The Mic's Megan-Rose Greener recounts Nottingham's own Foolhardy Folk Festival.
I was ecstatic to attend the (now) annual Foolhardy Folk Festival organised by Jay McAllister,
or Beans on Toast. As they’ve just announced this event will be happening again next year, I
thought I’d write a little recap of what I believe to be the Nottingham event of the year.
The festival itself is now in its third year and after my first experience of the event, it will certainly
be in my calendar for the foreseeable future. Taking place in our very own Nottingham
Arboretum, this get together markets itself with the tagline ‘music, trees and revelry’ which pretty
much hits the nail on the head.
I arrived slightly late, sadly missing the first act of the day, however judging by the size of the
crowd and the buzz of the place, openers Vona Vella must have done something right. The duo
released their debut single Sun during lockdown which went viral almost overnight. The band
were picked up by Pete Docherty who signed them to his Strap Originals label and took them
on a European tour supporting The Libertines. Watch this space as the young couple are clearly
tipped for great things.
Next up was a man and his piano going by the name Tensheds. Tensheds is a regular on a
Beans on Toast lineup and is often seen performing alongside the man himself. His sound has
been described as a lovechild of Tom Waits and Jerry Lee Lewis numerous times; I’d agree that
this is a fair description. Half punk, half blues, with the musicianship of someone classically trained, Tensheds plays the role of piano man with raw emotion. Tracks like The Bridge Song and Mirrors are genuinely tear-inducing. Instantly relatable classics. There was a real contradiction between the (now) sunny Arboretum bandstand and the beautifully sombre harmonies being played from it; it was
quite moving. We would give this guy our man of the match award as not only did he smash his own set, he then supported Beans on Toast and did the bulk of the packdown at the end of the day.
Imagine having your house, recording studio and worldly possessions blown away by Hurricane
Katrina. That’s exactly what happened to Mike and Katie of Truckstop Honeymoon in 2005. With
no home to return to, the newly married couple hit the road and ended up in Lawrence, Kansas
were they really began to hone their craft. We were truly blessed to have such an experienced
act playing for us in little old Notts. They were incredible.
This surprise guest doesn’t need much of a review, or much of an introduction for that matter.
Frank Turner veterans gathered around the bandstand singing every word as Turner blasted
through hit to hit of his nine studio albums. A truly electric experience and one that I’m very thankful
to have been part of.
"The band had the kind of energy that could keep an arena crowd jumping so you can imagine the liveliness this intimate, bank holiday Sunday crowd provided."
Jeffrey Lewis’ stage presence is understated and all the more impactful for it. He really lets his
lyrics do the talking here, and this had the audience captured whether they were superfans or
novices to Jeffrey Lewis and the Voltage. Really funny, really talented, really happy they came
across the pond to a tiny bandstand in Nottingham.
Skinny Lister were nothing short of absolute professionals. Their career has spanned over a
decade so far, forming in 2009, and if this set was anything to go by they are just getting started.
The band had the kind of energy that could keep an arena crowd jumping so you can imagine
the liveliness this intimate, bank holiday Sunday crowd provided. Sunset happened right in the
middle of this set and the transition from a feel-good, chilled out atmosphere to party vibe was
seamless. The perfect penultimate booking to headline a perfect day, and prepare the crowd for
the man himself!
The Beans on Toast set was worth the ticket alone. A cheerful set that left the audience
euphoric. Beyond his set though, I think it’s really important to highlight what a fantastic
event Jay has pulled off here. I truly think this is the start of a long-lasting and long-
welcome tradition that the City of Nottingham is entirely better for. With food trucks, a whole beer festival, and a merch stand, the festival is all you can ask for really.
Do not sleep on this one. The waiting list for next year is already out on alt.tickets, and the
festival is set to grace the Arboretum on 25th August 2024. It was a sellout this year and believe me
when I say this is not a ticket you want to miss out on.
Megan-Rose Greener
Edited by Tabitha Smith
Featured Images courtesy of Foolhardy Folk Festival via Facebook
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