Sunday
One of the things I think Cambridge does really well is encourage the next generation of folk musicians. As well as laying on The Hub with lots of workshops, mostly delivered by young musicians, there's a slot on the bill for the winners of the Radio Two Young Folk Award. This year's award has gone to Jeana Leslie and Siobhan Miller.
I'd seen Jeana and Siobhan as part of The Session on Saturday, both as a pair, guesting with other bands and with guests themselves. I hadn't seen Jeana behind a keyboard before and was surprised to see her behind one during their slot on Stage 2.
It'll teach me to read my briefing notes properly as it clearly mentions piano. It would seem that Jeana is as accomplished a pianist as she is fiddle. For some strange reason, the Steinway has failed to make it across for her to play.
A full set really underscores just how good this duo really are. The quality of voice and instrumentation is laid bare for all to hear. It's note perfect, but it's also free and unfettered, full of life and vibrant.
The smiles that keep breaking out on the girl's faces just underlines the enjoyment that is so apparent in their music. The fortunes of the Folk Award Winners tends to be mixed, particularly when it's not a solo artist winning it. The pressure of education and other pressures of life change circumstances around a band.
That said, most winners are still in music, though not necessarily with the bands they won the awards with. Siobhan and Jeana seem to have sensible heads on their shoulders.
They enjoy their music, which is primarily what it's all about. They've got an album under their belt and seem to have picked up some good stagecraft along the way. It's an entertaining set. They also appear to have learnt the trick about introducing guest musicians to help vary the set.
They've persuaded a couple of friends to make the drive down from Glasgow to appear with them on stage, I recognise bodhran supremo Martin O'Neill before he's introduced. The addition of percussion sees them inject a bit more pace into the set.
It's time for me to make my only scheduling gaff of the festival. I'm a big fan of Karine Polwart so I head off to catch her set on Stage 1. I'd caught her performance on Stage 2 yesterday and I'm looking forward to hearing her again.
Had I checked the program, I'd have seen that she clashed with The Chair, who I'd managed to catch a couple of songs from in the Brian McNeill Session. So I walk away from Stage Two and only have the two songs from yesterday in my mind. Damn!
The mistake is made all the worse because I stay close to Stage Two to watch the gator decorating contest. It's become a tradition for various sections of the crew to decorate the six wheeled 'Banana Split' vehicles that you may have seen around the site.
A lot of work goes into the building and I'm sure there's a side bet or two involving beer. The contest comes with a trophy and everything. Every year there is a celebratory judge. Last year it was Kate Rusby, this year it falls to Ade Edmondson, a man rumoured to be forming a folk rock band.
Amongst the various adaptations, gardens, an alligator, a fire truck, there is a clear winner, an Iceni chariot complete with Boudicca an other warriors. The trophy finds a home.
Karine is a stunning vocalist she continues to go from strength to strength adding new ideas and new songs into her routine. She seems to have lost the shyness and seems more prepared to look an audience in the eye, to laugh and joke with them.
Folk can be a dark genre with more murders than Midsommer. It's got more than it's fair share of ghosts, violent beatings acts, of revenge, suicides, illicit sex, adultery. If Mary Whitehouse theory about tv carried into the folk world jails would be full of prisoners singing tight harmony.
It needs a bit of humour, even gallows humour injected into it now and then and Karine has improved that side of her set.
She's got the same band as yesterday, but a different set list. Karine delivers another strong enjoyable set. I only catch the first half as I need to be across at the Club Tent to catch another Showcase.