Credit: Found On Internet

The Tapestry Goes West festival is surely a sum of its parts. That is, part ‘70s throwback rock festival, part medieval re-enactment, part day out in the country, part heritage visit. It’s also an annual gathering for the fans of Barry Stilwell’s monthly Tapestry night held in a church social club near London’s Euston station.

The atmosphere is fun, friendly and low-key as the weekend’s antics kick off in the stunning Margam Park just outside industrial Port Talbot in South Wales. As tent pegs are being begged or borrowed and the tent village starts to take shape, the first bands plug in. Soon festival-goers dressed as jesters are dancing with crusaders and maidens. At different ends of the site, living history enthusiasts are stirring mominy over an open fire while a very large monk is serving local real ales and meads in one of his wonderfully medieval bar tents called The Dark Side of the Moon.

Friday’s line-up is dominated by rock on the main stage and off-centre indie pop on the second stage. There, Cardiff’s Hot Puppies are all coy sweetness but prove their live reputation is justified by putting on a great show. Led by frontwoman Becky Newman whose vocals are note perfect, they don’t put a foot wrong. Aberystwyth’s Radio Luxembourg, although technically less adept, are more guilelessly charming. They sound like a younger, greener, less lovelorn Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci with great songs such as ‘Mostyn a Diego’ and ‘Eli Haul’.

On the main stage, London’s Firebird, featuring Bill Steer formerly of Napalm Death and Carcass, do a mean version of ‘70s rawk, taking their inspiration from Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. A genuine ‘ 70s rock band follows on; a rare outing for Leaf Hound fronted by the irrepressible Peter French. Anyone familiar with Bill Nighy’s ageing rocker character in “Love Actually” will already have a pretty good idea of French’s on stage persona.  He’s the real thing.

Next, London’s Tokyo Dragons give us their interpretation of ‘70s rock. Their own sound is a Thin Lizzy/ Motorhead brew performed with unswerving dedication and, importantly, humour. They open their set with two Pan’s People style dancers; one male, one female both in fringed, spandex leotards. Like the audience, the male dancer has a hard time keeping his face straight but the others carry on like it’s 1975 and things are deeply deeply cool, making it even funnier.