“I cannot really compare this Bluegrass festival with another as this is the first one I’ve been to, but seeing two friends of mine on that stage gave me an urge to have a jam session with them, and I’m thinkin’ ‘Well! That’s what festivals of this nature must really be about’. We listen to good music, have pick-arounds and workshops. And yes, there maybe niggles and moans, but surely that must be part of the gossip amongst friends, in the interest that we all share.

“I enjoyed it immensely and I hope Bev will be able to give us another one next year. Trust me when I say it beats watching the sex life of a millipede on TV!!!!”

Pete Wraith (Sponsor) says:

“I had heard that the festival was trying to get back to old Edale style, but when I got to the site I didn’t realise how far back it was intended to go. I think the punters want a little more comfort than was available this weekend. I heard folks complaining that the water was green.

“It certainly is the most exposed of sites. Friday night I left early, many others wanted to. Saturday the weather was good and the campsite picking was great. The Saturday night concert was excellent. The ACME’s were superb as a trio - why do they need those other two? The Backwater Band delivered a fine mix of swing, bluegrass, cajun and old timey music. The Down County Band did some new stuff - the quartet is developing a new vocal trio. A Band Like Alice, with Gary Payne and the crew all going for it were top-hole and the Bluegrass Brothers confirmed their status as Bitain’s finest.

Blackjack at RochEdale

“Star performance of the night was from Bob Winquist. I’m not sure how many folks there realised what an outstanding bluegrass fiddle player he is. Probably because he makes it look so easy most people think what he does is easy! Don’t be fooled. He played his socks off that night and barely got a ripple of applause.”

Tom Lonergan, Little Sutton: “Nice to see everyone at Roch-Edale, even though the weather was lousy and there was no bar. You have to hand it to the Bluegrass artists and fans, we must have hearts like lions but despite the rain, wind and cold we still managed to enjoy ourselves."

Carmen Turner (Mentor, Sweet Storm;

“I asked several opinions, thereby getting the broader view of the event. Thirty grumbled comments and different ideas later I’d learned enough to say:
'This is how Edale used to be but we’ve all got older and moved on since then. Look at the caravans, large tents and camper vans! We need a pub to dry off in and get a real pint of beer; we need a place to pick, to talk and socialise. Good food and not such a cold draughty barn. Oh and a beer tent. We’ve done that once before when we had no choice'

“But now we have luxury and many festivals to choose from. Conwy came out on top as the best festival followed by the rest. I think The Editor should run a competition to vote the best four festivals and give a framed certificate to the winner - a good idea? [NO! Ed.] I would like to say that the RochEdale festival organiser did very well and worked hard, but was let down by no bar and bad weather. Yet everyone had a good time - Bev is a liked and respected person because everyone that is anyone on the Bluegrass circuit turned up and supported RochEdale. So I hope this is taken as constructive criticism - no-one is being run down. We will definitely all be there again next year.”

“'The spirit of traditional bluegrass made RochEdale 1999 a success musically, with eighteen bands performing brilliantly over the early June weekend.’
This was the general consensus of the dedicated players and followers who had braved the bitter weather on a 1100 foot high, exposed campsite, experiencing hailstone, rain, wind and thankfully, some sunshine.

Just to prove the sun did shine: sunset, Saturday night

“Perhaps it was the fact that fingers just had to be kept moving on the frets for fear of them freezing up that kept the energy flowing! This may have been the case for The Runaway String Band from Scotland, who shivered through their Friday night set but delivered their numbers deftly along with their lead singer Bob Stevenson, who MC Tom Travis described as ‘The best bluegrass tenor around’.

And we soon found out what he meant when Bobs strong mellow tones blasted across the barn accompanied by the twitter of some resident house martins.

“Sitting listening to the bands, wrapped in double layers of everything and with only tea or coffee to wet my whistle (no bar!), I realised that I must be smitten with the sounds of Bluegrass to persevere in poor facilities

“Since being introduced to the scene at the last proper Edale festival in 19978 (‘NottingDale’ - NWBN July. 1998), I have gradually been seduced by the pure, simple, electrifying and uplifting sounds of this traditional mountain music, so I was really chuffed to be given the chance of sessioning (in-between showers) with a few groups who made me feel welcome and encouraged me to continue learning.

“The organiser, Bev Williams, did an excellent job at pretty short notice bringing back some of the atmosphere of the ‘old’ Edale (which was not there at Nottingham, I found) by holding the event once again in the hills, where bluegrass belongs.”

