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Where to start this review? I haven't come back down to earth yet I'm still living on the adrenalin of the day two weeks later.
The day started off with tuition from the Alabama western dancers, they got everyone on the floor and warmed up ready for the day. Then I took over and Taught a couple of easy Linedances. Which for my first attempt at festival teaching went very quickly and surprisingly well, Everyone cracked the dances and that's always a bonus.We were than ready for the live entertainment. Richard Palmer was the first act on the bill, what a pleasant surprise he was. With a warm personality, steady guitar, he played and all the right songs, to keep the dance floor packed. But that's not all, this lad has such a great voice he sounds like he has been in the business for years with a very old country sound, although his preference is the more modern side of country he is just as comfortable singing George Straight and Johnny Cash.
Also during the Day we were swept off our feet by the outstanding Vegas Duo. Another very modern act, exactly what we needed in a room of 200 line dancers from all over Kent and further. Vegas really are great guys they have wicked personalities and excellent voices. They are fun loving and very talented and of course all the ladies adore them. It must be their ravishing good looks!!! (That's what they told me to say anyway.) I love the fact that everything you hear when they're on stage is their own work as Rob plays all the instruments on the backing tracks himself. so not only do they perform all the latest modern linedance tunes, they spend a lot of time writing the tracks to accompany them. Hats off to these Boys. (only your hats)
After an Hour and half break during which time some people danced throughout, (more stamina than sense I think) I took the first teaching slot this time and recapped the previous dances taught earlier and another new dance, as did the Western Dancers. The evening started of with a lady who in my opinion is the best female vocalist on the circuit at the moment. Gemma Fairweather can put her voice to any piece of music, not only that she is beautiful, glamorous and has a great big heart. Gemma sings almost anything from Patsy Cline to K.T Turnstall, with a little Keith Urban in between, she sings and dances sometimes at the same time. I Love watching Gemma Perform as much as listening to her.
As organizer of the event I tried to put together show to please everyone, with new talent, male & female vocals, modern dance and real country music. But still using acts that I would travel to see myself. When one of the pre booked acts disbanded, a suitable replacement had to be found to finish off our evening in style.
Up till now the dance floor was controlled by the act on the stage. Now, (as they say) for something completely different.
The Amazing John Permenter took to the stage for a set on his own, One man and his fiddle, singing real country music with his real American country voice. John is such a great guy, friendly and always has time to talk to people. When he plays even the avid linedancer stops to watch. That's not to say the dance floor wasn't full throughout his performance. Who would have thought you could dance 'Irish Stew' to 'The Devil Went Down To Georgia' John was my personal Favourite of the day, he fires up the audience encouraging them to sing, dance, and even scream to his wonderful music. John's 'Orange Blossom Special' is unbelievable, you really can hear every single note as his nimble fingers get faster & faster.
That's not all after Gemma played her second set brilliant set, Leading the Partner dancers in 'Voices of the Highland's. The end of the night was fast approaching. How to end a perfect day of wonderful music? How about some more wonderful music?
Yes This time with the outstanding Pure Country Rick & Jodie really did send us of with a bang. They sang great country music with excellent vocals Some older material from Merle Haggard went down well, then New Country with Garth Brooks & Dwight Yoakam This was my chance to dance, the floor was again full but now the dancers were on their own. Dancing modern country routines to old country music is something I enjoy, It creates a new flair to dances there is no need to tag and you can relax and enjoy the music too. Pure Country have come under a lot of criticism recently for one reason or another, But after their 45 Minute set was finished most acts will be called back for one encore Its almost expected. But three encores and a 20 minute overrun 200 people cant be wrong......Pure Country kept the majority there to the very end considering it was a Sunday Night thats pretty amazing, Even my Lorry driving Husband who was to be up at 4 O'clock Monday morning stayed to see the end of the show, (he was one of their new fans shouting for more.)
The day started off with tuition from the Alabama western dancers, they got everyone on the floor and warmed up ready for the day. Then I took over and Taught a couple of easy Linedances. Which for my first attempt at festival teaching went very quickly and surprisingly well, Everyone cracked the dances and that's always a bonus.We were than ready for the live entertainment. Richard Palmer was the first act on the bill, what a pleasant surprise he was. With a warm personality, steady guitar, he played and all the right songs, to keep the dance floor packed. But that's not all, this lad has such a great voice he sounds like he has been in the business for years with a very old country sound, although his preference is the more modern side of country he is just as comfortable singing George Straight and Johnny Cash.
Also during the Day we were swept off our feet by the outstanding Vegas Duo. Another very modern act, exactly what we needed in a room of 200 line dancers from all over Kent and further. Vegas really are great guys they have wicked personalities and excellent voices. They are fun loving and very talented and of course all the ladies adore them. It must be their ravishing good looks!!! (That's what they told me to say anyway.) I love the fact that everything you hear when they're on stage is their own work as Rob plays all the instruments on the backing tracks himself. so not only do they perform all the latest modern linedance tunes, they spend a lot of time writing the tracks to accompany them. Hats off to these Boys. (only your hats)
After an Hour and half break during which time some people danced throughout, (more stamina than sense I think) I took the first teaching slot this time and recapped the previous dances taught earlier and another new dance, as did the Western Dancers. The evening started of with a lady who in my opinion is the best female vocalist on the circuit at the moment. Gemma Fairweather can put her voice to any piece of music, not only that she is beautiful, glamorous and has a great big heart. Gemma sings almost anything from Patsy Cline to K.T Turnstall, with a little Keith Urban in between, she sings and dances sometimes at the same time. I Love watching Gemma Perform as much as listening to her.
As organizer of the event I tried to put together show to please everyone, with new talent, male & female vocals, modern dance and real country music. But still using acts that I would travel to see myself. When one of the pre booked acts disbanded, a suitable replacement had to be found to finish off our evening in style.
Up till now the dance floor was controlled by the act on the stage. Now, (as they say) for something completely different.
The Amazing John Permenter took to the stage for a set on his own, One man and his fiddle, singing real country music with his real American country voice. John is such a great guy, friendly and always has time to talk to people. When he plays even the avid linedancer stops to watch. That's not to say the dance floor wasn't full throughout his performance. Who would have thought you could dance 'Irish Stew' to 'The Devil Went Down To Georgia' John was my personal Favourite of the day, he fires up the audience encouraging them to sing, dance, and even scream to his wonderful music. John's 'Orange Blossom Special' is unbelievable, you really can hear every single note as his nimble fingers get faster & faster.
That's not all after Gemma played her second set brilliant set, Leading the Partner dancers in 'Voices of the Highland's. The end of the night was fast approaching. How to end a perfect day of wonderful music? How about some more wonderful music?
Yes This time with the outstanding Pure Country Rick & Jodie really did send us of with a bang. They sang great country music with excellent vocals Some older material from Merle Haggard went down well, then New Country with Garth Brooks & Dwight Yoakam This was my chance to dance, the floor was again full but now the dancers were on their own. Dancing modern country routines to old country music is something I enjoy, It creates a new flair to dances there is no need to tag and you can relax and enjoy the music too. Pure Country have come under a lot of criticism recently for one reason or another, But after their 45 Minute set was finished most acts will be called back for one encore Its almost expected. But three encores and a 20 minute overrun 200 people cant be wrong......Pure Country kept the majority there to the very end considering it was a Sunday Night thats pretty amazing, Even my Lorry driving Husband who was to be up at 4 O'clock Monday morning stayed to see the end of the show, (he was one of their new fans shouting for more.)