Friday
It's time to head across to the main stage to catch the opening act on there, nine piece, North East, multi-generational combo, The Mighty Doonans who kick off with all the passion of the faithful at the Stadium Light.
With members that stretch back to the likes of Hedgehog Pie, the band are really proud of their roots and that goes right into the step dancing solo from Frances Doonan.
Over the course of the set all of the band get an opportunity to the fore and that's because everyone of them lad and lass really know they way around their instruments be it stringed, brass or percussion.
Some of the songs are quite dark, covering subjects like miner's lung, but the Mighty Doonans seem to be able to deliver in a way that doesn't put it at odds with a bright sunny festival day.
Being so large they've got a real depth of sound and it allows them to play off each other and explore the songs be they traditional or contemporary. It's a grand way to kick off the Friday opening, The Mighty Doonans.
I scoot back down to Stage One to catch the very start of Spiro, but it's a fleeting visit on the way to the Den, which is the emerging artists stage at the festival to go and see Robin Gillan who definite fits the bill that the stage was designed for.
There's a good crowd for him, one of the things I like about the Cambridge crowd is how open they are to emerging talent, both at the Den and via the sign up sessions at the Club Tent.
Robin Gillan has a slightly quirky style far enough off the mainstream for him to establish a style without being so far out that he's going to fall into the trap of being regarded as cult.
In theory Jake Bugg is supposed to be up next and he was one of the emerging artsits that I was here to see. Unfortunately he broke down just outside Nottingham and is running very late.
The silver lining in that cloud is that I get to be backstage at the Den when Adam Beattie and Brooke Sharkey show up. They're playing, but it's good to be able to find time for a quick chat, particularly as Brooke is going to be appearing on the next Fatea Showcase Session:Pathways.
I have to cut my loses with Jake Bugg as I need to get back to Stage One to watch Raghu Dixit. On the way I bump into stray members of The Mighty Doonans and find myself unexpected involved in discussions about North East music and the football scene.
Raghu Dixit is the biggest selling Indian artist not connected to the film industry and was one of those artists introduced to the country via the Jools Holland Later show.
He's performing along with his band, a five piece in addition to him, giving a line up of two guitars, bass, fiddle, flute, drums and a whole heap of positive energy. You may not know the words that this band are singing, but th
ere is no disputing the vibe they are giving off. It's like someone has sprinkled hope from the stage in a wave of energy.Raghu seems to be looking for the frowns in the crowd and directing heart warming smiles at them. This is world music at it's best with a band determined that everyone is going to have a good time and I'm pretty sure they do.
Coming out from the pit, I bump into Chopper from the Oysterband and have a chat about the current music scene in Sweden, where he's currently based and where there appears to be lots of good music coming from. He also mentions that he might be over on a tour next year, so that's really to be looked forward to.
I've only popped out to get some son and to find a place to listen to the end of Mr Dixit's set, it's not long before the caravan of photographers go past again, this time for Four Men And A Dog, who are next up on the big stage.
Four Men And A Dog are pretty just a live act these days, finding a date in everyone's diary for the requirement of recording a full album are just too much, but at least they do occasionally get together for occasions such as these. Whilst I'd love another album by these boys, I'm happy to take what I can get especially as their main strength is the live arena.
By common consent the band's leader, if a band like this needs a leader, is larger than life bodhran player and vocalist Gino Lupari, he's the man that makes sure that the band, full of premier league musicians, carry oodles of fun and spirit with them. It's one of the reasons that this is one of my all time favourite traditional bands, well that and they don't spend all their set in the tradition.
Ireland has a great show band tradition that has also been responsible for encouraging generations of singers and musicians and it's also a sound that influences Four Men And A Dog, they don't differentiate, they play great, highly entertaining music from a number of local sources and, when they get into their bluegrass kick, international ones as well.
Four Me And A Dog are one of those bands that are able to easily adapt to their surroundings and feel really comfortable there. You could easily imagine the band leaving the big stage, having dominated it and then disappearing into a small bar a giving their all gathered around a small table.
It's a great set and I look forward to catching the band again as part of the Brian McNeill Session tomorrow. With the nature of the session and looking at the musicians around the site I'm hoping there's going to be some guests, time will tell.