Festival Round Up - Pure Country Music and Dance Festival - Squires Cafe Yorkshire

 

“Its not my first rodeo” is an expression often used by people, but for the Pure Country MDF it sort of was.  Only “sort of” because although the team behind it are very experienced, this was their first time coming together to organise and run a weekend festival.  The team consisted of Kriss and Steve of Country 2 Western and Nashville Sessions, who are not only regular faces at many festivals, but also radio presenters and local promoters, and Alex Wise, a Leeds based line dance teacher and DJ.  We at Silverball Country were thrilled to be asked to join them – and the rest of the “ranch hands” (as the team were known) to bring our own events experience and to host the main stage across the weekend.

 

There are different styles within Country Music – traditional country, old Country, 90s/Bro country and modern country, to name but a few – and even in the UK scene there are some differences with the line dancers, the traditionalists and the modern.  Pure Country aimed to bring all of these together in one place – and they did so very well!  With a variety of acts across the four days there really was something for everyone.

Live music was punctuated by line dance teaching, the dance floors were full most of the time, and outside there was even a chance to try out horseshoe tossing and quick draw.

 

As well as the music there were traders in the Ranch Village, and each day saw a raffle to raise money for two very worthwhile charities – BrainKind and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

 

Kicking off on Thursday night with a nod to American Independence Day, Sam Marshall took the stage interspersed with Country Karaoke – or “Countryoke” as we renamed it.  With the room decked out with flags, props and the Dutton men plus Rip and Forrie from TV’s Yellowstone and the attendees decked out in Red White and Blue, it showed what was to come for the rest of the festival.

Friday morning saw the main part of the festival begin, with one of our finds of the festival – The Arkut Brothers.  New to the Country Scene they sang and played as though they had been country forever, with voices to match!  They play together and harmonise perfectly – perhaps it’s a brother thing!  Ellen Roy, Georgia Barker and Martin Boyd played through the afternoon, with Georgia and Martin also appearing on the acoustic stage outside, before the break to set up for the evening.  A familiar face around the Yorkshire circuit and a festival organiser herself Zenne played two sets before headliners Badlands took to the stage.  A band formed around a dad and his two daughters (one on lead guitar, one on sound) Badlands absolutely rocked out with a mix of songs taken from across the decades.  An encore was inevitable, it started with a Mona Conga – and the first conga we’ve seen with a guitarist taking part while still playing!

 

Saturday started early – for those already up and about there was line dancing in the main room before the live acts for the day.  Favourites from the club circuit Tanya Turner and Darren Knight kept everyone dancing while new band Po Po and the Fogies split their time between the main stage and the acoustic.  Also on the acoustic stage was our second find of the festival – Wirral based singer Tom Hodge who made the most of the sunshine, impressing everyone who heard him – definitely a name to remember and deep, southern vocals to remember too!

The Dolby Gang were the last act before the afternoon break allowed some to take in a football match while the stage was re-set for the evening.  After sound checking our headliner, Chris Raddings warmed everybody up with a very well received split set.  A short break for the raffle – which was generously supported all weekend – and a prize draw for tickets to next year’s festival and it was time for Stevie O’Connor and his band.  An absolute force of nature, Stevie suggested that nobody would need seats for his set – and he was right.  Absolutely exploding with energy, the Silverball Country Entertainer of the Year winner had the dancefloor full for the whole time he played.

Two full days, two big headline shows – and it still wasn’t over!

Sunday morning saw the whole festival move outside to the acoustic stage, this time with rows of seating!  Sam Marshall once again started us off with Alex Wise keeping us going until the arrival of Luke Flear, who only had a short drive from a neighbouring village!  Appearing at festivals all summer, Luke played a perfectly pitched set for a Sunday morning, showing his range of skills – guitar, keyboards, crowd interaction and winning personality.  The set really was the ideal way to round off this inaugural festival.

There is a need for the big festivals – but big festivals start from small ones, and we love to see them grow.  Even a mostly local event (for artists as well as “ranchers”) can attract people and acts from all over the scene and show that country music is for everyone – whether you’re a line dancer or not!  The Pure Country Music and Dance festival is pure in its approach – inclusivity and country music values

 

It may have been the first Pure Country Festival but we know it will not be the last – next year’s is already being planned.

 

With the strong start and excellent support, why not join us next year?  The dates are 3 – 6 July, and you can book via the Facebook page or by emailing purecountry.mdf@gmail.com.  

More details on the website

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