Final act of the afternoon on Stage 1 were Cooking Vinyl's, The Oysterband. Over the year's the band have moved from Ceilidh band through folk rock to end up with a hard power folk band that pushed along by rock sensibilities.
Like many in the Folk world, the Oysters are a band that love their country but hate the injustices in the way it's ruled, the inequality and the bigotry, something that is reflected more and more in the band's songs. A listen to their latest album, "The Shouting End Of Life" and their official bootleg, what used to be called a live album a few short years ago, "Alive & Shouting" only confirms their metamorphosis.
Strong vocals and a tight, but still raw edged sound goes a long way towards explaining the Oysterband's position as one of the top UK folk bands of the last fifteen or so years. There seems to be less movement on stage these days but the sound still comes across as though it's been pumped full of adrenaline.
A large number of the band's T-shirts bedecked spectators as both young and old, bearded and nose ringed felt the urge to dance and stomp along to the songs, if it's really possible to stomp in a grass field.
The set showed that it's not only folk's new wave that knows how to have fun. Despite all their years in the business, or perhaps because of it, The Oysters have managed to keep fresh and obviously enjoy what they are doing and use that enjoyment to enhance the crowd's pleasure.
The band embark on a Nation-wide tour later in the year and come highly recommended. They were a rousing way to end a Sunny Saturday afternoon as they kicked life back into an audience that were starting to show signs of wilting in the heat. The set, like the temperature, was a scorcher.
After the Oysters, it was time to move the stage. It's one of the unique features about Cambridge. The mainstage is outdoors during the afternoon on both the Saturday and Sunday and is moved into the marquee for the evening sets or if rain threatens. Whilst the two large forklifts set about manoeuvring the speaker stacks most of the crowd took the opportunity to feed and water themselves.
Whilst I'm at a break in the music I feel I must praise the organisation at Cambridge. It's one of the few festival where you can almost guarantee toilet roll in the toilets. If there is a problem plumbers and pumping wagons are close to hand. Special viewing platforms are available at all stages for the disabled and the crew do their best to ensure that nothing gets in the way of your enjoyment of the festival.
I should also mention here the contribution made by the likes of the St. John's Ambulance Brigade and the Samaritans who are there to make sure that if something does go wrong, either physically or emotionally that no one is left to deal with any crisis by themselves.