Co-Operative Cambridge Folk Festival
Sunday
One of the acts that I promised myself that I would see more than once is Jim Moray. As it is it hasn't quite panned out like that so I've saved my Jim Moray watching until the Sunday on Stage Two.
On the way there I bump into a strange encounter. Two fantasy creatures run into two small children who can't seem to decide if they're entranced by the creatures or scared of them. In the end they decide that what they really need to do is shake hands.
Cambridge has a number of street entertainers that get out and about in the field to entertain the children. Yesterday I'd come across the strange sight and sound of half a dragon coughing away because it had inhaled some smoke.
If you look next to the nearest creature's feet you'll see a glass rolling around. In order to keep the rubbish down, you pay two quid for an indestructible pint glass when you first go to the bar and you get it back when you hand your glass back at the end of the festival. The one at the creatures feet is mine, I didn't notice it so that's two quid rolling away and into, hopefully a child's pocket as there was a very efficient sweeping up operation going on.
Jim Moray is the current holder of the Fatea Album Of The Year Award for his "Low Culture" release. Jim is one of the most innovative artists in folk music, actually in the wider music field. He's taken advantage of modern technology to allow himself to record songs with people he's been physically unable to reach. He now sees music as something that is truly global.
For the next fifty minutes, his focus will be very much on Cambridge. The last time I saw Jim he was playing in the entrance hall at Cecil Sharp house, effectively stood on a box and playing solo. Today he's back to a proper stage and with his band. I mention the contrast only to highlight his versatility as a performer and his willingness to perform under strange circumstances if it's the right thing to do.
He's an artist that considers everything he does, but live seems to be the exception, there's a couple of times the between song banter goes of on a short train of thought, he realises he's doing it and brings it back to the songs.
One of the songs he performs is "Wishtfulness Waltz", a song he wrote for his sister, Jackie Oates and her "Violet Hour" album. It's really funny hearing his take on his own song.
Jim, cuts a tape loop into the set to allow him to perform, his version of "Lucy Wan" featuring additional vocals from Bristol Rapper Bubbz, there's a bit of the audience looking genuinely perplexed and you get the feeling it's the first time they've heard this sort of thing.
The set dances and weaves through traditional songs and contemporary ones, some self penned, others covers. Moray enhances his reputation for pulling diverse strands into a cohesive string. There's definitely more to come from Jim Moray, he's coming across as an artist buzzing with ideas.
It's time to head across the sun drenched site to the Club Tent to catch the Megson Showcase. Consisting of Stu and Debbie Hanna, Megson opened Cambridge Folk Festival last year and are showcasing it this year. So far they've only appeared at the Club Tent. Hopefully it won't be long before they make that move up to bigger stages.
The Club Tent is running a fraction late and Stu is still sound checking his guitar, which means I haven't missed anything. Though they are now based in Hitchin, they originally hail from Middlesbrough and much of their music is influenced from that region. In addition to their performing, Stu is also making a name for himself as a producer even taking on the new Show Of Hands album.
Megson have pretty much packed the tent out, hard touring and good albums have won the duo a lot of fans and there's a good number here to support them.
Their last album was based on songs from the North East where times were hard and difficult for all members of the family, men, women and children. In some ways it was the children that suffered most, working in appalling conditions for next to no pay.
"Fourpence A Day" is a song that documents that hardship. Stu quips that that is pretty much what he still pays for the ironing. If looks could have killed, he would have been pretty much covering the whole stage.(Fortunately we managed to capture the look for posterity :-))
More by accident than design, another bit of between song drags us into the world of Frankie Howerd. It's a totally unexpected divergence and so much the funnier because it's accidental and the next song happens to be called "Little Joe".
Megson pack a lot into their performance, they've got lots of experience to fall back on. There's even a couple of spots where you can hear the audience spontaneously joining in on a chorus or two.
Looking at the audience, you can tell that Megson's particular blend of folk music has hit the mark for many in the tent. There's beaming smiles all around and a huge round of applause when they finish.