Hastings Jack in the Green 2014 - Monday

I decided to head off to Hastings for the Jack in the Green procession for the first time.  Last year I did the much quieter Sunday.  Was taken aback by the sheer volume of people thronging the streets during the parade. 

I wasn't able to get down to Hastings as early as I'd have like and arrived with the procession in full flow.  Fortunately it stopped regularly for various performers to do their thing.

This is a great fun event and I loved it.  Will certainly be back next year.



Hastings Jack in the Green 2014 (475 pics)

Rochester Sweeps Festival 2014

Despite the weather forecast of white cloud, the sun shone almost unbroken throughout the May Day weekend.  Snapping conditions were poor as a result, with lots of harsh glare and deep shadow.

There seemed to be fewer morris sides than usual this time.  Normally you see some on the Sunday that weren't there the previous day, but that wasn't the case this time round.  Am guessing the tricky current climate has meant many no longer travel from a long way off, what with the costs involved.

Even so, was an excellent event, as ever.  Didn't get up to the castle stage as much as I'd have liked - and I know I missed a few good bands, such as Sur Les Docks, but you can't be everywhere at once, sadly.




Rochester Sweeps Festival 2014 - Saturday (266 pics)

Rochester Sweeps Festival 2014 - Sunday (334 pics)

Broadstairs Folk Week 2013

I say 'week' but I only put in a couple of hours over the weekend, on the Sunday.  Mostly because the place is so horribly packed that attempting to get shots of anything is a nightmare.  It's a shame because the Saturday always sees a huge number of morris sides dancing but this time round I decided to head to Hastings for the carnival.

The weekday entertainment was pretty good.  Various morris teams did the full stint, including Madcap, Dead Horse, Royal Liberty, the Rising Larks & the motley Allsorts Morris, which is comprised from various members of other sides.

After an absence of a year, Gap Theatre Company returned to Broadstairs with their Seaside Variety show, with a slightly different line up to last time.  As before, the shows were promoted in chalk at various points around the town.

The standard of entertainment on the bandstand was decent.  Always nice to see the naughty osses again.  Assorted bands and dancers appeared, including Tap & Sync, Tanglefoot and an excellent Welsh team whose name I constantly forget.

The weather was mostly fine.  Only a heavy downpour on the Friday put a dampener on a pleasant week, but the rain cleared for the dance finale on the bandstand.



Broadstairs Folk Week 2013 (471 pics)

Sandwich Folk & Ale Festival 2013, Sunday

Was even hotter on Sunday.  Real scorcher, something we've been lacking for so long.  Another excellent day at the F&A Festival.  The crowds gradually built up and Guildhall was packed for the headline act, Coco & the Butterfields, who were fantastic.  Nice to see folk up and dancing, though attempting to get pictures in the melee was somewhat tricky.



Sandwich Folk & Ale Festival pt2 (305 pics)

Rochester Sweeps Festival 2013, Monday

After spending the Sunday in Hastings, I returned on bank holiday Monday to the Sweeps.  Despite the forecast of unbroken sunshine, it managed to be cloudy a fair bit of the day, but at least it was nice and warm.  The parade was bigger than the previous year.  The high street was absolutely packed to the point where you could barely move at times.



Rochester Sweeps Festival (122 pics)

Rochester Sweeps Festival 2013, Saturday

It's that time again when dozens of morris dancers and folkies descend on Rochester for the annual Sweeps Festival.  It was certainly a bit warmer than last year.



Rochester Sweeps Festival pt1 (130 pics)