FESTIVAL DIARY - FRIDAY
Bless the weather! In the days running up to festival weekend, Cambridgeshire has been deluged with rain, hammered with hail, lit up by lightning and shaken by thunder. But this morning the campers at Cherry Hinton and Coldhams Common awake to blue skies and blazing sun. The hat sellers near the arena entrance are doing a roaring trade, a breeze carries the sweet smell of sun lotion across the field in front of the main stage, and people are pitching up in preperation for a day of incredible music.
A wander to the back of the field finds the Club Tent, where European string quartet Swåp have just kicked off their festival with an enlightening workshop on Swedish music. Next, one of the stars of this year's bill, Richard Thompson, is about to give an on-stage interview. Looking relaxed with his acoustic guitar in his lap, the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Lifetime Achievement Award winner delights a crammed tent with his thoughts on the art of songwriting, and treats us to "as much as he can remember" of any requests - including a smashing attempt at 'Streets of Paradise'. What a way to begin!
Meanwhile, backstage, Radio 2's own Mike Harding is having a rosy start to his festival by being presented with a snappily-titled All Round Good Egg Folkie Of The Year Award from the kind people at Talkawhile web forum, for his part in waving the folkie flag.
There's just enough time for warm thanks and handshakes before Mike runs off to see the Anna Massie Band open the bill on the main stage. The young trio show the growing crowd exactly why they were nominated for the 2005 BBC Folk Awards Horizon Award with some spirited and inventive songs and sets, and as Anna's jigs and reels on guitar ring out over the field, nobody is in any doubt: Cambridge 2006 has really begun.
One person in the crowd who's enjoying Anna & co. is Annie from Congleton in Cheshire. The festival regular is attracting plenty of attention herself, sitting in a pile of funky hats she created from recycled scraps of vibrant fabric. Potential customers are queuing up to try one on in her rather flattering 'You Look Gorgeous' mirror.
Friday Festival Diary - Part 2
Read Saturday's Festival Diary
Read Sunday's Festival Diary
