Sunday 2

There’s time during the set change to grab a coffee and role before heading down the well worn track alongside the Mainstage to take my place with the other snappers in preparation for the appearance of England’s premier folk duo, Show Of  Hands.

There are three main reasons behind the success of Show Of Hands, the songwriting capability within the band, their ability in interpret and revise traditional folktales and their vocal and instrumental dynamic. All three of which are on show today.

Both are wearing their trademark blackcoats, in this heat, it may be a mistake Phil Beer has already worked up a sweat. Fortunately the next song is mainly Steve and an instrument swap gives Phil the chance to sit down.

It’s standing room only at the front and a glance up the tent reveals people up on their feet dancing.

It’s a set packed with variety, the dynamic is totally changing, aided and abetted by the session musicians that have joined the band on stage. Three quarters of an hour hardly seem long enough to do the band justice, but them’s the rules of the festival so there you are.

I’m off on a cross site dash to catch Peter Buckley Hill. I get to the Radio Two Stage in time for the compere to rename him Peter Buckley Smith, twice. The crowd vocally corrected him.

I was intrigued to see how having a Sunday afternoon spot on the Radio Two Stage would affect Peter’s performance. Especially as he was the first act on after the Children’s Concert. There weren’t a lot of children left.

As per usual with a folk/comedian there were heckles from the audience, Peter even had to teach one how to do it properly. These were inter-mixed with requests for favourite songs. Some of the audience had gone to the hassle of making badges and there were a good number of t-shirts in evidence.

The between song banter was excellent and whilst the odd word cropped up in songs, if you didn’t know what it meant it wasn’t prominent enough to invite a question.

The declassification of cannabis has meant that Peter has had to write some new material and joked about it during his set. There was a lot of new material in his set. That may have been because there has been a slightly longer gap between his performances here or just that he’s had a particularly good spell.

Old favourites, stoats, puffins, aardvarks and flying haddocks all made their appearance, blended with new songs that have yet to be established in the consciousness.

Like any good showman, Peter puts in a couple of numbers that briefly change the tone so that he isn’t forced to constantly aim higher. A really good set that I enjoyed.

Time for a total change. Mike Harding takes to the stage to promote the BBC Radio Two Young Tradition award, before introducing the most recent recipient Jarleth Henderson.

Continued