Behind the Castle
The Waterboys, Seth Lakeman, Show of Hands, Larkin Poe, Nizlopi, Emily Barker, Moulettes etc
Sherborne Castle, Dorset
Saturday 13 June
11am-11pm
Mercury Prize nominee Seth Lakeman has stepped into the breach to complete the bill at this year’s Behind the Castle music festival.
The multi instrumentalist folk singer songwriter stormed last year’s inaugural event and when singer Emily Maguire was forced to withdraw from the bill following an arm injury Seth jumped at the chance of a return visit to the atmospheric surrounding of Sherborne Castle on 13 June.
“Seth was a star attraction last year with his band and had the whole festival jumping in the sunshine,” says Behind the Castle director Ian Lyster.
“I can’t wait to see what he brings as a solo act in the more intimate surroundings of Stage 2. Seth is a well-loved performer in these parts as his sold out show in Yeovil a few months ago proved.”
Seth Lakeman’s most recent album, Word of Mouth, straddles the folk tradition his music is steeped in and the contemporary folk movement that he has come to spearhead. In an echo of Ewan MacColl’s seminal Radio Ballads, the songs are partly based on interviews Seth conducted with various people including former railway and dockyard workers, Cornish women miners and a witness to a disastrous D-day rehearsal.
It’s the latest chapter in a stellar career since the release of the Mercury Prize-nominated Kitty Jay in 2004. Since then Lakeman has five solo albums and a host of collaborations, most notably the universally praised debut of The Full English band with Fay Hield, Martin Simpson, Nancy Kerr, Sam Sweeney, Rob Harbron and Ben Nicholls.
He joins the Behind the Castle billed that is topped by the revitalised Waterboys, currently riding the crest of a wave in the wake of their brilliant new album Modern Blues.
Also appearing are Show of Hands, American roots rock duo Larkin Poe, festival favourites Nizlopi, Australian singer songwriter Emily Barker, BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards winners Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin, indie-folk darlings Moulettes and acoustic duo Megson. Miranda Sykes & Rex Preston, The Willows, Lizzyspot, Jaywalkers, Tom James, ODi and Aimee complete the line up.
Set against the imposing backdrop of Sherborne Castle, built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594 and home to the Digby family since 1617, Behind the Castle is a perfect one-day distillation of the classic summer festival.
In other words, it’s all about the music – and there’s lots of it – but Behind the Castle also delivers superb family-friendly facilities with free entry for carers for the disabled, food stalls run by local producers and a range of trade stalls, not to mention the brilliant kids area run by the amazing Jumparoo. Megson will also lead the popular kids’ concert.
Local beers, ciders and wines are served from the festival’s three bars.
Full details at www.behindthecastle.co.uk.
