Sunday overview (cont)

Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 (yes we’re told it’s Venus and not Minus) are weird bleedin’ hippies, after Circulus’ psychadelia this lot seem rather middle of the road. Filled with parts of REM and playing pleasant enough music. ‘Sally Was A Legend’ and ‘Madonna Of The Wasps’ are a little weird in content, but it’s the bits between the songs which are worth listening to.

All kind of skewed logic and idiosyncrasies it’s very entertaining, “it’s not the taking of drugs but the expectation of taking them that’s the best bit” is the only example I can remember but as I watched a 50 something middle-England lady surprise her bald husband thanks to a transformation in the Fairy Love shop I was struck by how much people were enjoying and participating in this festival.

But their music just doesn’t grab me at all so I make a bee line for the Riverside Stage to see Stanna and The Stairlifts and I’m glad I did. Okay so they may never play a big festival like V or sell a gazillion records, but that’s fine, they’re good blues musicians, enjoying themselves on stage. So much so the red dress wearing backing singers run off stage and join in with the crowd dancing in front of the band, boogie around the bass player and pour themselves flutes of champagne to celebrate the climax of their set. The music’s pretty good too, hence the people dancing at the front. A much more refreshing experience than the old hippies on the main stage.

Talking of which I decided to return there to see Nerina Pallot, often touted these days as the next big thing. Well, it must be a case of the marketing machine swinging into action, or possibly she’s another Dido in the making. She plays most of her debut album ‘Fires’ and only the track she’s had a hit with ‘Everybody’s Gone To War’ has any substance. The rest of it is musical wallpaper from the pianist, who is accompanied by three strings (violins and cello) and a flute.

Someone should perhaps suggest to her that in front of so many people, it’s a bad idea to sound such an airhead, especially if you decide to say nothing for a pregnant thirty seconds. As she so succinctly put, “I like shoes, buy my record and help me buy more!” Yes dear, guess she should have stuck to her day job, which possibly by no surprise, was in the music business.

In contrast to the previous act Nerina Pallot, Chrissie Hynde fair exudes rock music as The Pretenders arrive to entertain us and there’s a few blokes like me, deliberating Chrissie or the World Cup? I decide on The Pretenders for now. ‘Message of Love’ and ‘Room Full of Mirrors’ make me glad I have and the football’s already 1-1. There’s a lot of people are queuing for food as it’s meal time and Chrissie tells us to back away from the organic food man, it’s not good for us. ‘Human’, ‘Love Colours’, ‘Day After Day’ and ‘Talk of the Town’ fly by and the crowd are getting into it too, much like Deacon Blue yesterday there’s a lot of thirty-somethings dancing and singing along happily.

Chrissie wants to know the score, (it’s still 1-1, I had to go and check, couldn’t resist) as she says it’s not the winning but ‘The Losing’ that’s important, Zidane take note! Infact the big screen is reasonably well attended for a non-Enlgand match and I’m sure Hynde and Co. are happy it’s not England or the crowd could a lot less packed.

‘Kid’ is an unexpected highlight and the sun comes out behind us casting long shadows toward the stage and reminding many of us we’ve burnt the back of our necks! Chrissie spots a man in the crowd in an Electric Warrior shirt and leather hat and a few bars of T-Rex ring out for him before they switch to ‘Back on the Chain Gang’ and I realise I’m actually being kept hugely entertained, both the band and their singer are on great form. Although I’m confused why the drummer hides behind a Perspex screen.

And it’s now that they spring their hits upon us, ‘Don’t Get Me Wrong’ and we nearly get a drum solo, but instead after some banter it turns into a bird song solo, you had to be there. ‘Middle Of The Road’ brings the main set to an end and we’re all either clapping for more or quickly making a move so some of us can get in the other tent for Kate Rusby. I opt for the latter and scamper off, via the football with the strains of ‘Brass in Pocket’ following me.

I professional performance by The Pretenders, it wasn’t awe inspiring, but a decent act with a number of familiar songs the hour and a quarter just flew by.

Kate Rusby is headlining the Oxford Folk Festival Stage and it’s difficult to even get in and see her, but once I get close to the stage I find space to the left of it to settle and watch what turns out to be a delightful act. Word of mouth through out the weekend has constantly mentioned that Kate is an act to see, and I’m expecting a rather traditional folk act.

I’m rather unprepared for a hugely charismatic lady who wraps the crowd around her finger and her voice is tremendous, okay it’s folk but it’s folk in the Seth Lakeman mould not folk with the jumpers and beards! There’s something contemporary about it, maybe it’s the relaxed band stage banter, maybe it’s the aubergine recipe, presumably recipes is a live act thing. Someone in the crowd calls out for a recipe and a member of the band delivers one. ‘Elfin Knight’ is a lovely ballad and ‘You Belong To Me’ is another masterful song from her latest album ‘The Girl Who Couldn't Fly’ and showcases her wonderful voice.

With 1999s ‘Sir Eglamore’ she reminds us just how long she and the band have been working for nights like these, it won’t be long until everyone knows Kate’s name and these small intimate tents will be replaced by main stages. But tonight was a delight and a perfect end to the festival weekend.

We have a three hour drive back to the West Country and so we watch the big screen penalty shoot out and listen to Texas as we walk down the valley and up to our car. Another fabulous Cornbury festival! A big thanks to those who put it together, those who entertained us and those who worked to make it such a lovely weekend.

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