Saturday overview

Saturday starts earlier and young 'beat combo' The Wallbirds are a great way to blow out the cobwebs from the night before, and ceilidhs aside, they illicit one of the liveliest crowd responses of the weekend, which isn't bad going.



The afternoon turns into a rootless drift around the three stages, inbetween the irresistible attraction of sitting soaking up the unexpectedly sunny weather on the lawns - ah the joy of being able to sit where ya like at a festival.

Paul Curreri seems a talented singer/songerwriter and is joined by songstress Devon Sproule for a number. McDermotts Two Hours show why the Levellers choose to collaborate with them, and a brief visit to the indoor stage shows a lot of people are choosing the sunny outdoors over The Troubadours - I decide to escape the dark and join them.



It's not too long before we're back touring the evening acts however and American country/folk singer Alison Moorer surprises everyone by announcing she's Steve Earle's wife - and proves it by having him come on stage for a number (well I was surprised anyway...).

Next up, Seth Lakeman who has a new album imminently hitting the shelves apparently, but that doesn't stop him playing almost everything off his Freedom Fields album to the packed hall - nobody's complaining.



The polished wooden floor in the big top finally sees some action (other than polishing behinds) with the yearly ceilidh dance session - music supplied by the Oysterband - this is clearly a popular attraction amongst fans and well participated, though once again I just watch from the sidelines trying to figure out how they know what to do from the caller's calls.

For the finale act indoors (Steve Earle) an extended mission to bring in the bestest photos meant the music largely passed me by, but the crowds response was rapt and warm, I think ...and he said something stirring about the war in Iraq (I'm pretty sure).



And so ended the music for Saturday but pleasantly there's no rush to evacuate. This is no late night festival (at the festival itself that is - you're not far from it) but the bars stay open for another hour or so allowing time for a post-gig pint & natter and it's appreciated.

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