Sunday morning in
Blackpool. Most people were trying to
remember – or forget – the night before. I was looking forward to the two
things I need for a Sunday morning:
- · A fry up
- · Tim Prottey-Jones on stage
I got both! Tim took to the main stage in the Empress
ballroom in his new guise as The Fatherline, only his third gig with his
new band (and Silverball Country have been at all three!). As well as a fabulous voice and superb
songwriting, Tim has an incredible, and hilarious, stage presence. Unfamiliar
with being centre stage he is born to it and grows with every show.
After his little taster
session at the songwriter’s carousel the previous day, Jake Morrell
showed off all his talents – and his powerhouse voice – while Tim decided to
hang around on stage and play keys for Jake!
Jake has been busy touring with Megan O’Neill but this festival show
will definitely have won him some more fans.
With it being Sunday and a
long drive home was ahead of me, I wasn’t able to stay the whole of day 3 at
the festival, but having checked the line up, I knew that I couldn’t miss a
full band set from the wonderful Megan O’Neill – and take the chance for
a reunion! Before taking to the stage,
Megan and I found time for a chat about what she has been up to and what she
has coming up (its all very busy and quite impressive) and then it was
showtime. Megan has a beautiful voice to
go along with her musical and song writing talent, and is clearly at the top of
her game. Her next single “Ireland” was
performed with real emotion – and a definitely enhanced Irish lilt – and hints
at a must have album which is due out in a few months time.
The M6 is a hard mistress,
so my festival ended before the festival proper. A long round of goodbyes and a chance to
reflect on a new Country Music Festival.
Some people have said that
it would be crazy to try and have an all British line up, but The British
Country Music Festival proved that to not only be incorrect but also what a
great idea it is. The setting is
different to the norm, but allows for a festival later in the season (no
weather worries) and for the weekend to be treated as a mini break with all
that Blackpool has to offer. Sure, there
were some teething problems, but with other festival organisers on hand to
offer support and advice and an organising team receptive to ideas there is no
doubt that next year will be bigger and better – and a definite date in the
Country Music diary….
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