Sunday

Laura Marling has moved away from her lost waif type look and sound that she encapsulated on her debut album and now exudes a real stage presence that matches her fuller, more band driven sound. There's a confidence and belief in both her writing and ability as a performer.

She pretty much dominates the stage without actually having to use a great deal of it. New songs are played against tried and tested songs and whilst she does slip back into waif mode part way through the performance, it seems as if it's to add emphasis rather than to adopt a persona.

The new material is harder, maybe a little darker, but it also feels a lot more inspirational. Laura Marling comes across as a fighter, someone that things happen around, not too. There's a real energy about her and it comes out in the songs, particularly the ones that we've not heard before.

For my last band of the night, I take the walk down to The Den to catch my second Norwegian, well part Norwegian band of the evening, Fribo, who have recently released their debut album, "Happ".

The band have the honour of closing The Den. (Note to organisers please keep this stage for next year, declare the experiment a success and repeat.) As with Katzenjammer, I had no knowledge of the band prior to the festival, but vocalist and flautist with the band, Anne Sofie Valdal got in touch and asked me to see them, so here I am.

There have been a number of good connections between the traditional scenes in both Scotland and Norway, mainly through the Shetlands but also deeper than that. Fribo seem to have taken the essence of both traditions and fused them into something that sounds really contemporary though with chunks of the past hiding in the shadows.

They have a sound that is really captivating, finally crafted and delicately arranged; the blend of voice and instrumentation has a real haunting quality, still leaving a trace of the note after they've moved on.

Apparently happ means good health in Norn, with acts like Fribo, traditional music as a living tradition with the ability to inspire other musicians seems in good hands and an excellent way of ending the 47th Cambridge Folk Festival and the 21st that we've covered in Fatea.

Actually it's not quite the end, as I come back past Stage 1, there are a large number of people hurling abuse in the direction of the stage. Apparently there has been some sort of technical failure and somehow a group of people think hurling abuse will help get it fixed quicker.

It's not long before Peatbog Faeries are up and running again. In the field near the big screens a family have got their own ceilidh going. It's starting to wind down, but I have to say it's been an absolutely stonking festival, one of the best for atmosphere for ages. Then with a last fading note it's over for another year.

Well almost. There's time for one last drink with the crew before saying goodbye to the rest of the Fatea team, the Pit Ponies and the rest of the snappers and writers. Most importantly a chance to say thanks to Christina McNally, Naomi Rose, Gemma Hogg, Polly Griffith, Lisa Ann Dickson and Neil Jones in the new media caravan, without whom it would be impossible to provide the coverage we do. Many many thanks.

Final thoughts: I'd consider this to be vintage year, whilst you might say the number of 'big' names was down on previous years, there were a lot of want to sees. I saw fewer bands this year, but saw them for longer and that may have been it.

As per usual there were a couple of really unexpected performances that are close to the top of the list Justin Townes Earle, Katzenjammer being just two. The Brian McNeill Session remains a real gem in the festival crown, but is definitely joined this year by the Den. There and the Club Tent were packed with talent that I'm sure will find their way to bigger stages in years to come.

I don't think there was a real flat spot this year from first note on Thursday to last note on Sunday. If something wasn't right for you, you knew there was something happening elsewhere that was.

As per usual there was a lot I missed and apologies if I failed to hook up with anyone. I've said before Cambridge isn't one festival, but thousands of festivals in the same place. I hope you enjoyed yours as much as I enjoyed mine.

Oh yeah, all that running around kept the weight gain down to half a pound.