Janet Kirby
I think I am lucky enough to have attended all the Guadiana International Music Festivals, but only as an avid fan and spectator. The early years I attended with my husband Tony, and two dogs, one of whom loved to sit right up against the stage (where presumably it was a bit quieter). I don’t think that at first, we realised what an amazingly talented group of people there were in the twin towns of Sanlúcar de Guadiana and Alcoutim, the many that also lived alongside the river, and of course the ones who lived on their boats.
Paul Doody’s vision was an instant success, thanks to his hard work and his way of persuading people who were non musicians to do his bidding. It wasn’t just the locals either, yacht crews would return from distant shores to play, and I remember the year a whole Swedish choir performed.
We had bought some land on the Ribiera Grande, and were building a house there. We needed some extra hands, and Paul volunteered to come along and help, for food and drink. This worked well, and as Tony and Paul’s birthdays were close this grew into a party at the finca with riends, many of whom brought instruments. This worked well until Tony became ill and passed away. My daughter Anni came over to help me, and having heard about the parties decided to celebrate Tony by having a party, this was going to be held a day before the music Festival. As well as all our friends, many of the musicians who had arrived for the Festival came as well, and it was a wonderful jam session, as well as everyone
having a chance to chat before the Festival opened.
My birthday just happens to be in mid-October, and the next year I was seventy. Anni decided we needed another party. We started at lunchtime nd again had some wonderful jamming. As the evening grew on Robert set up lights and decorations and played some of his wonderful sounds. (They know I’m a bit of a disco dancer). Unfortunately, in the very early hours it started to rain, so there was a mad exodus for the many dinghies moored up on our steps.
By the next year’s Festival, I had moved into the village to live, but Anni took up the reins of manager for the Ta Se Bem stage, so the festival was still part of our life. I hope to make it to this year’s Festival and celebrate another birthday in style.
A photo of just a few of the dinghies moored up at one of our parties!! 
Janet Kirby