Sunday Morning kicks off with a similar pattern to the rest. The Observer takes over from the Guardian as reading material and there’s time for a rummage in the market area to get some clothes for my little lad. Once again urge to buy a bhodran surges into my mind. Once again I manage to resist.
Once again the rest of the team surface remarkably early. The heat did massive damage to the FATEA party till dawn reputation. This year we even managed to witness the start of an event that has become something of a legend, The Guinness Breakfast.
For
a select band, The Guinness Breakfast heralds in a highly alcoholic
start to the day. A menu board lists a highly potent selection
of drinks that would give a dietician apoplexy. It’s not
all drinks a glance at the menu shows that there’s roughage,
in the shape of Twiglets available.
In the background, I can just make out the sound of the Archers. Don’t ask me why, its one of those things that seems to have evolved but Sunday Morning at Cambridge means that the Archers are used as a system test. The daft thing is that it doesn’t matter how hardened you are, how many body piercings you have, you are drawn into it.
A quick glance at the programme shows that there’s a rhythm workshop going on in the Folk Tent or another opportunity to learning juggling at the Radio Two Stage. An adhoc grouping of fiddle, guitar, whistle and accordion gets going just outside The Guinness Tent. I lean up against the tree and listen.
Guinness Tent and festival regulars, The FABULOUS BONKER BOYS turn up for a session, still looking slightly the worse for wear. As if by magic the bleary eyes and sagging faces suddenly take on a sparkle as soon as the music starts. The Bonker Boys have played on regular stages at the festival, but undoubtedly, The Guinness Tent remains their spiritual home.
It’s
obviously going to be another hot day. People seek spots in the
various tents as much for the shade as a viewing position. The
midday sun merely drives the temperature higher as The PEATBOG
FAERIES kick off life on Stage One.
In an act of kindness in the heat, The PEATBOG FAERIES, ease everyone into the day with a couple of slower traditional tunes. This small act of mercy doesn’t last long as the band crank it up with dance and fusion elements.
Almost compulsively people are dragged to their feet and start dancing. PEATBOG FAERIES are another wing of the Shetland Island’s plan to dominate the world through folk. The idea here was to try and get people to dance and party themselves to death. Even on a sweltering Sunday Morning they were definitely getting their successes.
More traditional than some of the crossover bands, PEATBOG FAERIES are full of drive and energy. Were it not for the fact that it was too hot for me to stagger to get up and start dancing, I may even have got beyond simple foot tapping.
There was just time to get in a curry whilst the stage was
being changed for KATE RUSBY 