UNSURPRISINGLY, this has been a terrible year for folk festivals, with all the major events cancelled due to Covid-19.

It seemed that there was little light at the end of the tunnel but lockdown has also provided an opportunity for creativity and innovation, with some festivals offering a virtual online experience.

One such is Folk East Festival in Suffolk, which managed to put together a fine afternoon of performances, with local duo Honey and the Bear getting the afternoon off to a relaxing start, followed by north-east duo Katherine Priddy and George Boomsma with a performance of songs based on Greek myths.

Despite this being a virtual event, rain still managed to delay performances — something which felt oddly comforting to those used to this particular festival experience.

It did however result in a coming together of the next two acts, The Young ‘Uns and The Hut People, with the inspirational song Ghafoor’s Bus and the ever-popular sea shanty South Australia.

Another young group, Sam Kelly and the Lost Boys, provided a rousing finale of traditional songs, among them  Gallows Pole and Golden Vanity as well an interesting cover of Dire Straits’  Sultans of Swing.

Not quite the festival experience I would have wanted and it did make me yearn for the real thing. But there is always hope for next year.

Individual performances from the festival are available on YouTube.