Bellowhead - The Rochdale Coconut Dance, Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2010

[@dukeofoven]

This is how music should be - played with utter joy

[@intercat4907]

Traditional music, backed by a marching brass band and a den mother with a cello. We longtime fans smile knowingly and read your delighted comments. Viva! And welcome to the madhouse.

[@MichaelWalker26]

They never fail to entertain. A folk band with a brass section is so different.

[@dabadaba-doo4864]

Holly Shite....where have you been all my life? i just discovered you guys today!!! for Christ sake come to the States, we're not all dicks!! Great stuff!

[@brianmasters1125]

Do you all blaspheme?

[@Pilcrow23]

I'm not sure why you belittle them so much. I love listening to lots of different people's takes on folk songs because each person brings their own flair to it. Bellowhead is no exception, and to say that they're 'just the new kids on the block' is to ignore the creativity they bring to these tracks. Also, re your other comments, Bellowhead got me into Spiers and Boden and that got me into traditional folk music, so I can't believe they do anything other than good for the genre.

[@jessnich6855]

If Bellowhead comes back together.. They will be the best FOREVER

[@MrHistorian123]

Bellowhead are the most fun you can have with your trousers on.

[@jasbk]

every Bellowhead video I view, not one of them has a single dislike, the best musicians on the planet!

[@jessnich6855]

Fantastic! Loved it.. Please come back together!

[@Simon-ui6db]

from someone who plays both folk and modern chart stuff i really like this version.

[@bertiekirkwood]

I love Bellowhead. One of my favourite things about them (there are many) is that by the last chorus they're all really enjoying it!

[@Wizzywig2009]

A Plethora of different instruments, blended together ... superb

[@cutmeyemaya]

This band is so amazing, I wish I could join them!

[@johnnagorski9308]

Just fantastic

[@Susan3412]

Love it!

[@cjknotty]

Terrific live band!

[@mervynabel7557]

Absolutely superb and far too good to be history, so come on guys, please reform!!! and come back to Cromer!!!!

[@aoife92]

Ha the melodion player is just loving life.

[@philoshaughnessy906]

A fabulous band. So sad that they had to part.

[@virginiarobinson2042]

Gosh.... Jon Bowden is so handsome !! 😍

[@s10m0t10n]

I enjoyed that. Very jolly.

[@nicolayoung9886]

Who are the guys standing in for Benji Kirkpatrick and Brendan Kelly.

[@rodrigodeoyarzabal1176]

Wow! con el mero 'Jarabe Tapatío' enmedio

[@TomPoop]

So did I.

[@Hootonium242]

Does anybody also know who the saxophone player is? Doesn't look like Brendan. He plays some interesting solos starting at 2:34 :)

[@NotAJollyPotato]

I think the band had a little chance up cause that doesn't look like benji on the guitary thing either

[@Tsax2012]

+Dylan Le Lerre guitary thing is a mandolin

[@Munsungan]

That looks like David Delarre on the mando. Someone check me?

[@spundam]

It is David Delarre, as I pointed out 6 six years ago.

[@seanmarshall7403]

When you say the Rochdale Co count dance what is this? Locally we have the Brittania Coconutters which is Bacup (a little town north of Rochdale). Just asking mind you and love Bellowhead.

[@alanwhitworth659]

Sean Marshall I agree. They were Blacked up .. To do with the coal strikes and the came up from Cornwall.Also in the north east.(black leg Colliers) I think the Pub where the dance is The Wellington... let me know . .

[@Folkcustomscouk]

+Sean Marshall There is reference to coconut dancers as part of the Rochdale Rushbearing processions, looks like there were several teams in the area (At least four were known around 1900) , Britannia being the only one that survived to the present day.

[@Wotsitorlabart]

They were blacked up because they were a street version of the theatrical 'Pas de Coco' dances that were popular in the early/mid 1800's. They weren't mimicking miners - they were imagined Polynesians.

[@dirkbogarde44]

There's nothing worse than a musical elitist, esp a folk elitist. This band are AMAZING. If you don't get it, then you are deaf.

[@kyringe]

Great music. Oh and i think Rachael McShane is pretty cute.

[@seanmarshall7403]

Britannia Coconutters that is

[@nord1486]

I went to university with her dad, Chris

[@jonathandoran4403]

Does anyone know who the guy playing mandolin is?

[@spundam]

Mr Doran - It was David Delarre, deputizing for Benji Kirkpatrick.

[@irateofwatford]

Would you embolden, please? I can't hear a word you are writing!

[@Jemtheflute]

Maybe, though the lead singer is one of the things I find (very) off-putting about Bellowhead (I have 2 of their albums) - and if he sings in the same style in their duo, I doubt I'll like it even if I like the arrangements. Haven't actually heard them as a duo that I know of. (I don't much get to go to festivals/gigs, unfortunately, and prefer going out to play in sessions to going to "folk clubs".)

[@irateofwatford]

It was/is not always a sad dirge. Admittedly, in the UK - England particularly - there has been a widespread belief that amateur status confers the right to be amateurish and yet expect an audience, and this has been the bane of folk clubs and explains why I rarely ever go to them. I would say that Blowzabella (amongst others) did much more to rescue folk from from its dull image from 1979 onwards. Bellowhead are just the new kids on the block.

[@Jemtheflute]

The box player is great in this - I'd love to be able to hear him properly! The rest is just an aural mess to me; oh, a clever mess by talented players with imagination, sure, but still a mess.

[@zimmie99]

John Spiers. Fabulous player.

[@irateofwatford]

No sir, I don't have much time for the folk club scene, I'm not bearded, I don't wear cable-knit and I'm a Pastis drinker (preferably with water and ice cubes.) You don't happen to know of any good sessions, preferably somewhere other than England? With lots of food and proper people would be good. If it ain't Bacchic and convivial I'm not interested. You can come along too as long as you behave yourself.

[@dirkbogarde44]

Oh, put your fishing jumper on, sup your pale air and sit in the corner man. Enough.

[@irateofwatford]

Sorry jasbk. I decided to buck the trend.

[@irateofwatford]

Bellowhead is what is wrong with folk festivals in England; La Chavannée is what is wrong with folk festivals in France; Carlos Núñez is what is wrong with folk festivals in Spain. Notwithstanding the impressive abilities of each of the musicians in all three cases it's traditional folk music for a wider public which hates the sound of traditional folk music.