The music, like the weather, started as it finished the night before, or at least Stage 1 did. Stage 2 had kicked off half an hour earlier with a ceilidh dance workshop presented by Karin Ingram supported musically by top accordionist Freeland Barbour.
The dance side of folk is always well represented at Cambridge on the Friday. The workshop provided and excellent way to get into the spirit. A chance to learn some new dances or hone up on old ones. Karin and Freeland would be back later in the evening with their band The Occasionals.
The disadvantage of a workshop is that it tends to be a bit disjointed as you move from one set to another without the between song banter. For many it's that banter that helps make a ceilidh. Even so there was plenty of humour from caller and dancers alike. People were starting to let their hair down as the weekend started here.
By now Rock Salt & Nails were just starting to crank things up on Stage 1. The majority of the Junkkulture Crew heading off to catch Shetland's contribution to the new wave of British Folk.
Once again they showed why Vox predicted that they "Would do for Scottish traditional music what Nigel Kennedy did for classical music." Whatever, what was certain was the flair with which the band worked through songs from both their albums showed why there is talk of major label interest.
Rock Salt & Nails are a band that can really deliver the goods live. They also showed that they don't need to be on a small intimate stage to be at their best. Rock Salt & Nails are at home in the bigger venues, making the larger stages their own and somehow making them more intimate.
It was a switch from Scotland to Ireland as Stage 1 was readied for Sinaed Lohan. Sinaed is one of those artists that shows just how well the Cambridge philosophy works. Last year her mellow tones were being featured in a showcase in the folk tent. This year on the strength of a critically and commercially well received debut album, "Who Do You Think I Am" she was performing on Stage 1.
Visually Sinaed is on the beads and locks fringe of folk, a street look that contrasts with her pure, laid back and highly expressive vocals. She's 23, though looks younger and that only adds to the feeling that here is an artist whose music belies her years.
That said she has already been writing for ten years and during that time she has developed a highly emotive and lyrical style that is emphasised by her deep, mellow tones.