This is the best festival going by a mile and I really enjoyed it, but we have let next years early bird offer lapse because I just cant cope physically (or mentally) with the holding field. Five hours driving , three hours stuck in a blazing hot field, and then a new , unfamiliar and heavy awning to erect was just too much. Sad but I had to see the paramedics as well, just not possible any more. I hope they can find a way around it.

Tonight, 9pm 'til 11 pm : Scattering The Roots with Dan Ogus...two hours of the finest folk, roots, blues, etc...plenty of etc...

I've rifled through my vaults to bring you some excellent music both new and vintage every Wednesday evening...

This week's show features the following artists :

Robert Jon & The Wreck, Niall Kelly, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Jo Harman, Kris Delmhorst, Hollie Rogers, Sally Robinson, Le Vent Du Nord, Steph Mcleod, Marley Blandford, Birds Of Chicago, Richard Thompson, Jackson Browne, Nerina Pallot, Lemoncello, Davy Knowles, The Longest Johns, Shea Rafferty, Hayes Carll, All About Eve, The Rutles...

Listen tonight, 9pm 'til 11pm on Portsmouth's Express FM, on DAB and online here :

https://www.expressfm.com/programmes/scattering-the-roots/

Ian Prowse's midsummer shows at Liverpool this weekend.  Acoustic Friday, full band Saturday.

A great weekend in London :

ABBA Voyage at the ABBA Arena

Darts 50th anniversary show at Dingwalls

Liz Jones & Rachel Croft on The Golden Hinde.

Or, if you prefer, ‘duct tape’ https://skirky.blogspot.com/2026/07/it-is-question-as-old-as-time-itself.html

In fairness, we got paid enough to cover our expenses and were covered for drinks vouchers all round.

Yeah, I loved it too. My first visit, and hope to return again.  Somehow Steve Knightley's new stuff didn't quite hit the spot with me, but loved most of it, and it was a good idea to bring True Foxes on to sing for a few songs too.  I really enjoyed a number of the acts, including Lucy Kitchen, The Courtiers, Harbottle & Jonas, Gerry Colvin, Ranagri (who I 'got' this time, after not being very impressed at Cropredy), the Laurel Canyon Project, Skerryvore, Fisherman's Friends and Seth Lakeman. There was hardly a weak act - though Charlie Dore & Julian Littman were a bit of a disappointment.

Really enjoyed the whole weekend.  Everyone friendly and looking out for each other.

Especially liked Steve Knightley's new band, the Laurel Canyon band and Reg Meuross' Woody Guthrie set.

I'd like to see all of those again, and for more than an hour.

RIP Beaky

The Maverick Festival. Highlights - the absolute force of nature that is Jerry Joseph in his power trio format, the over-talented and quite astonishing Dead Religion doing an acoustic set (https://thedeadreligion.bandcamp.com/album/music-from-big-white-live-session-02-03-25), Jerry Hannan - who you may know from his collaboration with Eddie Vedder on ‘Society’ - I had lovely chat with his awesome Donro player Sven about playing with Bob Weir (him, not me), and the absolutely charming April Moon, proudly flying the flag for “Canadia” They are schlepping all over the country in a van for six months, so if they turn up in your neck of the woods, they are definitely worth an evening out.
Honourable mention for the Motel Vandals and their 10:30 Sunday hangover slot. Someone was already chugging a breakfast beer. 🍺