Willowman is one of those festivals that when you get to know about it you wonder why you didn’t hear about it before, it has just about everything your heart can desire in a small festival, but with a big heart.

In the past couple of years or so Willowman has been along a country road just off the A19 in North Yorkshire. But this year the festival moved to new site right next to the A19 a couple of miles north of the quaint market town of Thirsk, so easy to find it is, in fact you can see the site from just off the road.

The new site is well drained, mostly, there were a few muddy spots but if you got your vehicle stuck there were always enough spare hands to help you out which was a rare occurrence. While other festivals were called off or a sea of mud Willowman soldiered on with the ground only damp underfoot, the stalls selling wellie’s did not sell too many pairs!

The festival itself is put together by Steve Williams who has been working in the music industry for almost all his working life and so he knows what is needed in such a venture. The right music, the right venue, the right sound system, the right vender stalls and most of all a beer tent selling real ale including a brew named after the festival “Willow Wobbly Ale”. But a plus is that in the beer tent there is a live band while the change over takes place on the main stage right next to the tent, and while there’s a band on the main stage there’s the change over in the tent … wall to wall live music schimples!...

And of the music, its diverse to say the least.

There’s a few local bands on each stage with the festival opening on the Friday to the super Andy Jones and the Norton Rockets on the main stage, followed by Rosie on the beer tent stage and so on every hour with a new act to see.

Geordie band The Longsands whose new album “Meet me in Spanish City” a reference to now defunct amusement arcade in Whitley Bay has been gaining good revues played the beer tent stage to an enthusiastic crowd. Ending the day on the main stage were Little Barrie an energetic indie combo from Nottingham who also played tracks from their new album “King of the Waves”, their next gig was to support Paul Weller at Jodrell  Bank, which was washed out!

Two great festival stalwarts finished the evening off in style on the main stage, Vintage Trouble followed by Neville Staple, VT went though almost every song in their what extended to 90 min set because of encore after encore while Neville at first calmed the crowd down before opening up with many a SKA classic leaving the large crowd screaming for more and more.

Saturday again was a day to remember; sadly I feel that the forecast wind rain kept away a few of the day ticket sales but those already at the festival were still in the mood to party all day.

Sunderland based band the Lake Poets opened the beer tent stage and one poignant song  of how the lead singer Martin had to tell his grandmother who had altzimers that his grandfather, her husband had died and how she couldn’t understand this. These were followed by the crazy John Otway, a man in his own words “Rock and Rolls Greatest Failure” who played a two ended, two necked guitar, you need to see this thing to believe it, and he got a tune out of it… of sorts!

Out on the mains stage Kill it Kid where must be band to see in the future with searing guitars and rhythms’ and blend of rock and blues.  KIK were stated as one of the best new bands of 2009 and have released a new studio album in 2011.

Drum and Bass trio Subgiant followed KIK which I must admit I rather enjoyed as an older rocker that I am I even moved my feet to their beat.

The act I was waiting for came of after Subgiant, non other that Mr Strangler himself, Hugh Cornwell who played tracks from his new funded by subscription album “Totem and Taboo” along with quite few Stranglers “B” sides finished of with “No More Hero’s”.

Saturday ended on the main stage with Utah Saints, Leeds based Jez Willis and Tim Garbutt (see I did tell you the line up was diverse) who despite the now steadily falling rain had everyone present dancing in the mud and rain. With their brand of manipulating samples from mainstream pop and rock songs, combining them with contrasting dance beats together with a superb light show including the setting off of a fire extinguisher “to see what happens”

Sunday was more chilled, the weather held, the sun shone, most of the time, and the day went well. 

The beer tent had on The Buffalo Skinners who are a group of five songwriters who met in Scarborough, England. The band started out in 2010 playing on the high streets for tips and with an accordion and fiddle in their band played their whimsical brand of indie pop, but highlight on this stage was the re-appearance from last year of The New York All Stars. Once again Steve Williams made a few calls and along came Dave Keyes on keyboard, the broken footed Paul Smith on drums, Neil Harland on bass, Mr Williams himself on guitar along with Elliott Randall of Steely Dan fame (the guitar on Reelin’ in the Years is Elliott). This was guitar porn at its best and in Elliott I don’t think I have ever seen a man who loves playing his guitar as much, and can he play!!!

Meanwhile on the main stage 3 Daft Monkeys from Cornwall consisting of Tim Ashton, Athene Roberts, and Lukas Drinkwater with their Celtic influenced balance of punk, folk and traditional music had the crowd dancing in the sunshine.

They were followed by Benjamin Francis Leftwich (see diverse again)  whose 2011 debut album was described as “Majestic” by The Fly and he was called a “serious new talent  by The Sunday Times, at least he didn’t have far to travel home living in York around 20 miles away.

So… Willowman, if you want a friendly festival without the heavy handed security, where others will give you hand if you need it (I saw Steve Williams helping peg down one of the traders stalls).

With a relaxed atmosphere, good beer and food, I even hopped over and tried a kangaroo burger which tasted like chicken with great and various music genre’s at a reasonable price in the heart of North Yorkshire, then you know where to go.

Review and photos by Dave Hudspeth To see more of Dave's photos go to the willowman gallery.