After missing last year's event I had no intention of missing this year's festival. I had sampled the Lion Inn's hospitality last November and was eager to return. For those of you who have not been to Blakey, the pub is set right on the top of the North Yorkshire Moors. On a clear day the views around the pub are breathtaking!
The gig takes place in the car park, it is one of the most incredible settings for any gig I have been to! A steady drive from South Yorkshire brought us up onto the moors and The Lion Inn just as preparations were well under way (it was around lunchtime) for the show and tents were being erected on the adjoining camp site.
As the afternoon progressed plenty of friends from past Mostly Autumn gigs were well met and new faces were introduced as is the want of things at The Lion with good beer and conversation.
The bands were walking around the place and chatting to people and the whole atmosphere remained calm and relaxed very unlike the corporate monoliths that the majority of festivals have become in recent years.
Sevenball opened the proceedings at about 8pm and played a good set of about 45 minutes of their own material. They sounded a bit like Pearl Jam. They are still a young band and have plenty of time to progress and no doubt will be a name for the future.
At about 9pm singer/songwriter Prendo took the stage. Armed with an acoustic guitar he is a new name to me, but judging from the enthusiastic reception he got he is obviously a favourite with the locals! He was joined later in the hour by his band and gave the growing crowd full value and warmed us all up perfectly for the main attraction MOSTLY AUTUMN!
The band are on home turf at Blakey and the blistering show they turned in proved that. Opening with THE NIGHT SKY set the tone for the whole set. It was perfect for the setting on Midsummer's Eve, songs like EVERGREEN, THE LAST CLIMB, SPIRIT OF AUTUMN PAST and HEROES were written to be played in such amazing surroundings.
The band are among friends at Blakey and they performed here as well as I have ever seen them anywhere, they rewarded the crowd for their support by playing the Pink Floyd classic COMFORTABLY NUMB, only the Floyd could do this song full justice apart from MA!
MOTHER NATURE closed the set at past 1am and in spite of the cold night air, everyone was thrilled by what they had just witnessed. The night however was still young and we chatted to all three bands until it was getting light outside and fatigue took us and we were forced to get at least a little sleep!
Our host Paul Crossland and all who worked so hard to make the event so successful deserve a big thank you for making a very special night. It is hoped that the event will become a yearly festival and perhaps become Mostly Autumn's Cropedy. If this year's event was anything to go by it gets my vote, roll on next June!
Paul Turner
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