Friday

From Shetland it was down south to England and a different fiddle style and sound. Eliza Carthy and Martin Green were on next, which gave me the chance to catch up on them after last night.
Stage 1 isn't as intimate as the Radio 2 Stage, but the pair of them seemed to make it so. The sound has a slightly raw cutting edge, partly due to Martin's accordion style.
Eliza switched between singing and playing and took an occasional opportunity to plug the new album. As per usual the crowd adopted the pair as their own and the delivery responded to it.
English folk music is very much a living tradition and the likes of Eliza and Martin continue to take it forward. It was a set I thoroughly enjoyed. There's something about a combination of instrumental numbers and songs that can pull you in ways that a single style can't.
I think it's the way an instrumental piece can set up the emotion for the following song to finish off. Eliza and co have played here many times already, they've never once failed to deliver. Pure class.
There was just enough time to get to the Radio 2 Stage to catch the end of the kids ceilidh with Monster Massive. Monster Massive are three large felt monsters, red, green and blue.
It's a great way of attracting new recruits to the folk cause. The children really enjoy it and the bonus for the parents is that it burns off so much of the kids energy.
The steps are simple and having a couple of cuddly monsters there adds to the level of excitement. A good time was had by all.
The Cambridge Site isn't massive, but there's still an opportunity to lose a small child. The lost child arrangements here are great enhanced by a good suggestion from the stage. If you've got a child with you write your mobile number on their wristband.
Keeping track of the grown ups in the party can be a problem, one way of making yourself visible is to spray your hair green. Another idea, adopted by one group was all to wear a crown.
Energy is probably the best description of the next band on Mainstage 1. La Volee D'Castors are a Quebecois band that play with drive and passion. The programme predicted they would go down a storm. The programme was right.
They sing in French but that didn't stop them trying to get a sing-a-long going and they pretty much succeeded. A high pace dominated the set, skilfully combined with a mass vocal.
The songs are old and carefully researched, but if you've never heard anything like it before it's hard to think of material that will come across as fresh and vibrant as this.
Some got up and danced, but most of those that stayed sat down had no choice but to tap their feet of tap their hands against their thighs. This was good by anyone's standards even if I hardly understood a word that was sung.