Camden New Journal - Music: Foll by the Oak| Hatfield House

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The Review - MUSIC - grooves with RóISíN GADELRAB
Published: 6 August 2009

Rusby storms Oak

REVIEW: FOLK BY THE OAK
Hatfield House

NOTHING raises the spirits at a damp English festival more than knowing you can nip off and enjoy a good old knit or even weave a basket.
Luckily for anyone with more thumbs than fingers, there’s more on the homespun menu at Folk by the Oak than mere handcrafts.
Indeed, the line-up in the lush grounds of Hatfield House included seven of the finest contemporary folk acts. The cream of this season’s crop though had to be Radio 2’s folk singer of the year Chris Wood and the irrepressible Kate Rusby.
Wood stole the show with his effortless guitar playing and rousing tales of modern woe. Traditionalists were in heaven. We could have been in Cecil Sharp House.
And then it rained. Thankfully, the pregnant Rusby blew away the storm with her fine folk ballads and witty banter (a Yorkshire Mrs Merton). A real breath of fresh air, much like this event.
Here’s to next year.
CATHERINE ETOE

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