festival season

It's Download this weekend and I'm gutted I'm not going for the second year in a row. However it's been pouring down all week and I can imagine what the ground will be like. I usually go to Leeds too but again missing it this year. I just love the music, the atmosphere and the people there. I don't know what's happened to the weather - as the years have gone by it's gradually got worse and worse but I've had some wonderful times and met some great people over the years.

During the end of May weekend we were at the Strathyre Music Festival from Friday until Sunday with 'Saltire Steel' the all women steel drum band that my DDs play in. Their alternative name is the 'One Man Band' as their Dad, my DH, is their Drum Kit drummer, supplying the rhythm while the steel pans produce the melody.

Strathyre is a small mainly local festival with everything from pipeband, ceilidh bands, rock bands, solo folk and country singers performing in a giant Marquee and an open stage with jamming sessions in the pubs and hotels after until the wee sma hours.

Being older now DH and I stayed in a B&B while the rest of the band stayed in a hostel. Glad we all had dry accommodation as we had thunder, lightening and torrential rain around lunchtime on the Saturday. The gazebos were collapsing under the weight of water and everyone was 'drookit' i.e. literally soaked to the skin, and I believe the campsite was under water. Sun came back out and we were all 'steaming'.

These small festivals are the best. The musicians, singers and the paying public all mix and mingle and by day 3 have become friends.

It's a little gem!

What a fantastic line up luckygirl!

Folk by the Oak - one day family-oriented folk festival with top headline acts: Levellers, Kate Rusby, Eric Bibb, Show of Hands, Shake the Chains, This is the Kit, Leveret - and lots of fun all round the site.

I've always wanted to go to Glastonbury and it's been on my bucket list of things to do before I die, but as I get older I'm not sure I am now up for it. It has become far too big and I would not like to camp, I think I might forget where I left my tent !!
I love rock music but I'm not enamoured of most of the music of today. I think I will stick to my Dad's.

I've been to Sidmouth several times. It's all great if the weather is agreeable but a bit miserable if it's cold and wet. I went for one very wet day last year and had to work hard to have fun.
Many years ago I went with boyfriend (now DH) to Krumlin near Halifax. It rained and the organisers ran off with all the money and didn't pay the bands. We were in a tie-dyed tent.