Stay Wild, Singing Sticks
So this isn't the title of a trippy 70s fantasy novel, but it is our agenda for the day - a double header of trippily named random festivals. However the day started with a different kind of trip - a visit to an elderly relative to check up on them, but found them in a distressed state that required an ambulance. So we did the 999 thing and waited for other family members to arrive. As soon as they did, we hit the road feeling like heroes (even though we did nothing - the heroes wore NHS capes), and by the time we reached the Stay Wild festival we'd heard reassuring news about the patient and we were ready to rock the wild stayers. It was a good set-up and a really nice atmosphere but as soon as we started to play, the ominous clouds that had been circling decided to unleash their burden. Fortunately it was more like a polite drizzle than an unholy downpour and there was a good sized canopy for the less hard core to shelter under. The rest jigged and twirled, led by their offspring. The polka circle was particularly fabulous, and no-one did a Sharon.
And suddenly we were back in the car and off to the Singing Sticks festival, which would be our first time at a didgeridoo festival. Didn't really know what to expect and were concerned that the organisers thought we might have some didgeridoo amongst our ranks, but it was lovely. They were really nice to us with cups of tea and a lovely curry, then we played a great set, including a couple of tunes accompanied by a real, live didge player! It was another great atmosphere, and this one was taking place in a small community centre that had been rescued and revitalised by the locals, who have turned it into a center for the community, almost like a community centre, if you will. They don't just host the odd jumble sale, they put on some really interesting events that actually bring people together. These things are important.
This was a lovely do, a small, intimate affair in a village hall on the outskirts of Salisbury, run by enthusiastic local musicians and supported by the entire community.
Echobirds made gorgeous surfy-indie vibes to kick us off, followed by the sumptuous Antoine & Owena with their highly accomplished folky songs, then it was us clowns clattering through our own mix of (hopefully) sweet melodies and driving dance songs, along with the usual nonsense chat in between. The benefit of being further up the bill is by the time we take to the stage most people have imbibed the appropriate volume of C₂H₆O to "get us".