ZubZub end the outdoor party in some style

The best cure for a hangover (apparently) is to begin drinking again as soon as possible. Might not work for all, and it is not by any means fool-proof, but you have to give it a go, right? Did the cooked breakfast thing but it just doesn't have the same effect. Despite everyone's best efforts of the previous night there were, fortunately, plenty of real ales to be chosen from....mmmmm food, erm beer.. breakfast.

Lunch too because it was almost time for the first band of the day, The Beetroot Kings. A good solid start to the day, if not for me. Think I will have another festival ale....mmmm, must remember (next time, maybe) to pace myself... feeling fortified and refreshed I then went to bang a drum with the Inta Africa drum workshop bods. Great to see so many, young and old, having a great time(ings). We almost raised the roof from the barn! Outdoors, Mas Y Mas followed, a 3 piece, double bass, percussion and guitar, who deftly wove together melodies and beats to a growing number of happy souls gathering and grinning.

Aistaguca performed next, loads of 'em, there were, Hey! A tuba, Violin, saxes, Hey! percussionists... playing, Hey! some Baltic folk music but with a modern twist, sometime stumbling, always enthralling, The crowd (Hey!) were clearly delighted. The sun properly started to come out now...

Neck were up next, a kind of a 'Pogues-U-like' bunch, banjo, tin whistle, the works... the odd cover version but mostly full throttle fiddle-de de. After that, according to the programme, was a beer break. and there was much rejoicing. It's official, Good lot, these festival organisers, they think of everything.


ZZ Birmingham arrived next on the main stage. A top quality, laid back (ish) blues band that are as tight as can be. Truly splendid, people even took time out from drinking to dance. Mesmerising all, including me?.. not that mesmerising!

Meanwhile back in the barn, The Doberries were enchanting the assembled crowd. Dreamy, melancholic, wistful songs that captivated a few hearts and they too had some dancers. Yours truly, if truth be told, and er.. well... one other person.

Back in the safety of the courtyard, Harare, had droves of folk on their feet, brilliant African rhythms, fantastic guitar with the main man playing the wonderful marimba. Joyous and uplifting, a pure joy.

ZubZub ended the outdoor party in some style. Awesome phat beats, down and dirty basslines, trippy flute, recorder, this was entertainment of the highest order. Good work fellas. I suspect you may have many new fans...... groovy dancing too from many of the crowd. Yes, and me too. There really is an excellent atmosphere in that courtyard.

Banco de Gaia rounded things off nicely in the barn for those who couldn't shake off those dancing tiger feet. Again, sublime. Nobody wanted him to stop playing, but all good things and all that...

I realised I hadn't paced myself very well, wibbled my way to tent, I did well, I found it. It was still where I'd left it. Result! Sparko.

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