Cambridge 2007
Allan Wilkinson

On Saturday, the two main acts that were floating my boat and flicking my switch were Rachel Unthank and the Winterset, but enough said already in a previous post, and Martha Tilston and the Woods. I'm a big fan of Martha's and although I've seen her on numerous occasions, either alone or with one or two of her sidekicks, this is the first time I've seen her with her full band and never have I seen her quite so animated. She was up for it with the Cambridge audience and she captivated us all with her charm.

Performing songs from her latest album Of Milkmaids and Architects, she managed to bring the Radio 2 stage alive with her presence and all eyes were most definitely upon her. Songs like Artificial and Good World remind us exactly of our own life experiences but unlike Martha, we didn't think to articulate it first. The highlight song for me was Corporations from the free download album Rope Swing, with the euphoric feelgood chorus that had both Martha and the rest of us dancing on the spot:

'Sometimes we throw a party
We get a little arty
Roll our stockings down
Dance around the kitchen
We get high, we let go, get loud..'

The song stays with you for hours.

Kate Rusby had her audience swooning at her feet once again. I couldn't tell you how many times I've seen Kate in various incarnations over the years but believe it or not, this is the first time I've made a conscious effort to get up close to see her entire set at Cambridge and it was delightful to hear songs from her new as yet unreleased album Awkward Annie. She was joined onstage by her regular band with the nice additional accompanament of strings and brass.

Interesting how the strings were provided by delicate little things with good table manners and correctly poised seating positions learned from the best etiquette manuals, whilst the brass section were fresh from the rugby scrum. Oh you have to love good old brass bands.

On Sunday, after a full English at The Unicorn, we decided to do all our toiletries early and hydrate ourselves enough to see out a full six hour stint in front of main stage one to see five consecutive performances, three of which were at the top of our 'must see' list, one that was on our 'might see if we have time' list and one which was on our 'avoid at all costs' list, which was short, sweet and full of fiddles. I'm sorry, but even though I'm a folkie through and through, bands like Solas bore me to tears. I just cannot tell one fiddle tune from another unless that fiddle is in the hands of Dave Swarbrick who manages to make it do something different.

Before our appointment with the main stage, we went to see Martin Simpson's guitar workshop in the club tent. This was basically ninety minutes of handy tips, which ranged from: how to tune a guitar in weird and wonderful open tunings, to: how to look after your fingers and sit up straight. Budding guitarists ranging from all age groups were all ears as Martin answered questions on best ways to hold down a chord (for the novices) to just exactly how wide in centimetres is the width of your strap Martin? (for out and out anoraks). You always come away with some useful tips though, but having listened to some of Martin's examples, you really only come away with the absolute tunnel-visioned notion of burning your guitar on a Cambridge pyre and taking up the mouth organ.

Getting to the main stage for the first act of the day is relatively easy. On Saturday, we were first there at 11am for Rachel Unthank, in fact we could've arrived 45 minutes later and still been touching the front barrier. So on Sunday, we had a leisurely stroll down to the front just before the first performance commenced. The Danish duo Haugaard & Hoirup were first up and were probably the nicest couple of lads at the festival. Very charming and pleasant but again, it's fiddle tunes innit?

Martin Simpson's main festival appearance was next up and he thrilled us all by inviting the legendary bassist Danny Thompson up on stage for the entire set. Andy Cutting from Kate Rusby's band made up the trio, who together performed a few songs from Martin's new album Prodigal Son. A couple of guest singers were invited onstage during the performance too, both gifted singers and both incredibly attractive to look at and I care not a jot how sexist that may sound, I speak it how it is. Kate Rusby and Kellie While sang back up on the respective songs they contributed towards on the album.

I was so happy that Martin performed Randy Newman's Louisiana 1927, it's been literally years since I've heard him sing that song and it took me right back to the Rockingham Arms days, green snotocaster guitar and all.

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain was the unexpected surprise of the entire festival. I suspect that the crowd who gathered, no doubt in anticipation of Solas who were next up, were slightly puzzled when the orchestra came on stage. Dressed in black tie, the generally middle-aged ukulele weilding band struck up with a couple of entertaining ditties that set off a few murmers circulating the arena, but no great response yet. It was only when they performed David Bowie's Life On Mars, with it's tongue in cheek 'every song ever written can be sung to this tune' theme, that the audience were hooked. I'd previously seen this performance on YouTube so I knew what was coming, but the astonished reaction of some in the audience was a joy to witness. They went from strength to strength with their very special versions of Theme From Shaft, Anarchy in the Uk and Smells Like Teen Spirit, all on six ukes and a bass!

I don't have much to say about Solas apart from the guy next to me was convinced they are the best band in the world. I considered taking his address and sending him some cds via recorded delivery as a matter of great urgency out of pity, but deciided against it. I think he's a lost cause. So, straight onto Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. I converted to Ricky Skaggs years ago even though I've always been fully aware of his schizophrenic straddling of great music and CMT type country crap. His bluegrass work with Tony Rice is probably as good as it gets, and now that he has returned to his bluegrass roots, he has come up with a band that deliver the goods. The band played a storming set to conclude the Sunday afternoon main stage slot, performing much of what is now considered the benchmark of bluegrass music including Bill Monroe's Uncle Pen amongst so many others.

So, inevitably we return to the Winterset. The final performance for me at this years' Cambridge Folk Festival was Rachel and Co's Radio 2 Stage performance on Sunday night. Once again, like some sychophantic dork, I wended my way to the front, camera in hand, ears at the ready, eyes a goggled and heart a beating. I was first in line to buy their second album as soon as their Producer arrived with the goods on Thursday afternoon. I had the thing played on my car stereo before close of play Thursday and could now witness their rendering of it live once again.

Even though I consider myself a bit of a 'mate twice removed' or more like 'friend of a friend' and I feel no conpunction in walking up to the band at any time, I dutifully joined the queue to have my cd signed in the proper manner and joked with the band as they offered me a glass of bubbly at the Mojo tent.

The band's third and final appearance at the festival was much more relaxed than their debut on the main stage on Saturday. They didn't have the string quartet and the bass player to worry about I suppose and could just get into their regular set. Antony and the Johnson's For Today I Am A Boy is always a hit with the crowd and Belinda's humour was, as expected, on top form. With a bit of high heeled dancing and a set that any performer, no matter who it is, would be proud of, the music festival came to an end (for me) on Fareweel Regality, and my thirst for Guinness evaporated under the tree next to the Guinness Tent and my senses became unashamedly wobbly.

'So we'll cry farewell Regality
And cry farewell the Liberty
To honest friends' civility
To winter's frost and fire
And there's nowt that I can bid ye
But that peace and love gan with ye
Never mind wherever call the fates
Away from Hexhamshire'

Whatever the reason I got into this music in the first place, it's the feeling that this evokes that keeps me here. Roll on next year.