The perfect Pump party

By dbiggane

A single flash of lightning just before the start of the 36th annual Trowbridge Village Pump Festival last Thursday suggested that the weather was likely to be unstable.

Yet despite several short sharp showers and patches of mud the first evening was a great success.

It hadn't started off so well earlier in the day when one of the stages, a converted barn, was closed down by local officialdom on health and safety grounds.

But alternative tented venues were quickly found and after that everything else ran smoothly.

The Fringe, a new innovation this year was a great success, particularly with teenagers and 20-somethings.

Seth Lakeman on the main stage was a big hit, Edward II pumped out their roots based reggae and roll to end the first evening in thrilling style but for me it was The Mandibles on Horizon who created the perfect party atmosphere.

Ade Edmundson And The Bad Shepherds were the stars of Friday.

Their folk-inspired homage to classic punk created flawless singalong songs. Teenage Kicks was stunning as were their harmonies in All Around My Hat. Could it really have sounded better than the Steeleye Span original hit?

I spoke to celebrity actor and comedian Ade Edmundson afterwards. Apparently Maddy Prior has heard their version and likes it! A lovely man, he said: "It was a real pleasure. They're a receptive bunch.

"We may play punk cover versions but they're contemporary folk songs really and we're a folk band and for us it's about playing songs. Take Paul Weller – he's just a natural folkie.

"Our approach is naive, simple and like most bands usually played by people with absolutely no training."

I could have talked to him all night but he had a pressing engagement with the longest queue I've ever seen at The Pump to sign copies of their album.

After that it fell a little flat for the excellent King Pleasure And The Biscuit Boys meanwhile Phantom Limb with fabulous vocalist Yolanda Quartey on the Horizon Stage were ferociously well-received.

Friday closed spectacularly with Alabama 3 pumping out the volume, style and astute political satire in almost equal measure.

Saturday was one of those relaxed kind of summer days that come before a storm. Warm sun and clouded blues skies was ideal weather for acrobats, stilt walkers and the general mayhem associated with open-air festivals.

Loudon Wainwright III was slick and entertaining on Saturday night, The Saw Doctors gave a compelling performance but it was bhangra band Achanak who really stole the show with their driven percussion and supercharged display. If ever there was a perfect Pump band this was it as the sound of drumming echoed into the small hours.

I asked festival director Christine Briars if she had any favourite moments.

"All the young acts really excited me", she said, "especially the 50-piece Conservatoire Folk Ensemble playing music with such enthusiasm."

The grey skies of Sunday arrived all too quickly and by mid afternoon the rains came, which meant that some left early.

Those who stayed to the end were rewarded with a memorable final concert.

A brilliant set from New York blues band Hazmat Modine was surpassed by the explosive impact and towering stage presence of Senegalese singer Baaba Maal and his equally impressive band.

It was an astonishing finale and though there were other bands waiting to play I didn't want to break the spell.

So I headed home, wheels spinning in the mud ... roll on next year.

Rosie Upton