Dirty Davey: a bandstand view of a fantastic festival

Plus: who do you want to see perform in 2011?

When a new stage gets introduced to a festival that everyone says is already close to perfect, it’s always a heart stopping moment as the first bands play and it’s finally possible to gauge the reaction of the crowds.

So it was tremendous to look out on smiling faces as Whitestar returned to Escot Park for the first time since they won the first Virtual Festivals band-search a few years ago. They were a fitting opener to a stage that was run and largely programmed by a VF old-timer who has moved over the last decade from photographer and reviewer to being a regular booker and stage manager.

Nestled between two large trees you could be mistaken for thinking at night that Dirty Davey’s was as big as its headlining neighbour. The uplighting gave the impression that the trees were part of the stage structure – masking the fact that beneath the leafy canopy nestled a simple 10 metre square covered by a striped awning that was open on all sides to whatever the elements decided to throw down.

“Make it a bit different...” was the only brief given when the Beautiful Days promoters decided to try out a fresh take on the space just to the side of their main stage.

And so different was what Dirty Davey offered up.

From Theremin workshops, random open mic sessions, theatre, poetry and acrobatic drumming to the spectacular movie soundtrack of British Sea Power’s ‘Man of Aran’, some great Q&A interviews with musical and political greats and the amazing DJ talents of Mr Don Letts...the bandstand managed to provide flavours for all tastes.

Thomas Truax wowed the crowd with his steam-punk instruments, John Callahan’s mad-cap antics and costume changes left everyone grinning and The Agitator’s 50’s rock’n’roll meets psycho-billy (Bragg) will soon become a favourite fixture on the festival circuit.

Murray Lachlan Young proved that it is possible to kill small children on stage at lunchtime and still be allowed to come back and impress their parents with poetic genius after midnight.

The amazing open-mic slots were particularly fantastic and the crowds especially loved a young talent by the name of Phoebe Peek. The guys who performed late on Saturday night when the stage went completely acapella were just tremendous – including the familiar faces of Storyteller John and Atilla the Stockbroker. Hats off as well to Rusty and his South London reggae vibes, who kept the show moving several times over the weekend.

Davey also says a big 'nice one' to everyone who was so cool about clearing the stage during Don Letts and before John Cooper Clarke. You guys know who you are and we seriously love you for being so beautifully understanding. Also a huge hand for the Billy Bragg Q&A crowd who put their hands in their pockets and bought half a dozen guitars for the Jail Guitar Doors prisoner rehabilitation project!

The fancy dress prize went to the stripy strongman and his new wife...who not only had their festival tickets bought for them this year as a wedding present but who will now be back again next time round courtesy of Dirty Davey.

It would be great to hear what worked for you and what you'd like to see and hear next year – so get onto The VF-powered Beautiful Days message boards and let Davey know your preferences for 2011.

Click here to let Dirty Davey know what you want to see next time around.

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