A Ramble Round Cherry Hinton

Sharon Shannon is next up on Stage 1. Unfortunately I've got to get to an interview across at Stage 2 and whilst there catch Laurie Lewis. The rain has got beyond the spitting stage and all the tents and market area are getting full to brimming.

The chat with Dave Kelly over, it's time to go front of stage for some good old bluegrass. Bluegrass is a genre that appears to be back on the up. Not too long ago it was in danger of being eclipsed by Cajun and Zydeco, at least as far as Europe was concerned. It's now definitely mounting a fightback.

Outside of the roots community, most people only really know "Battling Banjo's" from the film "Deliverance" or fleeting aspects of it in Westerns. Some, if pushed, could probably name Bill Monroe. Things are changing. What seems to be providing the drive is that the heart of bluegrass has now been taken by those that want to drive the genre forward. Sure, there's respect for the previous generation of players, but there's new tunes coming from within.

Laurie Lewis is at the forefront of that `new wave' of bluegrass. Her set is distinctly fresh and varied. Tribute is paid to the previous generation via a number of covers, but the mix is definitely heavily is favour of the new. The other bright thing about the set is the variation in pace.

Backed by two long-time cohorts Tom Rozum and Todd Phillips, Laurie sets about a blistering set. Strong instrumentation lays down a perfect backing to some really strong lyrics. There's a country tinge to the sound that is enhanced by the lyrical delivery, but it's the words that carry the real strength. A lot of bluegrass is instrumental and that that isn't has, in the past, has tended towards the sentimental. Ms. Lewis has given the music back some of it's dynamic edge.

Another interview completed and it's time to brave the rain again to get back to Stage 1 for Richard Thompson. Unfortunately half the site seems to have the same idea. Fortunately, I'm able to cut around the back and get a decent seat.

Richard Thompson is playing a solo set, just him and his guitar. Out in the crowd it's standing room only. A couple of technical problems at the start of the set are quickly forgotten as he launches into a typical Thompson set. Another cloudburst drums away on the tent, inside Christine Collister joins Richard on stage for a few numbers.

There is little left in the superlatives dictionary that hasn't already been used to describe Thompson whether solo or in a band environment. On this performance it's easy to see why. Here is a performer that knows his own ability and revels in it. At times he borders on arrogance, but stops just short. Besides he has the sense of humour and facial expressions that allow him to carry it off anyway.

Clamours for an encore can be rewarded as not having to move the stage buys extra time. Christine Collister joins him once again for a final couple of numbers before the crowd goes wild.

Like the stage crew, I manage to find time to get some food in, curry this time. There's time to meet backup with the rest of the junkkulture crew and a few old friends and even enough time to sink a pint or two. The rain stops having done enough to keep the dust down, but not enough to create a Glastonbury style quagmire.

Suitably refuelled, it's time for the music to get into gear. Singer songwriter Kate Campbell has the honour of kicking the evening session off. The proliferation of female singer songwriters over the last few years has tended to throw up a reaction of "not another one", but if there were more like this it wouldn't matter.

More Mary-Chapin Carpenter than Alanis Morisette, Campbell brings a slightly more political edge than most in the field. Her material may be as much about her own experiences as others of her ilk. but she seems less inclined to put herself at the centre. Sure, the emotional material tends to be individually focused, both giving and receiving, but generally there is a willingness to look at the wider picture.

When songs touch a chord, it's hard to ignore the effect that they can have. There were people in the audience that were genuinely touched by what they'd heard. Given this much style and a focus on issues as well as individuals there's no reason why Campbell shouldn't move onto a wider audience.

Saturday Continued...