Ely Folk Festival 2000 - A Review
By Johnny Glover & Lee Gillett
Pics by Karl Bedingfield & Lee Gillett

Flavour Of Friday (by Johnny Glover)

Before you read this let me put my folk credentials on the table; I don't got none. I'd never heard of any of the acts but was prepared for anything. But then; wait a minute. I've had Fairport Covention compilation tapes knocked up for me before, watched Richard Thompson live, can sing a mean version of 'All around my hat' and have albums by 'almost folkies' such as Ezio (from Cambridge), Billy Bragg, Lyle Lovett and the slower stuff by Elvis Costello. At the risk of being smacked around the head with a Bodhran, I'd say, folk-wise, I was primed and ready to experience this 'real' slice of Folk.

The fact that the folk weekend took place at all is a tribute to the Committee and to the council. I was away for the two weeks leading up to the festival but followed the unfolding story of the pocket park occupation with interest (the power of EOL !!). However, everything came good in the end and as the message that accompanied my programme declared: 'We would like to say a big thanks to the Ely Outdoor Sports Association for stepping in at the last minute, allowing us to use the rugby club site and basically enabling this year's festival to go ahead'- and so say all of us.

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