20th to 23rd July 2006

Stages 1 and 2

THE WATERBOYS (Sat) • SUZANNE VEGA (Sun) • ALTAN (Sat) • WATERSON CARTHY (Sat) • ELIZA CARTHY & THE RATCATCHERS (Fri) • OSIBISA (Fri) • GRETCHEN PETERS (Sat & Sun) • THE KARINE POLWART BAND (Sat) • SHOW OF HANDS (Sun) • HANK WANGFORD & REG MEUROSS (Fri) • DOGHOUSE SKIFFLE GROUP (Sat) • PREGO (Sat) • MR. LOVE & JUSTICE (Fri) • LAST NIGHT'S FUN (Sun) • RACHEL UNTHANK AND THE WINTERSET (Sun) • COSTO RICO (Sat) • MERV GRIST PLAYERS (Sun) • ZIG A ZAG CAJUN BAND (Sat) • LOS DE ABAJO (Sun) • WAILIN JENNYS (Sun) • NINE BELOW ZERO (Sun) • DANA GILLESPIE & HER LONDON BLUES BAND (Sat & Sun) • MARY FLOWER (Sat & Sun) • ALLAN YN Y FAN (Fri) • ZYDECOMOTION (Sun) • KEITH DONNELLY (Thurs & Fri) • JOHN ALDERSLADE • KEITH CHRISTMAS (Sat) • THE BUFFALO GALS (Sun)

Stage 3

Mystery Juice • Praying for the Rain • Pronghorn • Vince Lee & the Big Combo • Swamp Donkey • Pura Vida • The John E Vistic Experience • The Harrisons • The Huckleberries • Elephant Talk 2 • James Warren • RSVP • Gringo Ska • Skiffle Haze • Kristen Marie Holly • Loman • John Lester • Doey's Daughters

2006 Review

The 33rd Village Pump Festival turned out to be one of the hottest ever - both in the quality of the music and in the high temperatures of a summer heatwave.

Thursday night kicked off with the pre-festival party night but with thousands already on-site and with two stages in operation it was difficult to tell that this was the traditional warm up night and not one of the main evenings. A chance for regular festivalgoers to renew friendships and acquaintances and for newcomers to checkout their surroundings. How long before Thursday takes its place as a major evening with headliners on Stage 1?

Friday night saw the first acts on the main stage with longtime festival favourites Hank Wangford and Reg Meuross drawing a good response from the large crowd. One of the power performances of the festival followed with a stunning set from Eliza Carthy and the Ratcatchers.

By the time the African rhythms of Osibisa had brought everybody to their feet dancing into the night, word was beginning to filter around that the festival was a sell-out with some disappointed people having to be turned away.

Saturday dawned hot and sultry and it wasn't too long before the heat had driven most people from their tents to enjoy an alfresco breakfast. Early risers could also take part in the morning dance workshops as well as yoga or a chance to browse around the multitude of stalls.

Highlights of the Saturday afternoon included an excellent set from respected Nashville singer-songwriter Gretchen Peters and her musicians and a polished performance from Waterson:Carthy with Eliza being joined by her parents, Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson. Away from Stage 1 a full programme was taking place on Stages 2 and 3.

The blues session on Stage 2 introduced the audience to Mary Flower from Colorado followed by the great British blues diva Dana Gillespie and her London Blues Band. Many festivalgoers seemed to have found their spiritual home at Stage 3 where the more relaxed atmosphere was proving difficult to leave.

A few rain showers helped clear the air a little before Scotlands Karine Polwart kicked off the evening set on Stage 1. Top Irish musicians Altan stopped off on their way home from Estonia to treat the audience to their brand of traditional Celtic music.

After 25 years of attending the festival The Waterboys delivered one of the finest sets that I can recall. I do not think I was alone as virtually everybody on-site gathered to hear such classics as 'The Whole Of The Moon' and 'The Pan Within'. A stunning rendition of 'Red Army Blues' and a storming encore of 'Fishermans Blues' left the crowd ecstatic. It fell to Costo Rico from Barcelona to follow with their mix of rumba, reggae and Latin American roots. A fantastic party atmosphere to finish off Saturday night.

Sunday afternoon seemed to belong to the ladies with further sets from Gretchen Peters and Dana Gillespie as well as apperances from The Wailin' Jennys from Canada and Rachel Unthank and the Winterset from Britains north-east.

Festival friends Show of Hands set proceedings underway on Sunday evening on Stage 1. As well as a superb set the audience also had the chance to play to the cameras as the band had chosen the festival to record a promotional video for their new album 'Witness'.

Despite a last minute arrival due to flight delays Suzanne Vega soon won over the crowd with a mixture of classics and tracks from her new album. 'Toms Diner', 'Luka', 'Marlene On The Wall' - I had forgotten just how good these songs are. A fine performance from a delightful lady who despite being left tired by flight delays and the heat took the time to meet fans and sign numerous C.D.'s.

Los De Abajo from Mexico added to the international hotpot that is Trowbridge Festival and they must go down as one of the most energetic bands to play at the festival. After an extended set they went walkabout Marriachi style through the audience to return to a stage that had been stripped by the crew in readiness for the next act.

The final act at Trowbridge is traditionally a chance for the audience to boogie one last time. This year was no exception with the R'n'B explosion that is Nine Below Zero filling the marquee with a seething mass of contented but exhausted festivalgoers.

Another enjoyable and successful festival, but how can you express the vibe that is Trowbridge Village Pump in a few sentences. Apologies to all the acts I haven't mentioned. To all the childrens entertainers a special "thank you". If the children are happy it leads to a much more enjoyable festival for the parents. How can I forget the bar staff and all the backstage crews - Cheers.

I will leave the final word to Mike and Gina from Folkestone - "my partner and I are already counting down the days till next years festival".

Stowford Manor Farm, Wingfield near Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 9LH
24th to 27th July 2008