We set off for Cambridge with the sun blazing. A copy of Private Eye was being utilised as a temporary blind in an attempt to stop John from frying in the passenger seat. Having left later than anticipated, we arrived to find the Cherry Hinton Site pretty packed. (It later transpired that some people had actually started queuing at 5:30 that morning. The gates were opened at 7:30, some one and a half hours ahead of the published time, simply to ease congestion.)
Having
unloaded the car, it was time to carry the gear across the site
in the forlorn hope that the usual spot for the Fatea Tent was
still available. By shear good fortune it was. After years of
faithful service the old tent had been retired with a new bigger
tent taking it's place.
More complicated than the old model, it still didn't take too long for the Fatea team of relatively inexperienced campers to get the tent erected. The outer cover didn't quite line up in this first use, but with just a bit more practise, it's going to be an even better base than it was.
By now, we'd built up a bit of a thirst so it was off to the beer tent for the first pint of the Festival. A Cambridge tradition is to have a different festival tankard for each festival. A Fatea tradition is to have the first pint of the Festival served in one. This year was no exception. (Unlike at some events, beer prices at the festival are reasonable, compared to Southern pub prices.)
So
first pint in hand, there was time to get a programme before stretching
out on the grass and soak up a few rays before the music started.
A quick scan of the Food Mall showed that all of the old favourites
were here again so gastronomically we were sorted.
There was just enough time to get another pint before heading off to the folk tent for the first band of the Festival. Cambridge proper starts on the Friday, but the Folk Tent starts off on a Thursday night to provide entertainment for the early arrivals. Judging by how many people were already on site, most weekend pass holders were already there.
The honour of being first band on fell to BIGFOOT. Fronted by Thornton Holmes, who has been a folk tent regular for some thirteen plus years, BIGFOOT's powerful style of folk rock was just what was needed to kickstart the Thursday night into life.
A five piece, BIGFOOT are starting to make waves in and around East Anglia as well as farther afield. The band used the opportunity to plug their debut album, "Turn My Head Around", which was launched at the Festival.
By now the call of food was proving just a touch too much so whilst the stage was being changed it was time to nip out and indulge in some sweet and sour pork. The queue in the bar for the pint of cider to wash it down meant that ALIAS GRACE were already on stage by the time I got back.
Normally a two piece, Sandra O'Neill and Pete Chilvers, ALIAS GRACE were joined on stage by festival compere Myke Clifford and Rob Jackson, to provide a bit more depth to the sound. ALIAS GRACE's set was a combination of the bands own material and their interpretations of traditional folk songs. The addition of the two extra musicians, particularly Clifford's sax, gave the set an almost jazzy feel in places.
As another local band, ALIAS GRACE, were well supported and lived up to the occasion. Like BIGFOOT, ALIAS GRACE have had plenty of experience in the Folk Tent and warmed to the audience well.
The stage change gave me a chance to get across the site to check in with press supremo Tim Holt to see if there had been any changes in acts or running order since the programme had been printed. Fortunately all was well behind the scenes so it was back to the Club Tent.
