FolkWorld Live Review by Eugene Graham; 09/2002
Dranouter is the most mixed of festivals. This years typical melange
saw Patti Smith, Ray Davies, the Hothouseflowers, Femi Kouti, Kate Rusby, Mike
Mc Goldrick, Slide , Galldubh, Chris Newman & Maire Ni Catathsaigh among others
compete with DJs, part of the Buena Vista Socialclub and a clatter of fine Flemish
performers for the favours of the predomininantly young crowd.
At once this was an international folk festival, a rock festival and above all a Flemish festival. Lucky for me I met Peter and Thomas from the north east of Blegium on my first day and they brought me to a selection of Flemish concerts I would otherwise have missed. Most memorable was Willem Vermandere & Harmonie Ypriana.
I had marked my chosen acts in the programme and set out round the sprawling site. There were in all eight venues in tents varying from the staggering 20,000 of the big tent down to four or five hundred in the smaller ethno groove venues. I pinballed my way through a staggering variety of music starting with the aboriginal “White Cockatoo performing Group” and their rythmic stomping display from the beginning of time. Then it was on to the bland southern songs of the “Indigo Girls” from Atlanta Georgia, followed by the celtic glam-rock of the Hothouse Flowers, various DJs and the emerging young Irish group “Galldubh” who gave a polished performance highlighted by Aideen Curtin`s jazzy voice.It was fast approaching 11.30 when Slide hit the scene.
The first day was coming to a close but dance music continued into the small
hours while some of us tried to get some sleep so that we could absorb the following
day´s music.
Photo Credit: Photos by Eugene Graham
(1) White Cockatoo Performing Group; (2) Slide backstage
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