Has it been a whole year since the last TogFest? It just seems to have come around so quickly and I found myself back at Bradwell Abbey for the best little festival this side of Glastonbury ...
cyba-x trances out the crowd @ togfest 2009
"Oh dear me", I thought at around 2pm on Friday. "Where has all this rain come from?". It was absolutely hurling it down in that very British outdoor-event-cancelling manner. It was so heavy I had a pair of very damp moggies legging it inside as soon as they had courage enough to break cover and run for the back door. Thankfully a few hours later it had stopped and the sun came out again ... phew ... but some of the crew told me how it had turned into a bit of a swampy hollow for a while.
Getting there at around 6pm, I met up with Julie who was crewing today. I looked around at the familiar scene and admired the main stage. My friend, Mark Coster, was doing the lighting again this year, and I was wondering what sort of shots I could get with this very different rig. Lots of people came over to say hello this evening and I was really pleased with their kind words about this website! Thank you all :)
My first point of call this fine evening was the Marquee Tent, and I settled down to listen to the opening artist at the festival. Chrystina Tomlin and her band opened with a storming contemporary set akin to the likes of KT Tunstall and Alanis Morrisette. Excellent stage presence, powerful vocals and some really interesting tunes put us all at our ease and the tent quickly filled up, over spilling into the field beyond. The girl's got some serious 'tude' and I really enjoyed her set.
I headed back to Control and sat outside on the sunny grass with a delicious veggie curry from my favourite food stall and spent some time chatting to Julie and just watching the world go by. It was now a warm summers evening and all thoughts of the earlier rain had been forgotten ... we had a rapidly filling festival to get on with!
A Kentish band called 'Tin Soldiers' opened the main stage and boy oh boy, did these guys know how to rock out. It was a high energy Fooey, Musey, Feedery sort of mix, and the boys put in a great performance getting excellent feedback from the growing crowd. They sounded superb on the main stage PA and I got my first glimpse of the power of the lighting rig.
Another wander to the Marquee tent and this time to watch Poppy Seed. I wasn't really to sure what to expect but was pleasantly subjected to a whole set of superb world music wrapped around some very thoughtful lyrics. I was really pleased to watch them and they looked as though they were enjoying themselves as much as the audience were.
More hanging out and chatting to friends ensued, and it was really nice to catch up with all the photographers that go to TogFest each year. But I do have to rant about the occasional tog standing in front of me and blocking my shots. Come on! One nearly got my shoe in the back of his head for standing right in front of the stage reviewing his shots. Get a longer lens and blend into the crowd like I do ... it's the only way!
A good friend of mine, Ed, was playing next as 'Cyber-X' ... I've seen him play lots of time and totally love what he does. On stage he's surrounded by drum pads, synths and computers ... all wired together and triggered by him during his set using his drumsticks. Ed is a really successful session musicians and regularly tours around the world with some big names. Just back from Los Vegas, it was a bit of a coup for TogFest to get him to play and the crowd reaction showed that they were really impressed with his music.
Last up tonight ... and playing to an almost capacity crowd ... were 'Hellzaboppin' who are a swingy jump-jive band made up of musicians from around Milton Keynes. They're all old hands at the gigging game and their set was tight, catchy and got the crowd jumping around in front of the stage and screaming for more by the end. It was a fun romp around the stage and we got an encore which rounded the evening off nicely.
click on any of the thumbnails to see the larger image
As I wandered back to the car with my friends Julie and Jacky, we commented on what a fab evening it had been and smiled as we listened to the buzz of other festival goers talking about what a great time they'd had too. Passing the campsite I could hear the rhythmic beats of a drum circle starting up in the Chillout tent and I knew that for those lucky campers at least, the party wasn't yet over.
But I had to get home, upload my shots, and get my camera batteries on charge. Tonight had been excellent, and with good weather predicted for tomorrow, it was going to get a bit special at Bradwell Abbey ...
... and I was really looking forward to it!
Until next time ...
STEFFI LEWIS
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Beepy from Woughton wrote ... | "I've just read your article and it was great! It put into words my experience there. As a steward its great to know that the work of everyone there is appreciated. Keep on with your input Steffi, I can't wait for part 2!" |
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Martin from Woughton wrote ... | "Always look forward to your articles. Couldn't make it this year, was doing work in Ascot. Keep up the good work Steffi ... will meet you on the blacktop one day x" |
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