Traditional English folk tunes rocked at Sidmouth Folk Festival February 2009 Radway Inn Reunion, Sidmouth, Dorset

Traditional English folk tunes rocked at the Sidmouth Festival February 2009 Radway Inn Reunion, Dorset last weekend with the wide variety of instruments played proving traditional English folk music remains a truly vibrant musical art form.

However, there were also moments of sadness as some beautiful tunes were played in memory of Rosie Turner-Bisset, a stalwart of the Radway, who unexpectedly died on 31 Jan 2009.

As one traditional English tune led smoothly and expertly into another, there was the usual variety of melodeons, violins, recorders, concertinas and flutes normally found in an English folk session.

But the Radway has its own special way of evolving and building on tradition springing, I believe, from the talents and artistry of the many excellent folk musicians who come together there to play during the August Sidmouth Festival and then subsequently at the February Radway Reunion.

To hear and join in with the many varied and beautiful English tunes played last weekend at the Radway Reunion was a great pleasure but when the trombones, saxophone and cello were in full flow, it really made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck - a true 'Sidmouth moment'!

We played from about seven o'clock on Friday evening until closing time, Saturday lunchtime until closing time, Sunday morning for the Herbaceous Border Morris with a bit of busking at the bus stop near The Ham and had a fantastic time.

After two o'clock on Sunday, as the tunes were beginning to slow and many musicians were beginning to drift away, I noticed the late arrival of a couple of members of the Dartmoor Pixie Band who brought with them a young toddler who was playing with a small piece of paper on which I could see were printed some tunes. I remember him as a baby in his mother's arms last year at the Bampton Folk Festival and, already, he is a toddler.

Perhaps in years from now, that young man will take his place amongst the excellent musicians of the Radway Inn ensuring the tradition of playing English tunes at the Radway Inn remains not only vibrant but also one that continues to renew.

Bye for now

Rob

Rob Hopcott - online author and folk musician