In its 27th year, Woodford Folk Festival built some much-needed momentum, with ticket sales up 15% on the previous year, beautiful weather and a fine programme.
Will and the People undoubtedly won the title of Most Hyped, quickly ensnaring fans with their honest, upfront blend of rock and reggae. Evoking images of a Kombi parked at the beach, it seems Will’s People are in fact from England. With such a great reception, they will likely be enjoying our shores more this coming year.
The Capturing the Vibe award goes to Rapskallion, a collection of theatrical pirates who unleashed wild gypsy-inspired sea shanties, mayhem and more.
The Energy accolade must go to Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, taking to the stage with blistering renditions of their crowd-pleasing songs: none more so than the big finale piece, '100 Days, 100 Nights'. Drawing on soul, funk and gospel, Ms Jones certainly knows how to work a crowd, bringing audience members up to dance and seizing the opportunity to educate the masses on some dance styles. 
Perhaps not to the fans, who knew their infectious world beats and Pacific sound, but certainly for Woodford organisers, the Unexpected Success award has to go to Bobby Alu. With people crammed into the tent and dancing out into the festival streets at each of his three sets, Bobby brought the percussive beats that Woodfordians crave. 
Other stand-outs included Wagons; Swamp Thing; Bullhorn; Kate Miller-Heidke; Electric Empire.. with upwards of ten music stages and a six-day festival, the ‘acts to watch’ list is seemingly endless.