“What a weekend! Friday to Sunday - non-stop Bluegrass! None of this would have happened, but for the excellent organisational skills of our Mr.Bev Williams (ex Midnight Flyers), who must have spent hours ‘phoning arranging facilities and prime Bands from one end of Britain to the other, who gave their all to help make this weekend the success it was. Also thanks to the kind Farmer at Higher White Slack Farm (here in Rochdale) who so generously allowed us all to take over one of his fields and barn for three days.

Tom Travis sings with the Rainy City Bluegrass Band

“What quality ‘picking’ by all musicians, from the Rainy City BG Boys to Alive and Picking - around eighteen of the Best in Bluegrass took part. What more could we ask? Rain or shine, they played on and on.Workshops too, during the day, by Chris Moreton (Guitar), Phil Morley (Banjo) Bob Winquist (Fiddle) and Andy Owens (Mandolin), for anyone with questions.Marvellous mixing work was provided by ‘Sound Right PA Systems’ of Middleton.

“Tom Travis (ex Edale organiser) compéred for us, presenting the Down County Boys with their fourth award as Best British Bluegrass Band. John ‘JK’ Keegan took over from Tom and did a superb job as usual.All-in-all, a ‘right good do! Perhaps, if all goes well, this event will be repeated next year; it is one festival I highly recommend to all Bluegrass fans. Food and ‘Loos’ had been laid on too so there were no complaints there.

“They camped in anything from the smallest tent to a Bedouin-type commune up to the grandest of motor-homes. Many ‘mucked in’ to ensure we didn’t blot our copybook by leaving a mess when we left, tired but happy, on the Sunday.

“Special thanks to Mr Andy Owens, Chairman of the IBMA, for his attendance in support of this, hopefully, first of many weekend Festivals amongst the Pennines.

Many thanks to all involved for their efforts.”

Jim Woodhouse, Oswaldtwistle (Sponsor)

“Well done Bev for keeping the Edale tradition going, even though it was a bit basic, what with the swallows flying around in the barn while the bands were playing - everyone kept a wary eye for bombs! The funny colour of the water wasn’t what you were thinking, it was iron. It comes up clear from the borehole and oxidises on contact with air, but it’s harmless. And you could even let the wife use the loos!

A Band Like Alice at Didmarton 1987

“Saturday dawned sunny. Mind you, we didn’t get to sleep ’til dawn, thanks to the pickers in the next tent. The Saturday night session was one of the best I’ve seen at any festival, even if the Acme Band were down to only three men. The Down County Boys didn’t seem to be missing Jim Hirons too much. Both The Backwater Band and the Bluegrass Brothers were excellent and to finish the night A Band Like Alice, another one of my favourites!

“Sunday dawned bright and sunny. Mind you, not many people saw it due to a late night. It was very pleasant sat reading in the sun, when three guys with shot guns and a string of rabbits appeared. They explained that they shoot here most weeks and wondered what the heck was going on, so I explained. Their comment: ‘What’s Bluegrass????’”

“Bravo Bev Williams! The old Edale magic still exists! When, after eleven years, I decided to give up organising the Edale Bluegrass Festival, I couldn't envisage anyone wanting to take up the challenge (because a challenge it is - make no mistake about that). But come the hour, come the person and out of the shadows stepped the lanky figure of Bev.

“Having been given the pleasure of MC-ing the Friday night show I drove onto the site with - as in all previous years - great trepidation. I needn't have worried on entering the barn; all the joy of greeting the many friends and seeing their familiar, smiling faces gave me that great Edale charge. Yes it was there - the usual excitement, the anticipation of the thrills to come, the camaraderie, the heckling back-chat ... that very special Edale atmosphere.

Peter Parker receives the award from Tom Travis
on behalf of The Down County Boys

“The bands - and there were plenty of' ’em - played out of their skins. They, too were, without doubt, aware of the joyful importance of the occasion and intoxicated by the smell of the barn and the hint of friendly mud.

“I had to attend a wedding on the Saturday but managed to slip away from that ceremony to conduct another. The Down County Boys had, for the fourth consecutive year, won the Best British Bluegrass Band category of the British Country Music Awards. As a founder member of the BCM awards committee I was given the immense pleasure of making the presentation. Handing the prestigious trophy to DCB's added an extra frisson to an already electric atmosphere.
Click for 3rd award report & photo

“What a weekend, What a festival, What a success! If you didn't attend this time, I strongly recommend you make it next year. Thanks again, Bev!”

The British Bandlist at (Roch)Edale 1999: