"THE BEST EVER GTSF IN FRONT OF A DELIGHTED AUDIENCE"

A brilliant review below from RNR Magazine below. For those who don't know RNR, it's probably the best one out there for lovers of rootsy music spanning multiple genres - from folk to Americana, blues to rock'n'roll, world and singer-songwriter and more. Ian Croft is one of their reviewers and he's been coming to GTSF for a few years now.

Here's the latest review...

Gate To Southwell Festival celebrated its eighteenth birthday with a bang and stunning performances from a line-up that crosses genres though all can trace a root – it’s a kind of ‘RNR live’. In the fifth year on the current site, numbers are up so they’re obviously doing something right.

The first three days were sprinkled with highlights. Alabama 3 Acoustic put on a great blues show at a time in the afternoon “when we’re normally just getting up”. We Mavericks, new to me, were an excellent Australian duo with dynamism and a pile of good songs, and Track Dogs effortlessly spread their infectious sunny vibe. The Hunch paraded their eclectic repertoire, from ‘Accentuate The Positive’ to Snow Patrol’s ‘Chasing Cars’, and Thomas Bradley impressed with his folk-rock songs of love and war.

The festival climax was spectacular despite heavy rain outside the tent. New York Brass Band hit an afternoon sweet spot with a lively party soundtracked by their New Orleans jazz from North Yorkshire. Later, the Barcelona force of nature El Pony Pisador mixed music from Europe into a wildly energetic stage show, before Skinny Lister closed the festival with their vigorous and melodic folk-punk. It was a magnificent ending.

A bevy of acoustic performers and morris dancers were prominent throughout the festival, but the overwhelming memories are of the big, rootsy sounds. For me, they served up the best ever GTSF in front of a delighted audience.

Ian Croft