I have just spent the weekend at one of the north’s best-kept secrets – Ravenstonedale festival, in Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria. A small but perfectly formed festival with approximately 500 punters, set in the stunning landscape of Eden valley at the foot of the Howgills. A dramatic setting with dramatic weather to match; they don’t do things by halves in Cumbria.

As I was only performing on the Saturday, I decided to resist the temptation of Friday night partying, so missed the apparently biblical rain that night. Within two minutes of being on-site though, I’d managed to wedge my car deep into the sodden ground, but the wonderfully friendly and capable staff located a tractor and had me towed out of there in no time. 

The three-day festival provides some excellent entertainment from up and coming performers of all kinds, from spoken word/poetry, to DJs, and bands.  There’s a bar stage (the Raven’s Nest) with drinks at extremely reasonable prices, an acoustic stage (the Melodrome, where most of the spoken word acts took place), the PixyDiscRecordings Welfare Tent, which is one of the dinkiest chill-out/welfare tents I’ve ever come across (think a miniature Dogs in Space, and you’re there), and a full-on Dance Tent which played some of the best dance tunes I’ve heard at a festie in a long time!

The choice of food was generous, given the limited amount of space on site, and there were enough vegetarian options to keep us both happy and well fed. All reasonably priced too, and of a very high standard.

No review is complete without a mention of the lavatory conditions.  The toilets were clean all weekend which is always welcome, although there could have been more toilet roll provided. But I’m not complaining, given the all-round perfection otherwise.

I saw some wonderful acts this weekend, both musical and spoken word, and will definitely apply to perform there next year.  At £55 for a weekend ticket, I’ll be there like a shot even if I’m not performing!

The standard of the spoken word/poetry was high, the sound quality, stage set-up and compering were faultless, and the Melodrome Stage was busy all weekend.  I decided to leave the paper at home for my set, given that I never even look at it anyway, and did the full 15 minutes completely paperless. A liberating experience! In terms of content and performance, I believe it was my best set so far, and the response from those in attendance put me on a high from which I’ve yet to come down.

Several acts really impressed me, including Miss P, who had gritty, down-to-earth, working class themes in her work and brought some very funny lines into it, Mill Milligan (imagine Frank Gallagher with a Carlisle accent) who gave us a rollicking set, and singer/songwriter John Rothwell, who played some amazing slide guitar. 

I would recommend this festival to all poets who wish to broaden their performance horizons, or simply appreciate listening to their fellow scribblers and ranters.