It’s the last day of Blissfields and while most other festivals would start the day with some unknown act, playing to an empty stage there are already lots of people up and about early to witness the wedding blessing of Martin and Helen Hall. There’s live music, banter, burritos, wedding cake and cocktails and it’s only 10.30am. They’re a lovely couple with a great family in tow and everyone at Folk & Tumble wishes them all the best.
After a burrito and a boogie with the blushing bride it’s back to business for Blissfields and I head to the Bradley Bubble Stage to check out Ben Goddard. He’s a local Winchester lad with a knack for crafting a good pop tune with tinges of country, Americana and rock thrown in to keep things interesting. I haven’t heard the rest of the contenders on the ‘Road to Blissfields’ competition but with Ben Goddard and the Heartbeats as winners, the standard was sure to be high.
Early contenders for set of the day are Winterhours, another Winchester based act gracing the Bradley Bubble Stage with a supremely confident, chilled out performance. They’re another act recommended by Folk Geek and their lo-fi, alternative indie is a blissful listen out of the blazing sun outside.
One of the first acts on the acoustic stage is Luke Ferre. He’s eighteen years old but you’d never guess with his assured songwriting and great repertoire of folk-punk songs. His own bio compares him to Ed Sheeran and Nizlopi but this may sell him short. There’s more of Frank Turner, Brian Fallon or even Danny Wilson of Champions of the World fame about his presence and delivery. We’ll even forgive the ‘Come On Eileen’ dungarees and blame the heat for that one!
As the afternoon rolls on there’s more talent and fewer clothes on stage in the acoustic tent. At this rate of going Beans on Toast will be performing a naked set and that’s something no one needs to see. Before it all gets too silly, Beans’ trumpet playing mate Dan is on stage, telling stories, plucking out quirky tunes, baring his soul and his chest and struggling with a slightly slippery guitar. These tunes are nice little foot-tappers, best enjoyed with a beer in hand and a smile on your face. A little chat over a rum cocktail with Dan, who gigs as yoB reveals he’s releasing a free tune every month this year. What a decent guy!
This afternoon’s lineup on the acoustic stage is overseen by Jay McAllister, known to all at Blissfields as Beans on Toast. His self-deprecating stage banter revelas he’s been downgraded this year after too many “fuck ups” on the big stages last year but the fuck ups are all part of what makes his live show so endearing. As well as Dan/yoB he’s also brought along LA Salami, Gorgeous George, his own dad who’s belting out country hits from the decks between acts and his young niece who plays as Little Robyn. She’s clearly picking up the mantle of her uncle Jay and her folk pop London tones conjure up images of Lily Allen or Kate Nash before they became the next big things on Myspace. Robyn sings about what she knows which is just what we like here and her track about being too short to see at gigs is a highlight of a charming set of ukulele blues.
Beans on Toast finally takes centre stage, or rather front of stage. He’s moving monitors, speakers and mics about. Not content with booking his own lineup and headlining the afternoon, it appears he’d quite like to do his own sound as well. He’s already rapped a few tunes with yoB and duetted with Robyn on his “hit” MDMA-mazing and now it’s time for his main set. With a repertoire of over 100 songs you really never know what you’re going to get and this is a mixed bag of old and new although leaning heavily on the first two albums prompting big singalongs from the festival regulars and other fans alike. We’re singing about sex, drugs, politics, standard Beans fayre and it’s just bloody good fun. We’ve condemned the government, tapped our feet, slagged off festivals, sung the praises of festivals but under no circumstances have we clapped along.
And if you thought Beans on Toast’s set was ridiculous then you obviously missed silly season down the front with The Silver Beatles.
Food and drinks by Burger Bliss. Thanks to Beans on Toast.