Friday

I was to be disappointed. Kepa and his band had managed to miss their flight and wouldn't be playing until Saturday night. I was more than consoled by the fact that Eddi Reader, Boo Hewerdine and Colin Reid had been persuaded to take over the Stage One slot. As they say, it's an ill wind that blows etc. At the announcement a girl not far from me leapt to her feet punched the air and shouted yes.

The set they played was very similar to that of the night before. Colin was a little more confident with the material, which meant that there was more opportunity for flourish. It was a great set, superbly delivered. The trio on stage obviously love performing and took this additional opportunity with open arms.

For their part the crowd responded well, doing all that was asked of them, this was interactive music as it should be, experienced and contributed to. The Summer sun seemed to have had a great effect on Eddi as she positively dominated the stage.

The site was definitely filling and with nothing going on on the other stages yet, everybody that wasn't getting a pint or food was being drawn towards Stage One. Reader, Hewerdine & Reid really hit the spot and I for one would be interested in hearing if they could match the mood in the studio.

Calls were made for an encore, but by now Festival mode had kicked in and the stage needed to be reset for Blazin' Fiddles.

The compere made a few of the public service announcements that these changes provide for. The stage DJs used the time to shift the mood of the audience and Stage One was ready to roll again.

The contrast between the songs lead set of the previous band and the tunes lead set of Blazin' Fiddles was simply stunning.

Starting off with a slower number that caught the audience by surprise, Blazin' Fiddles started with a sultry smoulder before bursting into firey life.

Counting six fiddlers in their company, Blazin' Fiddles are able to draw on a wealth of Scottish sounds, West Coast, East Coast, Shetlands, pretty much anywhere North of the Wall that has a fiddle tradition is included in here somewhere.

I couldn't see the front of the stage from where I was stood, but there was certainly a fair amount of dancing going on at the back of the tent. This was my first experience of Blazin' Fiddles, though I have seem some of the band members performing with other acts. This is a band that if not greater than the sum of its parts is at least equal to them.

There's just about time to nip to the Radio Two Stage to catch part of The Hot Club Of Cowtown's set before dropping back stage to have a chat with Blazin' Fiddles' Shetland fiddler, and only female member of the band, Catriona MacDonald.

The Hot Club Of Cowtown are a trio that hail from the US of A. Their sound is a combination of 30s jazz and old timey. On a hot sleezy evening in the rarified atmosphere of the Radio Two Stage it's great.

Friday night is dance night on the Radio Two Stage and Hot Club are getting the evening off with a swing, western swing. Consisting of guitar, upright bass and violin Hot Club set a pretty addictive beat that really sets the scene for both dancer and simple listener alike.
By the time I've got to leave things are really jumping.