Music lovers were spoiled for choice with three days of live bands and solo performers at Ushaw historic house, chapel and gardens, near Durham. Mick Burgess was there for The Northern Echo.
NOW in its 4th year, the Northern Kin Festival has become an increasingly popular highlight in the gig diary of Northern music fans and it`s easy to see why.
With over 40 bands from Rock, Pop, Prog, Blues, Punk and Folk and more there is literally something for everyone here and with the stages housed in three big tents, there was no fear of the dreaded British Bank Holiday rain dampening the spirits.
Read more: Music lovers of all vintages flock to Northern Kin Festival 2022 in County Durham
That dreaded rain stayed away for the first day, indeed blue skies and a rather warm sun was the perfect present for the weekend revellers basking to the sounds of local heroes and classic Rock veterans Geordie.
Punk and Folk collided with a lively set from Headsticks before Dr. Feelgood, showed just why they are an essential on the festival circuit with a supercharged set of classic R&B. Carl Palmer`s ELP Legacy delivered a masterclass in Prog Rock from the master drummer himself.
Losing a bass player and lead singer to illness the day before the show would mean cancellation for many bands but not for Holy Moly & the Crackers who soldiered on the face of adversity, with the help of rather a large following in the crowd.
Newton Faulkner, has so much talent, he doesn`t need a band. With just himself and a guitar Faulkner charmed the crowd with his headlining set which included “Clouds”.
Over at the Big Top stage, Scottish Rockers Gun ramped it up with a fiery set of classic Hard Rock including “Steal Your Fire” and their crowd-pleasing cover of “Word Up”.
While The Levellers have just been announced for next year’s festival, frontman Mark Chadwick reworked a few of their songs over on the acoustic stage including “One Way.” Fairport Convention`s gently, lilting Folk with touches of Prog with tight vocal harmonies brought an English summer feel to the weekend while Wildwood Kin`s sublime three-part harmonies were truly wonderful on the ear.
Then Jerico`s lively performance including “Big Area” and “The Motive” brought some welcome Pop cheer to the day before former Whitesnake guitarist Bernie Marsden`s cultured Blues covers along with a sprinkling of vintage Whitesnake classics went down a storm.
Dreadzone`s pulsating bass and deep grooves had the crowd moving in one pulsating mass while New Model Army, as a cut down duo due to illness,battled on gainfully while over at the Main Stage Del Amitri`s well-chosen set covered all the bases.
It was an early start on Day 3 for Groovetrain featuring Hairy Biker Si King on percussion whose funktastic grooves were the perfect start to the final day. Alas for The Blow Monkeys, their set was cut short as Dr Robert`s voice blew out but a piano smoking Rock ‘n’ Roll pounding set from Tankus The Henge got everything back on track.
Soft Rockers Sad Café delivered a set strong on melody with some classy West Coast harmonies before a master class in classic Rock ‘n’ Roll from Andy Fairweather Low and showed just why he has worked with Eric Clapton and Roger Waters amongst many.
Nik Kershaw delivered set of well-crafted Pop songs including “The Riddle” before FM`s slick melodic Rock spiced it up with “Bad Luck” and “That Girl”.
As a rollicking Ferocious Dog`s Celtic Punk left the Big Top reeling, Squeeze opened the Great English Songbook and rolled out the hits including “Up The Junction” and “Take Me I`m Yours” to a wonderful weekend of music and at little over a quid a band, even Martin Lewis couldn`t find a better deal than that.
Below, some pictures of crowds at the festival. Can you spot yourself?
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