Tag: good habits

A Perfect Picnic in the Park

A perfect sunny(ish) Sunday at Hillworth Park in Devizes, if not to overcome one’s fear of public speaking while dressed in a giraffe onesie and fantabulous tie, but most definitely for a picnic, for the kids to play, and for a fantastic treat from DOCA…

With the unfortunate cancellation of Devizes International Street Festival due to Arts Council funding cuts, DOCA pulled out all the stops for a fantastic and most memorable Picnic in the Park this year.

Slightly deceiving name, Picnic in the Park, if you didn’t know. For while there’s picnicking and yes, it’s in the park, there’s plentiful side stalls, a bar and enough entertainment to deem it a mini festival, of sorts. Mayor Ian Hopkins opened the event, hilarious street circus artist Able Mable filled the gaps between the bands perfectly with her own brand of clowning and superb audience participation. She was the very definition of entertainment.

Kai Carter’s Old Time Hustle made for an amazing kick off. Beguiling guitar, trombone and fiddle, foot-stomping magic moments as suggested on the tin, finding time for some facts about pigeons and to delightfully deliver long lost covers, particularly those of Virginia’s country legend Patsy Cline. They made tradition look cool, very cool.

Second act was equally as lovely and skilled.  From Manchester, Good Habits created the most divine sound, and wonderfully full and bassy, considering it was just a cellist and an accordion duo. Particularly adroit was their Kate Bush cover, but then, their original compositions held equivalent poignancy. They’re the kind of duo who could fit into any festival and simmer an audience in awe.

Delighted to have some input, the third and final act was my personal choice. Local family collective, The Sarah C Ryan Band were perfect for this kind of communal event, they’re unique and original, smooth and cool. It’s a paced, universal sound, reflecting masterful pop-rock classics like Kate Bush, Genesis and Fleetwood Mac, yet distinctive. Rarely have they played Devizes, so I was hopeful you’d take heed, as their performance was as memorable as the day was in general.

I caught Sarah and the band last week playing the fantastic Minety, which while I thought was awesome, I believe they played even better here at Hillworth. Perhaps being the headliner here renewed their confidence, perhaps it was Simon at the control tower showing off his new kit, or rather, I favour it was more about the flavour of the glorious day.

DOCA’s ability to bring the best out of Devizes, even at their more simpler events is something to behold with pride. For yep, indeedy, the entertainment was first class, the organisation dedicated, the vibe was positively gleaming, someone threw me a Penguin biscuit (thank you!) but above them all is the sum of their parts, monumental in what can be achieved by pulling resources together.

It may not have been the England football team’s night, (who could’ve predicted it?!) but it certainly was DOCA’s day in Hillworth. Just thought you should know, in case you’re thinking I shouldn’t review an event I was involved in. You should note I only helped them drink their tea and ate all the brownies which were supposed to be for the musicians! It’s the real festival makers, those kindly volunteers who really make DOCA what it is, so the last thanks goes to them as we head towards carnival on the 31st August with renewed sense of anticipation.

Trending….

Rooks; New Single From M3G

Chippenham folk singer-songwriter, M3G (because she likes a backward “E”) has a new single out tomorrow, Friday 19th December. Put your jingly bell cheesy tunes…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.