View From The Field - Kev Boyd

I chill out with the newspaper for a while in the Club Tent where Brian Finnegan is conducting a flute and whistle workshop. A little later I make my way towards Stage 2 with the intention of relaxing further but I find myself drawn into Brian McNeill's marathon Festival Session. In previous years I've dipped in and out of the Session but never stayed the distance, largely because I was under the impression that it tended to favour Scots and Irish music when I much prefer the English and American varieties. All of which means that today's offerings come as a pleasant surprise. We certainly get our fair share of Celtic tunes but there's a lot more variety here than I'd previously imagined. Highlights include Saltfishforty's traditional Orkney tunes, more from Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts, the incredible (and incredibly young) Moore, Moss, Rutter and the truly wonderful Abigail Washburn. The two and a half hours just fly by and before I know it the stage is full for the traditional finale performance featuring all the Session musicians with the addition of a surprise guest - step forward Mr D Oates!

It's time for another wander and I stumble across the Spooky Men's Chorale conducting an outdoor singing workshop near the Hub. It's already well under way by the time I arrive and there's a sizable crowd so I don't linger for too long. Instead, I make my way back to the nearby Flower Garden where a Northumbrian Pipes workshop is taking place. Actually, it's hard to miss - just follow the sound of several cats being strangled! Immediately after this John Boden (of Bellowhead / Spiers and… fame) conducts an informal discussion on how to run a folk club. It's all fairly obvious stuff for anyone who's been involved in running a club even if, as in my case, this was a number of years ago as the various 'models' that he describes haven't changed noticeably over the years. I imagine anyone who's thinking of running a club but has no experience will come away with some solid advice and a good deal of enthusiasm.

Back in the main arena I have my first major decision to make. Richard Thompson was one of the artists I was most looking forward to seeing when the festival bill was initially announced. It's been a number of years since I've seen him so I thought it was about time I caught up with his current repertoire but in order to catch him on the Main Stage I'll have to miss entire sets by Abigail Washburn and Spiers & Boden on Stage 2. I've already missed one set by Spiers & Boden on the Main Stage and I have a feeling that Abigail Washburn is going to be a festival highlight for me so I stick with these. I know the main Stage crowd for RT will be massive so I'm sure he won't miss my presence and after two fabulous Stage 2 sets I know I've made the right decision.

A little later on it's time for me to make the long walk to the front of the Main Stage - or as close to the front as I can manage - for the reformed Pentangle. Their set seems quite effortless and is only marginally hampered by slight sound issues early on. It's true that Jacqui McShee's vocals are a little 'boomy' in places (if that's a technical enough term?) but it doesn't detract from the overall effect for me, which is largely positive. Others in the crowd don't seem quite as tolerant and there are numerous shouted requests to sort the sound out throughout the set.

Afterwards we congregate in the bar (does anyone see a pattern developing here?) where Port Isaac's Fisherman's Friends and the Spooky Men's Chorale are engaged in a lively sing off. Voices are raised (as are a few glasses!) and various Spookies and Fishermen are hoisted upon shoulders and it's all tremendous fun. At about the same time Raul Malo rounds things off on the Main Stage and it's quite a sight to see the entire Main Stage field dancing to the Mavericks hit Dance The Night Away. We then end the evening with a low key sing around in the Den where we catch brief spots from Megan Henwood, Sam Lee, Polly (sans Billets Doux) and Bella Hardy.

Sunday morning follows the normal pattern - a fairly early start with a walk around the almost empty site fuelled by coffee and a bacon sarnie. There's no free gift with today's Observer, although I suspect this is mostly due to the dozy bloke who serves me at the festival shop as I later spot one or two folks exiting the shop with mysterious white plastic packages.

I'm determined to really relax today and there are only four things I definitely want to catch. The Fisherman's Friends singing workshop in the Club Tent isn't one of them but I make the effort anyway, if only to find out how much space is left after the mammoth queue had originally stretched all the way to the main bar and has now made its way into the tiny marquee. There's some room left at the back and even from this distance I can catch some of the atmosphere as the crowd sing along enthusiastically. It's not a workshop strictly speaking but it blows a few Sunday morning cobwebs away nevertheless.

Michelle and Sarah have found a nice spot to set up a couple of chairs just outside the Main Stage marquee and this acts as base camp for the rest of the day. I only budge from here on three occasions (not counting a number of trips to the bar and the odd 'comfort break'). I'm very close to the front for Abigail Washburn (yes, again) who gives another wonderfully warm performance and later in the afternoon I catch the return of the magnificent Home Service. John Tams is a very charismatic front man and a fabulous singer and the band are wonderful but I can't help but be most impressed by the brass section's iPad music stands. Small things, eh? Femi Kuti & Positive Force bring a refreshing splash of colour to the Main Stage with an incredible hour of music which mixes broadly political rhetoric with humour and an infectious Afrobeat vibe.

In between all this I read the paper, have a drink or two and chat with Sarah, Michelle and Allan and a couple of other friends who drop by. I'm making good on my vow to relax more, so much so that I decide not to make the short walk to the Club Tent for Emily Portman's showcase set in the early evening. I'm much happier sat here with the paper and warm Guinness and although we can't see the Main Stage itself we have a good view of one of the large screens and the sound is almost perfect. It's a lovely way to spend the last few hours of the festival and it's a pity we have to up sticks after Laura Marling's headline set in order to catch last orders at the early-closing bar.

We end the festival in a fairly low key fashion after an anticipated raucous session with Allan's Scottish friends fails to materialise and we discover that there will be no repeat of last nights sing around in the Den. I don't think anyone's too disappointed though. It's been a great four days and I for one have thoroughly enjoyed every aspect and I'm more than ready for my blow-up bed.

Now, where's my Monday morning bacon sarnie?

words and photos Kev Boyd