanwhile, over on stage two, Denny Bartley and Chris Sherburn were brewing up a storm of their own. Their Anglo Irish folk is intense and trance like, the audience was held in their spell for the whole set. A fitting end to a hot intense day of wonderful music and dance.

All this sunshine! The Sunday was a fraction cooler with another great day of music for the by now very chilled out crowd.

Dogan Mehmet is a one off, blending Turkish and English folk to great success.

Vin Garbutt was a great presence all weekend, with a 40 year back catalogue we were spoilt for choice.

Les Barker, who admits to being a professional idiot raised many a titter on stage 2. He must have been roasting in that fleece...a

Tyde continue to impress with their energy and commitment, interestingly they drew a bigger crowd than Lau who were in a similar slot on the Saturday.

Chris and Denny got to play the main stage today

Faustus were a revalation as a five piece, the addition of James Fagan on guitar and Pete Flood on percussion made them sound even better, this was a real treat as it was their first festival appearance as a five piece.

www.elyfolk.co.uk/