SundaySundayIf it's ten o'clock on
a Sunday at Cambridge then it must be time for The Archers. The
sun is bright and it's hot already. It bodes well for the day.
Not only does it mean that people will be able to complain about
the weather.
By this time I've already upped the cholesterol with another hit
of breakfast at the Unicorn and washed that down with a banana
milkshake when I reached the site.
Sunday Morning is more relaxed. The over indulgers won't be up
for awhile so the kids have got a bit of running round space.
That is the kids that haven't discovered the paddling pool and
adventure playground. Others have found the stream by the duck
pond and are splashing around in that.
I meet up with John to while away
some time and then head to media liaison to sort out accreditation
for the day whilst waiting for The Music Of Bagpuss, featuring
Sandra Kerr, the original Madeline and John Faulkner the original
Gabriel
It's quite a big turn out for the kids as well as the adults.
The show starts off with the music from the series. Those onstage
wake up as their characters are named. James Fagan does a great
professor Yattle.
As you would expect there's lots of singing and audience participation.
Amongst those joining are Boden and Spiers and Uiscedwr. The children
are all wearing mouse masks that were handed out before the start.
It's an absolutely fantastic start
to the day. I don't remember it being this good since Toni Arthur
played. Inhibitions have been thrown to one side. Sandra Kerr
makes a great mistake describing a prop as being a pinkupine porn
cushion. Some of the adults crack up, the children don't get it.
Does it get any better than this? Sun, good atmosphere and live
children's TV. Actually it probably does, but in it's time and
place....
I get across to the media caravan to find out if any of the interviews
I've requested for the day have come through. The times noted,
I sit back and listen to Laura Cantrell.
The bigger stage seems to add a new dynamic to her act. A number
of the songs are the same as yesterday, but seem to have a more
distinct edge to them
It might be the heat drawing more out of her, but there's definitely
that something extra today. A couple of songs just float past,
but for the most part I find myself being drawn into the narrative.
Laura pulls her set to a close to a round of appreciative applause
and the crew get to work to reset the stage.
There's not many bands that feature the flute as a lead instrument,
there's even less that feature two, just such a band is Flook.
Two flutes is far more than a gimmick, you don't survive six years
and release three albums on the back of a gimmick. What Flook
are is a great folk band with a sound that's pretty much unique.
It's something that the audience appreciate. The aural dynamics
of this band are something special. It's traditional with a twist
and it's going down well.
I miss the second half of the set to get across to the Radio Two
Stage to catch Nancy Kerr and James
Fagan.