Millennial Memories
It’s difficult to imagine that there was a time before Warwick Folk Festival.
Perched at the very beginning of the long school holidays, it has been the ever present gateway to summer for as long as can be remembered.
A magical place, a safe space, where we had freedom to roam, whilst our parents sat inhaling wineboxes on the campsite, reminiscing about Fairport Thursdays at the Lord Leycester, and we ran free with Dr Sunshine, playing parachute games. So many memories!
Staying up late to watch Loose Chippings, wrapped in a blanket, sitting on Mum’s knee. Being carried back to the tent at midnight, fast asleep. Dancing to Florida and Peeping Tom and Steamchicken in the Guy Nelson. Chinewrde leading the procession, a young Will Pound on snare.
Gradually, the wheel turns.
Music sessions in the bar, staggering back to the tent at dawn. Moor & Coast, a crash detox the next morning. Struggling into morris kit in the blistering heat.
Rammed into a sweaty pub session with several hundred morris dancers, singing and laughing and playing for rapper dancing in the tiniest space, rain splatting against steamy windows. Waking at dawn in a camping chair, still in morris kit.
The first tent we bought together. The barbecue years. Cheese and olives and sourdough crackers after midnight and I got this bottle from Aldi of all places.
Kids of our own asleep in buggies, as the Unthanks transcend starless space and time. The gradual migration to a caravan in the family area. New meanings to old rhymes. Many, many, many types of gin.
We knew loss and heartbreak. We lost a lot more than just a venue in those days. For a few years.
And the wheel turned.
Stood up Gowers, Grant and Pound. Now there’s a headliner! Supported by Laurel and the Laureates feat Lawrence. Miryam and Miles. Lindsey, Nic and Hannah. Wilson and the Adams.
With an almost imperceptible sigh, the torch is passed. Will you look at that?
And everywhere friends, never more than a few paces away. All of one mind. We’re at Warwick. We’re home. And home is more than a place.
Warwick Folk Festival.
The slow and steady beat of an oral tradition.
The turning wheel of years.
The heart of folk.
Laura Thomas 2023. Revised May 2026 V2.
