The day started very early for us all.
7am we had to be ready to go on the coach up to London.
With a couple of detours to pick up some other people we arrived at Red Lion Square at 10am.
As we approached London the rain started to fall...
The closer we got, the harder it was.
Luckily we actually found a parking space big enough for the coach in Red Lion Square.

We all bundled out of the coach, ran to get our drums and ran to Conway Hall to collect our wrist bands.
After we were all labelled up, as we have done the past few years, we stand outside the Hall to entertain those people who have arrived early to join the procession.
As the drums played, louder and louder, the clouds parted and the rain stopped.

After half an hour or so the procession was ready to go.
Unfortunately the Bogies were not able to make Beltane Bash 2008, so we were given the honour of taking pride of place behind the Jack.

Off we set, making our way through the streets to Russel Square, beating a path for all those behind us.
The Police were enlisted to stop the traffic along the way and performed wonderfully. Many thanks go to them.

Those that were driving through London at that time were all staring in awe and wonderment at the procession.
Busses full of tourists taking photos of us all were everywhere.
The march to Russel Square is not long at all and very soon we found ourselves at the fountain in the middle ot the park.

We gathered to one side of the fountain and began to set the rhythm. After a few minutes, One of the Ravens spoke and invited people to enter the fountain and go mad...
Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time, so in went Greg, drumming right through the middle! (luckily he had a spare set of clothes)
Soon after, many many people followed suit and got themselves soaked, revelling in the atmosphere, dancing and drumming.

We drummed for what seemed like hours until it was time to make our way back back to Conway Hall via the British Museum.

Arriving back at Conway hall, once again we gathered in front of the entrance to entertain the people while they waited.

Once we were inside Frank from The Dolmen approached us and pleaded with us to perform at their Stonehenge Ritual.
So keep your eyes and ears peeled...

After a few tunes we were all ready for a well earned break so we retired to our dressing room to relax for a while, and to get dry.

Our next performance was at 6pm, supporting The Dolmen.
As always happens the show was running about 5 mins late which in the greater scheme of things is not bad at all.

This year we decided to start our performance outside of the main hall and march into the hall to the thumping rhythm of 'Nines'

We lined up and gave it our best.
The audience seemed to love our drumming and soon people were dancing, taping their feet or playing along with us.

The power and resonance of the drums in the hall was truly awesome. The energy coming back to every one of us then being pumped out again like some primal feedback loop was fantastic.
Within a few tunes we were really going hell for leather, sweat dripping off of us but that just spurred us on more.

After another couple of tunes Adam shouted out 'Do you want some more' to which people shouted back 'Yesssss' I though the audience could do better though so I bellowed at the top of my voice 'He said, Do you want some more' to which the audience really out did themselves and screamed back at us.
They wanted more.

The reception and applause we received was truly fantastic, something we will remember for a long,long time to come.

We had wondered, from a personal point of view, if we could top last years performance at Beltane Bash, and I think we did.
Now we worry if we will top this years performance.

For the next hour we sat back and enjoyed The Dolmens set.
After The Dolmen set I popped down to say goodbye to a few people, when The Dolmen guys said how much they loved our drumming and it set the tone for their performance.
One of the best compliments we could have received.

So all in all, an awesome day at Beltane Bash 2008.
Many thanks to to those who facilitated the event.

Hengwah.