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Me and Hollowbelly have been on the road again, this time to Germany. We'd been to the Van Thom Weekender in Bremen (more of that in another blog), and now were headed down south on another long drive to a tiny village called Pleutersbach on the river Neckar. It was a long and winding road about 40  minutes drive up river from the beautiful city of Heidelberg..and when we got there we astonished at how tiny and rural the place was...but the stage had been built in a barn just off the main street...there were two bars already set up, and our host Fabian Fahr was there to greet us.

We were shown to our accommodation, in a room above the barn, with our own ensuite hayloft, and after a bite to eat and a glass of beer we caught up with some much needed sleep.

On Friday morning we went up to the village hall to get all the gear set up for our workshop, as the street would be closed to traffic, as the event was part of the local village "Kerwe" or fete. On the main street the fire service were busy building a verandah outside the firestation, garages were being decked-out as pop-up Weinstuben, It seemed everyone was doing their bit, the local window fitter helped to construct a seriously impressive scaffold frame to cover the courtyard where the audience would be, complete with an enormous tarpaulin...presumably sourced from the local agricultural store, as it was big enough to cover a haystack. A pukka PA rig was installed, a forklift truck was shuttling tables and benches about, and there was an air of anticipation that something was definitely going to happen. A few people started to arrive...a couple of groups from the Netherlands...but I was still wondering how on earth there would be enough people to make the event go with a swing. Anyhow, me and Hollowbelly sound checked in the evening, and there was a campfire Bratwurst cookout.Saturday we were up at 7.30am and off to the village hall, and after bit of a panic after I managed to trip the fuses for the power in the hall, our workshop was under way with 18 people in attendance. Fabian had done a great job in getting people there, and it all went well, with Hollowbelly taking on the bulk of the learn to play session. The workshop finished mid afternoon, just in time for us to pack away the gear and head down the crazily steep hillside back to the village for the start of the music.

So, it really was case of "build it and they will come"...more and more people started to arrive, more stalls had been erected in the street selling hearty German fare, and serious amounts of good German "Schmucker " beer was being drunk. 

Fabian "Capt'n Catfish" and Nicole got the event rolling with a short set and the whole event really went with a swing. The audience were generous with their applause, and every performer without exception got a very warm welcome. 

There were performers from Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and UK...The crowd were enthusiastic form start to finish...despite the rain starting at about 9.00pm, the courtyard was well protected and the weather made no dent on the numbers or enthusiasm.

Here's Freidel Geratsch...a proper pop star with a German no.1 hit to his name! He's really nice guy and I spent quite bit of time talking to him and passing on playing tips to him.

Blues Tones

The courtyard during the evening sets

Vincent Slegers

Some bloke from the UK...

A pensive Hollowbelly backstage...in monkish mode

Hollowbelly finishing off the evening...benches had to be moved to provide more space for dancing!  All in all it had been a cracking day - the local people were so welcoming and warm, and for a place with only about 500 inhabitants, it seems like at least half of them had turned up.

We weren't sure what Sunday would bring, and I was thinking that folk might start to drift away, but when we went downstairs, long communal tables and benches were being put together...and breakfast was served!

Sunday breakfast was an enormous pan of Bauernfruestuck - eggs, potatoes, onions and bacon (with a veggie alternative).. plus fresh rolls, tea, coffee...and beer of course. Again the place stated to fill up, and there was an open stage for people who weren't on the bill to have ago. There was also canjo making for kids, displays by other local guitar makers, pin striping custom paintwork on display..and out on the street pony rides, food stalls, wine bars and a duck race on the mill stream were just some of the things going on.

Of course, it being Sunday morning there was an outdoor holy mass, and during the day performances by the local band the "Muskkapelle Allemuehl"..I like them so much I bought their CD,

Hubi, the irrepressible and jolly one man band.

Cigar Box Henri and Friends jamming on Sunday.

Gumbo Guitars stand..and there were several others.

So, all credit and huge respect to Fabian aka Capt'n Catfish for organising an absolutely top-notch event. So enthusiastic, and a totally "can do" sort of bloke whose energy and warmth was evident even single minute of the event.