Vale of Evesham national morris weekend

​Evesham Morris Festival!
It was hot and it was sticky, but what a superb weekend we had in the good company of 40+ Morris sides of all denominations. The quality of dance styles on display was simply bewildering with Cotswold, Welsh Border, North West Clog, Molly Dancing, Rapper and Sword, step and clog dancing. 
Our highlights were our al fresco teas eaten under the team gazebo in temperatures so hot the Brie nearly ran off the plate, just like it would do in southern France! The Friday evening ceilidh with Banter and The Seven Champions Molly Dancers performing faultless display dances with a complete absence of calling was amazing, and setting out the stall early for what fun we were going to have!
Saturday’s coach tour with Ledbury & Cuckoos Nest saw us visit Chipping Camden and the amazing pub, The Fleece at Bretforton where we enjoyed dancing, drinking and eating there, along with Pebworth Morris who were also enjoying lunch. There was one moment of high drama when a few spots of rain had Erin trying to deploy the Musoes brolly, only to put it up, inside out! We need a new one! A heavy duty golf brolly in Team colours is what we need. 
Further drama centred on Alex D’s personal stick (he could not make the w/e) which had been left in the stick bag. It appeared as though someone had used it, without permission and somehow had absentmindedly left it by a car tyre, resulting in the stick’s partial destruction when the car drove off. There was little we could do but take the stick to The Fleece to see if it was repairable, which sadly it was not! See the photos!
We were coached back to Evesham for display dances in the Market Square where we performed Rigs of Doom, Bampton which went very well and drew praise from the audience! Further display dances were done at Abbey Park after we had taken ice creams which did little to cool us down. We were on early as performance number 8 and did Curly Boar which again drew praise due to the distinctly different figures and the tune.
We returned to our tents for a cuppa tea, more incredibly runny cheese, bread, wine and superb provender before heading to the Granny’s Attic gig which was excellent, and where Customs & Exiles delivered a blisteringly good half time spot of NW Clog which I think was Ripon no.9! 
Sunday dawned slightly cooler and gave us opportunity to dance in the procession. Before doing so, we met a lady called Robynne who was Lancashire and Cheshire champion three years in a row, and was asking where Keith was. 
The procession was done using Speed the Plough Bampton adapted for this purpose, following a path that led us to the Market Square and then our arrival there went slightly awry when a miscall on the previously discussed & agreed figure saw us go all over the place, demonstrating the importance of dancing what was called!
The side did Rigs of Doom and Valentines as our two show dances which went ok although placing the musicians behind the set led to slight disorientation in the hey of Rigs, but I think we got away with that!
The Rose & Crown pub in the square laid on large chilled water containers for rehydration, as well as Butcombe, Butty Bach and other ales in tip top condition, plus a huge pile of cheese rolls at a reasonable price to soak up the ale!
All that remained was for us to pack away gear, and return home, floating on a feeling of euphoria that this had been a truly excellent weekend which we must do again next year!
photos by Alison, Claire, Erin, morwen, sian & paul
Participants: Musoes Sian, Kev, Roger Dancers Alex H. Alison, Ben, Claire, Di, Erin, Geoff, Nigel, & Paul. Alison B and Morwen & baby Rowan also attended the weekend.