Deepdale Festival
Deepdale Festival is a uniquely wonderful weekend of live music that happens each year at the Campsite and Rooms complex in the village of Burnham Deepdale, situated on the North Norfolk coast between Burnham Market and Brancaster. Held during the last weekend of September, it brings down the curtain on a Summer of outdoor live music with enormous style and passion, thanks largely to the Borthwick family who own and run Deepdale Farm; Chris Haycock who curates the music programme; and to the enthusiastic Deepdale team who work tirelessly to guarantee the weekend's success.
This was the fifth such annual gathering, and the third that I have had the pleasure to attend. I always arrive on the Thursday afternoon, and one of my rituals is to cross the road and walk just a couple of hundred yards to join the Norfolk Coast Path (which runs all the way from Hopton-on-Sea to Hunstanton). The views across the saltmarshes are stunning, the skies are vast, and the two mile walk along to Brancaster harbour and back becomes my daily ritual whilst I am here. Yoga, Singing Bowl Meditation, and Holistic Massage are all available during Deepdale Festival, but this daily stroll is my own personal nirvana.
Anyhow, back to the Festival. Thursday night kicks off with sets from both The Gillies and Norfolk super-group Cobbler Bob String Band. The food stalls are busy, the Moon Gazer beers are just £3.50 a pint, and I get a strange sense that my long-held enmity of banjos is about to abate. Perhaps it is the strength of the ale, or maybe it is the plucky picking and steely strumming of Cobbler Bob's Adam Clark, that is working its magic on me. The eleven o'clock curfew is respectfully adhered to, and we all make our way to bed.
The campsite at Burnham Deepdale is a wonderful setting in which to wake, even if it can mean a rude awakening as, just after sunrise, squadrons of migrating geese perform their noisy daily fly-past, crossing the panoramic expanse of the North Norfolk sky in spectacular v-shaped formation. However, a quick breakfast, a brisk walk, and a strong coffee, and I am ready for the day's music.
Friday morning kicks off at mid-day with local duo Peddars Way in the courtyard, and The Gillies returning in The Orchard. Deepdale's programme is a carefully curated affair – a mixture of returning acts and first-timers, familiar locally-based artists nestled alongside names which are completely new to me. And, of course, the big-name headliners. It is an intoxicatingly varied programme, and one that makes me keen not to miss a single act. And, fortunately, with just two performance stages, and Chris' clever juggling of the set times, it is possible to catch almost every single set. Only the afternoon performances in St Mary's Church conspired to defeat me. I do, however, proudly report that I managed to see 37 of the 40 acts that performed over the four days. And there were some crackers, including quite a few with banjos.
FB Image courtesy of Gentlemen of Few
Friday's headliners were Kent-based Gentlemen of Few, a youthful and energetic six-piece that really blew the cobwebs out of the Brick Barn and got us all dancing in the process. They last played here in 2019, and this is a recurring theme that runs throughout the weekend. About 1 in 4 of the acts at this year's Deepdale appeared here in either 2019 or 2021. It provides a welcoming sense of continuity, but without losing any of the freshness, or dissipating the keen sense of anticipation that is essential to any festival. Over half of the acts I had never previously seen live before, and many of my favourite performances from the weekend came from names that had been completely off my radar. And I go to a lot of gigs.
Saturday's announcement that headliners, Cut Throat Francis, had been forced to cancel at short notice due to a medical emergency came as a bitter blow, although I am assured that this was not the result of a shaving accident. However, there were still a plethora of quality names to see us through, especially with Sam Kelly and Jamie Francis now taking top spot in The Orchard. Now, I've seen Sam and Jamie with The Lost Boys on several occasions before and, to be honest, I've never really gone for their full band sound – perhaps there is just too much going on for me. However, they captured my heart and soul on Friday, with a totally engaging and endearing performance that will stay in my memory for a very long time. And, believe it or not, more banjo!
Sunday was a day with a couple of rain showers, but nothing could dampen the enthusiasm of the Deepdale audiences. The Courtyard this year had been fitted with an all-weather awning, and young children were still able to run around and burn off their excess energy. It really is a very 'family-friendly' festival. There are also an incredible number of beautiful, and wonderfully-behaved, pet dogs brought to Deepdale, a fact that is commented on by so many of the performers, including Gentlemen of Few on Friday, who quipped that 'You know you are at Deepdale when there's a dog in the moshpit'.
Sunday night closed with two acts that are long-term personal favourites of mine, and obviously of Chris, too. Kathryn Williams is one of the true greats – 'Hypoxia', her album based around Sylvia Plath's roman à clef, The Bell Jar, is one of my all-time favourites, and to have her perform in such an intimate setting was an utterly unforgettable experience. And this was followed immediately by Exeter folk-trio Wildwood Kin, who arrived at Deepdale during a gap in their UK tour just to play for us. Sunday nights just do not come any better than that. With or without banjos.
I cannot finish this review without mentioning some of the other impressive acts that performed over the weekend, starting with the two lunchtime sets in the church. Rising folk stars The Last Inklings captured both the atmosphere and beauty of the location with their haunting and sensitive set on the Saturday, featuring cello and mandolin, and the beautifully delicate vocals of Leonardo MacKenzie and David Hoyland. On Sunday, it was the turn of Bertie - local musician and historian Bertie Anderson Haggart (of local swing-folk band The BeauBowBells), together with sister Evie. Their 'Poppyland Songs' cycle is a magical collection, drawn from the Cromer and Overstrand district, and inspired by the recently-discovered writings of her great-great aunt from the years immediately before the First World War. Poignant and moving.
Norwich duo Christina Alden & Alex Patterson delighted us with songs (and banjo) from their new album 'Hunter', whilst baby Etta remained outside in the sunshine, looked after by Grandma. Matt Watson was with us in the Brick Barn, showcasing material from his new musical project, 'The Secret Helicopters'. And another Norwich favourite, Dove & Boweevil, wowed us in the barn with their eclectic blend of Americana-soul.
South Africa-born Josie Field turned in an impressive set in The Orchard on Saturday, and then returned next day to host a Songwriting Workshop. But it's too late for me. I want a banjo.
Ellie Gowers, a talented young singer-songwriter from Warwickshire, produced exactly the same kind of reaction that Katherine Priddy got here last year. Remember the name. Meanwhile, one of the most unusual acts of the weekend has to be Sunday Driver, an eccentric looking fusion outfit that features a top-hatted acoustic guitarist, a bare-footed cross-legged bassist, a seated sitarist and some exalted vocals from singer Chandrika Nath. If you love steampunk folk with the flavours of Indian music, you will love Sunday Driver.
Lewis Buxton and Daisy Henwood, from Toast Poetry, were on-hand to write free poems for festival-goers, before entertaining us with a poetry slam contest in the courtyard. Lewis and Daisy were amazing, as ever, and even wrote a poem for my daughter’s upcoming 30th birthday (Don't worry, she never reads my stuff!). More spoken word at Deepdale next year, please!
I cannot recommend Deepdale highly enough, particularly if your festival phobias are based around fears of overpriced food, filthy toilets and mountains of rubbish. None of these apply here – the food traders are incredibly good value, and the beer is only £3.50 a pint. Yes, there are extra portaloos brought in for the festival, but the campsite toilet and shower blocks are never over-busy, and there is always plentiful hot water. And the whole site is kept spotlessly clean by a devoted and dedicated team whose sweatshirts and hoodies are emblazened with the festival's motto, 'Leave Only Footprints'. Come for the weekend or come for the day. And enjoy the banjos. After this weekend, I absolutely love them!
