{"id":17846,"date":"2017-06-26T16:50:41","date_gmt":"2017-06-26T15:50:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/?p=17846"},"modified":"2017-06-26T16:59:33","modified_gmt":"2017-06-26T15:59:33","slug":"photos-from-the-leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-bands-beer-banjos-morris-dancers-and-crowd-scenes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/photos-from-the-leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-bands-beer-banjos-morris-dancers-and-crowd-scenes\/","title":{"rendered":"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and crowd scenes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-23.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Established in 1992, the\u00a0Leigh Folk Festival takes place annually at Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, and I popped along on Sunday to catch the last day of the four day event &#8211; and had a fantastic time.<\/p>\n<p>Claimed to be &#8220;the largest free folk festival in the county,&#8221; the event puts on hundreds of performers across multiple venues in Leigh Old Town, watched by thousands of spectators.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-01.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The range of entertainment across the stages was impressive, covering traditional and contemporary folk music, through to blues; plus Celtic, English and Scottish dance groups, country dancing, Morris dancers, international folk dance, indie, jive and line-dancing and more.<\/p>\n<p>Getting to the festival is dead easy too: Leigh on Sea station (with direction connections to London) is just a five minute walk away from the heart of the festival.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-02.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As I arrived, Morris dancers from the Hertfordshire Holly were busying themselves, rather incongruously, under a concrete flyover.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-03.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-04.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-05.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A little further along the waterfront could be seen\u00a0Morris dancers clattering metal poles together.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-06.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"735\" height=\"414\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cXNzaA3u9eQ?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-GB&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-07.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I loved the statement on the <a href=\"http:\/\/leighfolkfestival.com\/leigh-folk-festival\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">festival website<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>Rather than drifting towards becoming another commercially driven, ticketed event, the team of volunteer organisers has doggedly held fast to the original grass roots, access-for-all ethos, and so the festival has retained its unique, eclectic and idiosyncratic atmosphere.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>Music has the power to make us all feel part of something bigger than ourselves, while nurturing a true sense of community and local pride. The pastoral, village fete atmosphere of the Library Gardens and the bustling, waterfront location of Old Leigh are both fundamental to the spirit of the weekend, and offer a natural, unpretentious welcome to visitors in their thousands.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-08.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I saw too many bands to remember all their names (sorry!), but here&#8217;s a selection of sights from the day:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-09.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-10.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Many fishing-related businesses still work from Leigh on Sea.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-11.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The main drag is charming, with loads of attractive old buildings.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-12.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-13.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-14.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-15.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-16.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Along the waterfront.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-17.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-18.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-19.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-20.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-21.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-22.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-24.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-25.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-26.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-27.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-28.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-29.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-30.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-31.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-32.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-33.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-34.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A sandy beach.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-35.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-36.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A few brave souls take to the water. Behind, a train hurtles past.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-37.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Prosecco\u00a0from a horse box.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-38.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Punch &amp; Judy show.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-39.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>These guys spent ages trying to hit the triangular &#8216;hat&#8217; on the breakwater. The chap on the far right proved to be the winner.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-40.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Curved footbridge over the railway line. In the distance is Westcliff-on-Sea.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-41.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-42.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Heading back to Leigh On Sea.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-43.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-44.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Wooden shelter.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-45.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>On the beach.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-46.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-47.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Merch stall.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-48.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-49.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-50.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>On the other side of the tracks can be seen the popular Ship pub on New Road, which unexpectedly <a href=\"http:\/\/www.echo-news.co.uk\/news\/15139871.Regulars_left_high_and_dry_as_popular_pub_shuts_with_just_a_Facebook_post_for_warning\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shut its doors in March<\/a> this year.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-51.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking down from the footbridge.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-52.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-53.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Strand Tea Rooms.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-54.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-55.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>One of the reasons I&#8217;d come out to Essex was to see my old friends, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/bridportdagger\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bridport Dagger<\/a> playing on the Peterboat stage.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-56.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The band were regulars at our <a href=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/offline\/offline-albert-mar08.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Offline Club in Brixton<\/a>, producing a darkly compelling sound described as &#8220;1950&#8217;s rock &amp; roll as re-imagined by David Lynch.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>I love &#8217;em!<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"735\" height=\"414\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/18wf9tD0rMw?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-GB&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-57.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-58.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Grabbing a shot.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-59.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-60.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-61.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-62.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-63.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The DJ scored an unexpected crowd uniting smash when he played &#8216;Bohemian Rhapsody&#8217; in full.<\/p>\n<p>I felt rather sorry for the Diamond Family Archive\u00a0who had to follow the rabble rousing singalong with their mellow experimental sounds.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-65.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-64.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-66.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-67.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The organisers&#8217; <a href=\"http:\/\/leighfolkfestival.com\/our-history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website<\/a> contains this witty comment: &#8220;we have even more mud on show than Glastonbury\u2026 but only when the tide is out!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-68.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Rocking R&#8217;n&#8217;B.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-69.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-70.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-71.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-72.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The sea was nowhere to be seen!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-73.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-74.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-75.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Heading home.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-76.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-77.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-78.jpg\" alt=\"Photos from the Leigh On Sea folk festival: bands, beer, banjos, Morris dancers and people, June 2017, Essex\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Last view before I caught the train home.<\/p>\n<p>I loved the festival and it&#8217;s non-profit ethos. I&#8217;ll be back next year!<\/p>\n<p>More info: <a href=\"http:\/\/leighfolkfestival.com\/leigh-folk-festival\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Leigh Folk Festival website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.net\/forums\/threads\/leigh-on-sea-free-folk-festival-is-a-cracker.353020\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chat about the festival on the forum.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Established in 1992, the\u00a0Leigh Folk Festival takes place annually at Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, and I popped along on Sunday to catch the last day of the four day event &#8211; &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":17847,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[54,43,456,17],"tags":[1696,372,325,1695,662,1426,1694],"class_list":["post-17846","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-festivals","category-music","category-news","category-photos","tag-bridport-dagger","tag-essex","tag-festival","tag-folk","tag-folk-music","tag-free","tag-leigh-on-sea"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-2017-23.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pQI7P-4DQ","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17846","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17846"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17846\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17857,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17846\/revisions\/17857"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17847"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17846"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17846"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}