Band on the run: Grassington Festival, Yorkshire The deserved popularity of the Grassington Festival, now in its 32nd year (grassington-festival.org.uk), means that hotel rooms are quickly taken, so when we arrived at Skipton we dispersed. I stayed with two others in Skipton town, where we headed out for supplies to stock our hotel fridge ready for post-gig revels. With an hour to pass, we stopped for a pint of Yorkshire ale at a friendly pub on the canal. It didn't seem like work at all. The pace changed when our minibus picked us up and drove through the sublime countryside of lower Wharfedale, picking up band members along the way. The rain was still holding off, but there had clearly been plenty, even on the higher ground. The Dales are surely among the most spectacular scenery in the world, and now they were also almost impossibly green. Grassington is wonderful. The town is impossibly picturesque and the festival is superbly run by local volunteers with some professional help. It makes it very, very friendly. On arrival in our dressing room at the town hall, we were brought a tremendous spread of meats, sandwiches, dips, salads and strawberries - our very own Yorkshire tea. This year, on an incredibly full and varied roster of musical, literary and other performers, the town and festival have played host, among others, to Billy Ocean and The Unthanks, and comedian Alan Davies. With this background, the event stewards took getting a group of somewhat confused musicians around the building in their stride, even keeping track of our famously elusive drummer. They recommended the Foresters Arms (forestersarmsgrassington.co.uk) for the hours between sound-check and our 8.30 slot - it was a good call; lovely pub, lovely people, lovely food. Our support band was Mik Artistik's Ego Trip, a Leeds three-piece driven by Mik's witty northern "rapping." Listening backstage to the laughter and applause, we wondered whether he was a great warm-up or a hard act to follow. In the event, our show was a big success. Initially seated, the audience listened attentively and laughed and applauded in the right places. By the end of the set, many of them were dancing. Our song about "Taking the Train" went well. But the one that seemed to go best was S****y White Wine ("S****y white wine/It tastes like turpentine/A kangaroo on the label/Is never a good sign"). There was an audible frisson in the hall when we announced it, but by the second chorus everyone was singing along. In the bar after the show, the barmaid delighted in using the "offending" word to ask about the white wine she'd served me. We left the venue having had a superb time and hoping we'll be invited back, but already looking forward to the next stage of our journey. First it's back to Suffolk for two gigs at the Maverick Festival. Then overnight to Oxfordshire to play on our biggest stage yet - Cornbury. One of the country's finest small, specialist festivals, in a pastoral Suffolk setting (Easton Park Farm, IP13 0EQ) and devoted to the best of Americana, folk, country and roots music from both sides of the Atlantic. On the Barn stage this Friday at 7pm (£15, Friday only) and on Saturday, June 30, at 12.30pm (festival day tickets £30; three-day tickets £45; children 10-15 £8, under-10 free). Buy tickets on the gate or at ticketweb.co.uk. maverickfestival.co.uk; June 29-July 1 Day ticket £65, ages 3-12 and over 70, £10. cornburyfestival.com; June 29-July 1 PDH play at noon, Saturday, July 14. larmertreefestival.co.uk; July 11-15 The band plays on Saturday, July 28. campbestival.net; July 26-29 Police Dog Hogan play on Sunday, July 29.