Friday
It's another sprint, more calories gone, across the site to get down to Mainstage for some blues from Mr Robert Cray and his band of fellow travellers. We're only in the pit for the first song on this one. At some festivals, that can mean a bit of a scramble, but this is Cambridge so it's all a bit more civilised. Apparently he sweats up easy and doesn't like being photographed like it. Personally I think a bit of perspiration gives the impression a musician is giving their all, ah well.
Rather than heading all the way back up, most of the snappers head to the side of stage area to watch the blues maestro. It helps that we've got to pass the bar to get there. A chilled cider to watch soulful, jazz and rock blues by, what a fantastic way to spend a Friday evening.
Robert Cray is everything you would expect from a multi-Grammy winning bluesman and more. There's been a real vibe about this year and it's infused it's self into the performances, not that this man needs any help on that score and there's still Bellowhead to come.
Robert Cray to Bellowhead, even a well rehearsed and hard working stage crew of the quality of those that work the various stages at Cambridge need twenty five minutes for that one. It's not enough time to be able to get anywhere else on site to catch anything meaningful, that'll be a second pint then.
Bellowhead have been going for some seven years now. During that time they've won a substantial number of awards, most of them for their live work. They happen to be the current holders of the Fatea Live Award.
Eleven pieces strong, Bellowhead are a veritable folk orchestra, but not one that sits politely on chairs, I'm sure you can burn calories watching the band moving around the stage and that's before you're body starts compelling you to dance.
The band have a massive sound and playing to an audience that have been warmed up both mentally and physically allows them to kick in right at the very top of their game, this is going to be exhausting for both the band and the crowd and we're going to love it.
It's not just folk; rock, reggae, ska, jazz and world music all make themselves know during the performance. You never quite know what's coming next, you can be pretty certain that you're going to enjoy. Band and crowd are both in a mood to party and the atmosphere is positively sparkling.
I get the feeling there's going to be a good chunk of this set on the highlights DVD that Sky Arts will be producing of this year's festival . If you want an exclusive Bellowhead package, there's a live DVD of the "Hedonism" tour due soon.
Bellowhead aren't the only large folk orchestra playing Cambridge this year. Stage Two is playing host to the nine piece Orkestra Del Sol, an Edinburgh based outfit that seem to be part Balkan wedding band, part New Orleans funeral band and a good number of points in between. Reluctantly, I tear myself away from Bellowhead and go to seek new sounds.
Big folk bands must have a sousaphone, I think it's the law, Orkestra Del Sol, have their names blazoned right across theirs. One of the things I love about Cambridge is the variety of instruments you get to hear, ticking a few boxes right now.
This is a different type of party, more world musics and fusion. I can pick klezmer, ska and calypso out of the mix. I'm pretty sure I can hear some porro (Columbian Caribbean music, with more of a percussive rhythm) certainly the twin percussion attack was more than capable of delivering it.
Both of the big stages are in full party mode. It's been a warm day and the bands are definitely doing what they can to keep the temperatures high. It's a glorious end to what's been an absolutely glorious day.