there's a few surprises in store on day one of Strawberry Fields Festival

Arriving late friday evening at Cattows Farm in Leicestershire - home of Strawberry Fields Festival (and yes they do grow strawberries!) - first impressions are of a village fete with a bouncy castle and a long tent that appears to be a flea market selling second-hand clothes and bric-a-brac.

The site feels quiet and lightly populated but it's a pleasant summer evening for strolling around and so a tour of the site to get a bead on where all the stages are is in order, but only after catching the last few songs by Buster Shuffle on the Strawberry Jam Stage who provoke a modest crowd into the party swing with some upbeat ska and reggae tune-age. The main outdoor stage is unmissable looming over the site but it's dormant apart from stage-lighting tests ahead of the main event kicking off on Saturday.

Checking out the main bar in the main stage field I'm a little disappointed to find no real ale on sale but it's a nice bar otherwise with friendly staff and a DJ in the corner playing drum and bass to the patrons. Thinking I've reached the edge of the site I walk around a corner and find a whole other field; the Dance Village with fun-fair, and three music venues - two marquees and and an outdoor stage called The Boat that Rocks, and rocking it was, with a crowd of revellers getting into the swing with DJ Micky Slim Feat. Majestic providing the beats. The tour takes a quick diversion into the public camping area to look for friends and as I survey the field, disconcertingly it seems like I've come to a teen-fest by mistake (an inaccurate first impression as it turned out) there are so many young faces.

I make my way back to the Strawberry Jam stage in time to watch brooding rockers Black Drummer perform an entertaining set to a still modest but enthusiastic crowd - joined on stage by a burlesque dancer for the final number which brought the Friday night live band entertainment to a close with a feathery flourish, but a good party-vibe was still to be had dancing to the sounds put out by the DJs in the busy Orange Tree Cocktail Bar before finally heading for my tent.

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