REAPERFEST A GREAT LITTLE FESTIVAL

So what was Reaperfest all about?

This:-

First and foremost our heartfelt thanks to Maurice McComb and all the Melbourn Rock Club guys who worked so hard to make this a very special and excellently run festival.

As CRF (Cambridge Rock Festival) was not on this year they wondered, "Why not have our own festival?" and so they did and damn fine it was too, so, without further ado, this was very much a Fellowship of the Stick event with the largest gathering of the Fellowship since HRH Prog 3.

Reaperfest 2015

Chris said “After this Reaperfest you must have enough material for a novel”

Well yes, and no,

Indeed there was much laughter

A great time spent with the best of friends

Good music, too much beer and cider

But nothing I can remember that we’d regret after

Us taking it all so seriously

We must of course remember also that what happened at Reaperfest stays at Reaperfest

Accept perhaps

Nothing too outrageous did occur

On this I hope we can concur

There was of course some pretty outrageous dancing

Late nights socialising

With other friends who were camping

Or glamping

Mornings doing nothing but chilling

With really nothing much to do

Apart from sitting in the sun

Chatting and just enjoying the pure freedom

Of it all

Camp Fellowship is established

Early Friday evening saw us establish our little camp

With Fender’s den (The caravan)

Kaz Das Kamper

And camp Hundy

There were Corona’s and wigs

And laughter and photographs

And maybe wee drink or two to get us in the mood and be ready

For G La Roche to kick off

The musical proceedings

The ever entertaining Mr Balstock himself, G La Roche

Preceding

Black Jack Blues

Black Jack Blues

And the Smokin’ Prophets (our Roger’s boys)

The less said about the sound-check

The better

Been there done that one to death

And I think they played a good set

If a little loud

The Smokin' Prophets

Didn’t seem to affect the crowd

Who were all warmed up for Kaine

And oh yes, Kaine did it again

A fine set befitting of Dan’s departure

And after……………………..

Kaine, an amazing performance

We retired to the camp for late night JD’s

Pizza and a bit of finger lickin’ hot chicken

We had visitors some I saw and others I missed

Somewhat pissed I retired to my bed

While the others rocked me to sleep

First thing on Saturday morning Smiffy took Roger away

To exchange him for muffins and milk

A fine trade I might say

Only joking,

Roger had to go back to Peterborough to see his son

It’s a shame he couldn’t stay and enjoy the fun

With Kevin, Chris, Tim, Jo, Smiffy & me

But family is family

Fender holds court in his den

So after breakfast we sat and chilled in the sun

In the kids adventure playground some had fun

We watched the old aeroplanes flying overhead

Some local and others from Duxford

And before we knew where we were

They’d re-opened the bar!

Yes indeed, Saturday had begun.

Aeroplanes from Duxford but we had our very own Tiger Moth display!

Angel Underground kicked us off in fine biker rock style

Angel Underground

Followed by a more blues rock led afternoon with

Double Shot, Lovehats & the Hotpoints

Double Shot

Lovehats

Hotpoints

Before Dirty Little Rebel

Ripped the roof off with their brand of punk metal

While we dined on the finest of Tosh’s burgers

Or chips with curry sauce

Washed down of course, with lashings of real ale or cider

And boy oh boy can our Jo dance with that inside her!

Dirty Little Rebel

Colonel Gomez topped the bill

Getting on but outrageous still

I cannot adequately describe the costumes

Just see the photographs and you’ll see what I mean

Colonel Gomez

Oh, yes, and then there was the dancing

We may have been in the courtyard outside

But we could see the band and the music was nice and loud

And our general prancing

Suddenly seemed to turn into ‘Line Dancing’

Until the Moon came out over Melbourn

Oh my good grief, we might be starting to line dance!

But what happened at Reaperfest stays at Reaperfest

I think that’s all I’ll say, it’s for the best

And at least those photos can’t be shared on Facebook!

This nights camp-side late night visitors

Were Martyn & Donna

And a very pleasant way to end the day

And indeed the festival

All in all

It was an absolute blast

The MRC did us proud

And for that they should be proud

So, until the next time............................

Cool runnings one and all, have a great summer, see you after Balstock.

Grant Meaby - August 2015