White On

Traditionally Folk Festival Sunday begins the same way; we skid to a halt, A team style outside the Blue Moon vegetarian café van at 11.55. We gaze at the sign, which reads 'vegetarian breakfast 10am - 12 noon' and then look optimistically up at the van's owner. We are always just in luck. And afterwards, always convince ourselves that next year we'll be there earlier. Of course, I can laugh about that now. There's something very special about eating a cooked breakfast in the sun, in the middle of a big field washed down with bitter. You can try to recreate it in other places but to me it's a unique experience. We ate very well this year; in the past one or both of us have been too broke to eat all our meals on site and this year we broke with routine and ate and ate. I would have difficulty managing to get food for both of us on my own; none of the vans have lowered windows and perhaps there is a way for that to be possible. In general though other festival goers are very helpful and certainly for a wheat and dairy avoiding vegetarian like myself the range is pretty unbeatable. The coconut vegetables were a particular joy. I think its always possible to criticise wheelchair access and access for other disabled people, but actually it is important to remember that most people who go don't go alone - disabled and otherwise and that basically, it's a field.

Music wise Sunday was undoubtedly the best day. Not just because of Tarras appearing twice, although that had to help. When the 2000 Folk Festival posters came out, I didn't know whether to be more confused by the presence of Rory McGrath or Tony Benn MP on the line up - sadly I missed Rory McGrath but Tony Benn was a truly entertaining experience. He performed a set with Roy Bailey - Roy performed some powerful songs, which had a political message or significance and Tony spoke about political resistance. It was perfect for a hot Sunday afternoon; I just lazed from within the enclosure and laughed loudly and frequently. Roy Bailey's second set that afternoon was just as fab. He sang a selection of children's songs which us alleged grown ups enjoyed as well. If you watched the audience during the participation moments it was possible to see grown ups singing along. Their faces clearly stating in a bemused way that they didn't intend to be singing, it had just happened without their knowledge. If I'd know he'd be singing children's songs in a Rolf Harris style I would not have gone along, but was very glad that I did.

Heroes of the hour were undoubtedly Juan de Marcos' Afro Cuban All Stars. Louise is a huge salsa fan and at times cannot be stopped from shaking her funky stuff. We managed to commandeer the end of the enclosure for this set, dancing feet well and truly on. The set was absolutely magnificent; they played for at least an hour and a half and had a large number of people up and dancing throughout. All the band members showed huge enthusiasm and were dancing throughout. Its hard to say what was more amazing, the fact that the average age of a performer was about 65, the fact that the entire performance was in Spanish, or that it converted a salsa virgin like myself - who the hell cares?! Samba!!