The 3rd Hardwick Live was held in the grounds of a Country Hotel at Sedgefield, Co Durham, the first 2 were held in the middle of September with such acts in the past as The Jacksons, Texas and Simple Minds. But this year the event took place on the 22nd of August, maybe the change was to ensure better weather!

Two music stages provided the entertainment along with a variety of other attractions, which included a fairground, the usual food and drinks outlets and even hot tubs for the brave.

The main stage started with local band The Voluntears with a bluesy rock sound fronted by Seamus Edge; this was quickly followed by Meadowlark fresh from Glastonbury and then the upcoming Natasha North originally from Buckingham singing songs from her new EP 'Gather and Run' which is the title track and an upbeat number which illustrates why Natasha is tipped to be “the next big thing”

Scott Matthews followed, a singer songwriter act with a cello player and acoustic bass. Then next up were The Beat who should need no introduction with their reggae pop beat getting the now larger crowd dancing in the bright sunshine, especially when they played 'Mirror in the Bathroom' which got the biggest cheer of their set.

Yorkshires Embrace played a great set and had the crowd singing and dancing to Danny McNamara’s vocals, and, as he promised rain held off, in fact the weather was getting warmer and sunnier. The evergreen 10CC were next up and it’s quite surprising, or not, just how many great songs they wrote and produced, all the hits were there and did they sound good.

I then made the short hop to the Discovery Stage and just caught the last track from a band I have seen a few times before and should not be missed, The Sherlocks catch them while you can, these boys are great and will be big.

Smoove and Turrell from Tyneside followed with their Northern Coal Music, a sort of Northern Soul but darker, these guys are BBC Radio 2 and Corrie star Craig Charles favourite band and while they were on stage the heavens opened!

On the main stage Razorlight played in the by now monsoon conditions, Jonny Borrell with full moustache that a Mexican bandit would have been proud of had the large crowd of around 10,000 forgetting the pouring rain and enjoying the experience as he played all the hits from their back catalogue.

A quick dash back to the discovery stage to catch Cast, where it was strange to see a band of their stature on such a small stage, but I think because of that closeness of the crowd this just made the whole atmosphere even more electric, probably more electric and storming than the electric storm which was drenching us all!

The last act on the main stage were the enigmatic James, a festival stalwart and a great way despite the rain to end the festival, although I did not see too many sitting down in the by now heavy mud. They rounded off a super festival which was not in any way dampened by the inclement weather, I myself have never been so wet, in fact wet through but not down hearted as along with the capacity crowd all had a great time.

As in previous years, at Hardwick there is a party atmosphere with picnics on the grass, fancy dress, champagne and beer with eclectic food stalls, a good family day out, roll on next year.

John Adamson, Director of Ramside Estates, which organised the event, said: “This was the biggest and best event in Hardwick Live’s three year history and it was fantastic to see so many festival-goers and families enjoying the day. “I would like to say a huge thank you to all of the organisations who supported us in this year’s event and to the acts who kept the crowds on their feet, despite the changing weather conditions.” 

Review and photos: Dave Hudspeth