DIARY OF A FESTAL VIRGINDIARY OF A FESTAL VIRGINSunday 26th July
Breakfast at the
Unicorn. Main Stage One again and the London Community Gospel
Choir' s hard work, humour and energy raise spirits all around
and are a real pleasure, even for cynical old me. They are followed
by a low-key session of Laurie Lewis' bluegrass, complete
with what I was assured was an Appalachian Mountain tap dancer.
We are then treated to an initially nervous Kate Rusby's
truly excellent voice singing her own and traditional songs. These
cover such diverse subjects as Sir Egremont's dragon hunt and
what must surely be an early rugby song, a humorous tale of A
Yorkshire Couple's infidelity and property development. Just a
short refreshment break (honestly) and back for The Canadian High
Commission's gift to the nation (they sponsored the tour) of La
Bottine Souriante, a traditional band from Quebec. They are
now bolstered by a brass section, and play music that is impossible
not to smile and stomp along to. This set provides another first
for me, another slip into the surreal, of a duet for one pair
of feet and audience handclapping. Being brought up on guitar
and drum led music certainly seems a sheltered upbringing now.
Flook! consisted of three flautists and one guitarist and certainly wowed the flute students in the audience even if they were not to my taste.
Catch the first part of Steve Earle's set but I'm not sufficiently enthralled to endure the heat and the throng building up in the tent by now. Also have to pop in to the Tartan Amoebas album launch. There's some interesting stuff on their new CD so perhaps I caught a clear out of old stuff at yesterday's set. They also, apparently, had a good set on Main Stage Two today.
There is only time to catch the first two numbers from Hothouse Flowers. They appear to have gone all rock'n'roll and shiny suits but still have the same enthusiasm that makes you want to check out what all the fuss is about. Back to the motorway
Festival Highs: Kate Rusby
- Drop the Box - Great Big Sea - John Primer - Afro Celt Sound
System - Mr Charles Welles' Beer Tent (in no particular order).
Festival Lows: None - the great thing is that the different stages always have something different running, if there's Cajun on One, then there's Blues on Two and Trad in the Club Tent. If none of that appeals then you've got 45 minutes to an hour tops, in which you can snack, snooze or whatever, before something must appeal.
Keith White