Saturday
Next up are perennial festival band Dervish. It's a
shortish set, almost a warm up for their Stage One stint later. It's hot and
early in the day for them, but they rip off half a dozen songs with some
panache
There's a change of pace as we get our first chance at the festival
to hear Nickel Creek, well Chris and Sara anyways.
Initially they bring the
tempo right down slow. That changes when they bring back Tom from Dervish. Chris
explains the main difference between the tunes that inspired the music played in
the U S and the actual music played is that American musicians insist on more
solo slots.
The next song is a full blown bluegrass classic complete with
yodelling, but lacking prisoners and chain gangs.
Americana audiences must be
really split as Tom Russell is kicking off on Stage One. I'm torn as well, but
there are a couple of bands playing the Brian McNeill Session that aren't
playing elsewhere so I stay.
Brian's on stage getting the audience to sing an
old Scots drinking song about the incapacitating power of hooch on your sex
life. Before starting it off Brian makes a joke about counting to three and
making love to the person on your right. I seriously consider decking the two
blokes to my right so that I'm stood next to Mariearad from the Anna Massie
band. :-)
The stage is ready for Ruairidh Macmillan and his band which also
include Adam Brown the bodhran player from No I.D.
Bodhran solos seem to be
the order of the day at the festival this year, there's been some cracking
players here this year.
The whole tune kicks back in with the audience
clapping along, mainly in time. The infectious rhythm driving the song along.
Ruairidh Macmillan(above) is obviously positioning himself for rising star status and
performances such as this, though short, won't do him any harm.
Adam Brown is
joined by the rest of No I.D. for a session appearance.
They've not got a lot
of time, but they throw everything into it, tunes, a song, a plug for the new
album 'Footprints'. Footprints my arse NO I.D. is taking huge steps forward.
They play with such confidence and an obvious love of what they do. Hopefully
they are now ready to really start going places, so long as Education doesn't
get in the way.
It's another youngish artist up next, Kris Drever and having
missed his showcase last night I'm pleased for the opportunity.
Kris is
appearing on so many albums at the moment it's a rare occasion to catch him
playing on his own. That lasts for no more than a couple of songs before he's
joined on stage by The Anna Massie band.
It's what the Festival Session is
about, ad-hoc groupings. It seems to be more group orientated, there's a bit
less risk taking. I've known occasions where the artist has started a tune and
someone from another act on stage not to know it.
It's impacted on the
spontaneity, but not the quality. Cambridge works closely with young musicians
and Brian very much plays his part.
I've got to head so I'm going to miss the
mass band bit at the end.