FFA were delighted to grab an exclusive interview with a buoyant Steve Williams, festival director of Willowman. Steve has every reason to be pleased; he’s presiding over a festival positively blossoming since its creation, and now firmly on the map as one of the best value festivals of the year. There is history here; Steve was one of the key founders of Scotland’s Wickerman Festival, and, in recently welcoming aboard a couple of other key players from The Scottish Festival, can bring a wealth of experience to putting on a great Willowman event. Add to that probably one of the season’s most eclectic line-ups for a festival this size, and the announcement that rising star and radio favourite Benjamin Francis Leftwich has just been announced to a bill including Jah Wobble, Hugh Cornwell, and festival mainstays 3 Daft Monkey’s, and it’s no wonder he’s got plenty to smile about!

As Steve told us; “We probably have one of the most experienced and innovative teams behind any festival this year – I’m delighted to welcome some of my old colleagues aboard – it’s certainly a case of the Dynamic Duo Rides Again!” Steve joked.

“We’ve grown year on year, learning all the time, and for 2012 we’re putting together a really mixed bill, with a great blend of international artists, and some superb local talent. We’ve a splendid package of acts from the Sunderland area for instance which are really going places, and I’m delighted to give a wider audience the opportunity to see these guys gracing the Willowman stages. I’m badging this element of the line-up as Willowman – Now With Added Sun!” he laughed. (More info HERE.)

“Adding Benjamin Francis Leftwich (BFL) to the bill brings even more diversity to an already varied line-up and we are delighted to have secured him. He is a major talent and we are lucky to have him in the line-up. BFL is embarking on a string of sell out European, Canadian and American gigs and he can only get bigger.”

It doesn’t end with the music, Willowman is expanding on that wealth of experience to widen the non-music offerings too. “There will be loads more for the kids this year. Previous visitors will know that the design of the arena means that your kids are rarely out of eyeshot wherever they are, and now we’re expanding the dedicated kids area in the top corner with our new Willow Wonderland children’s area. We have sourced local school artists to decorate the environment for us … so we can guarantee that the Wonderland will have plenty to enthral and keep the kids, and the parents, happy!” 

“We are expanding other areas too of course; for instance this year we will have a new Chill Out tent featuring acoustic and open mic sessions, and I’m working on a Reggae tent too. All the old favourites will return; including our renowned Bar Tent. You can expect special Willowman ales, including the excellent (and potent) Willow Wobbly ale!”

FFA were particularly impressed at Willowman 2011 with some absolutely excellent music from an impromptu ‘New York All-Star’ cast of class musicians from the US and beyond getting together especially for the festival to play a storming set …. Featuring that man Williams himself on guitar. (More on 2011 HERE.) Can we expect similar for 2012 we asked in anticipation? “We had artists of the calibre of Elliot Randall (ex Steely Dan), and legendary blues man Dave Keyes jamming together that day” he recalls. “We ended up being invited to play Blues To Bop, in Lugano, Switzerland for a week after that session! Not bad considering we had no time to rehearse for the Willowman spot! No promises, but we’ll see what we can do to match that again this year.” He hinted.

Any tips for the top, FFA asked “I’m thrilled about getting BFL on the bill, and we have some other great international names too, but my tips for the top are the local bands and other artists about to break through – Hyde & Beast are one’s that I would definitely recommend seeing now before they become massive.”

“I think this year will be special – we really do have something to appeal to everyone. Add to that that the site is based in one of the most beautiful areas of the UK in North Yorkshire, and this is an excellent way to see in the Summer Solstice. Our regulars love it and we even have a couple holding their pagan wedding here this year; they will be handfasting in our stone circle on Thursday!”

“I’m particularly proud of the value that we offer. We’ve held prices and we have a very limited number of Early Bird tickets at only £50 (yep, £50!) including camping.”

Indeed, it's looking good!

The Willowman Festival returns to North Yorkshire 21st-24th June 2012.

Full details of Willowman are available HERE!

Article by Barrie Dimond