Online Exclusive – Moseley Folk Festival Review

Moseley Folk & Arts Festival, Birmingham, 30 August to 1 September 2024
★★★★☆

Classic Pop heads to a folk festival to find Dexys, Belle And Sebastian, and CMAT all kicking up a storm.

 Nestled in a private park in a Brum suburb, Moseley Folk Festival has long taken a flexible approach to the term ‘folk’. So while there’s the clear tones of such established folk faves as Kate Rusby, the festival’s broad programming ensures Classic Pop’s interest is piqued.

There have been numerous heir apparents to The Pogues’ punk/folk crown, with Friday evening’s Flogging Molly one possible successor. Fizzing with a rock energy, it may come as no surprise to learn that grinning frontman Dave King made his name with forgotten rockers Fastway – a band whose discography includes the soundtrack to Trick Or Treat, one of the ’80s best teen horror flicks.

Spirited and with an infectious glee, the Irish/American combo give headliners The Levellers a run for their money. But Lev’s tracks such as One Way – with it’s loose, almost baggy, groove – get the crowd moving.

Day two sees the site invaded by cowboy hat’n’boot wearing festival-goers, in honour of Irish songwriter CMAT. In ascendant – BRIT Award nomination, Mercury Prize shortlist etc – Ciara is every inch the star, falling to the floor, bursting into dance routines, high-kicking while strumming…

Amusingly referring to herself as a “global celebrity teen pop sensation,” she acknowledges the personal impact of folk music with a beautifully delicate Willy O’ Winsbury. A century’s old trad’ ballad (learnt via Pentangle), the song’s debut makes for a very special moment in an all-too-short set.

Dexys Deliver

CMAT’s a hard act to follow, but headliner Dexys pull out all the stops. With Kevin Rowland’s distinctive powerful voice to the fore, the lithe six-piece have arguably never sounded better. Beginning with The Bee Gees’ To Love Somebody their set combines many of the big hits – Geno, Jackie Wilson – with a smidgen of The Feminine Divine Tour’s theatricality and drama.

For those au fait with Dexys’ extensive oeuvre, their verbal jousting is no surprise. However, when sideman Sean Read directs a trio of insults into the audience, and Kev’ storms off stage swearing, their head-on exploration of toxic masculinity and misogyny leaves pockets of the audience visibly shocked. In front of a festival crowd predominantly here for the hits, and without the context of the full The Feminine Divine production, their astonishment is understandable.

Thankfully, Kev’ and crew swiftly power back with the stomping Celtic soul of Come On Eileen, and it’s time to ‘Too-rye-ay …’.

It’s a flawless performance by one of pop’s true mavericks – just a shame those unaware of the staged nature of the earlier exchange are left reeling.

There’s no such provocations with Sunday’s headliner, Belle and Sebastian.

Once dismissed as ‘twee’, B&S are without question one of the all-time great Scottish pop bands. Their perfectly formed bedsit dramas showing an absolute mastery of the form, with such newer tunes as Do You Follow and Come On Home underlining their continuing maturity. There’s an unpretentiousness about the band, who host a stage invasion during The Boy With The Arab Strap with open arms.

Impossible not to love, they make for a positive and life-affirming conclusion to a surprising and enjoyable Moseley Folk Festival.

David Vincent

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