The BoJu Stage At Moseley Folk Festival 2011

A big shout out to all the performers and all the people that made the Bohemian Jukebox Tent packed to the gills for most of the festival. Here’s a cracking film of the festival by Junction 15, soundtracked by Scott Matthews, Ben Calvert & The Swifts and Boat To Row.

Moseley Folk Festival from junction15 on Vimeo.

In the Bohemian Jukebox Tent, Friday saw Nev Hawkins hawk(!) his Liverpool via the Big Smoke songs, singing of Jennifer Jones and an African American boxer. Mystery Phil (Nevermind The Buzzcocks) joined him for the last two songs and led the audience in a sing along. Later came Steve Ison, who with his psychedelia influenced songs created an ad-hoc atmosphere with a duo of drinking backing singers in the form of Collettte Giovanni and Joelle O’Toole.

Come Saturday, Richard Burke delivered a set that was as much stand up (sit down?) comedy as it was a master class in the 2 minute alt-folk song as he shared witty exchanges with the crowd. You are as likely to get away with heckling him as you are heckling Bill Bailey. Rich McMahon was prepared to deliver what he called a ‘gentle and sensitive singer-songwriter set’ but the electricity generator had other plans. As the tent was plunged into semi-darkness, Rich took the initiative of taking himself to the audience and leading them in some sing-along Irish standards. A power cut for most performers would’ve been a disaster, but Rich’s charisma carried him through and he won over the crowd leaving the tent to uproarious applause.

Rich McMahon

Sunday arrived and with it brought highlights in the form of acid-soaked poetry quoting man and guitar Ebeneezer Pentwhistle, Indie-Pop-Folk from David Leach, and the diverse cultural sounds of Village Well.
With his acoustic country rock Mr Plow was cited as being the best act some people had seen at the festival, pulling a cover of Into My Arms by Nick Cave out of the bag at the most appropriate moment. Judging by the queue for merchandise at the end of his set, he’d won many heart over.
As sundown came, the fragility and raucousness of John J Presley bought the proceedings to a close with power trio blues folk backed by melodica (The Fender Rhodes couldn’t quite make it down the crowded hill!)

Clearly, aural rewards greet those who venture into Swing Field at the festival!

The Bohemian Jukebox Tent at Moseley Folk Festival showcases acts from the Midlands and a couple from further afield too. Past performers include:
Smoke Fairies, Lucy and the Caterpillar, Panda Su, Boat To Row, Richard Burke, Cat Green Bike, James Summerfield, JJ Crash, Sgt BuzFuz, John Stammers, Matt Geary, Emma Tricca, Gurdan Thomas, and Friends of The Stars.