My Running Order...

Thursday:

ADRIAN EDMONDSON & THE BAD SHEPHERDS* BOTD
ALELA DIANE*
PETE MOLINARI*
MUMFORD & SONS*

Friday:

THE ZUTONS*
THE WATERSON FAMILY*
BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE*
BELLOWHEAD*
SUSAN TEDESCHI* BOTD
EDWARD II*
THE SHEE

Saturday:

LOS LOBOS*
THE SAW DOCTORS*
BOOKER T.* BOTD
BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN*
CARA DILLON
JON BODEN & THE REMNANT KINGS*
MEGAN & JOE HENWOOD

Sunday:

WATERMELON SLIM & THE WORKERS*
LUCINDA WILLIAMS*
PAUL BRADY*
OUMOU SANGARE*
EDDI READER* BOTD
LAU
DIANA JONES

The Cambridge Folk Festival 2009 (CFF09) was in its 45th year. As such it is a well oiled and slick machine. The campsites and buses run smoothly. The camping is well organised. The layout is well defined etc. and perhaps that was part of the problem. After several years of attending I found myself wishing for something new; not the same stage in the same place, or the toilet blocks being within 5cm of where they were last year. I suspect if people had been tagged there were some sitting in the same place!!! So really I guess at this point I am complaining about a lack of imagination. This sense of 'grey' was further compounded when I tried to get an alcohol free beer and the guy behind the bar started to take the piss out of me.I retorted that I was the (ex) customer and that I would from that point not be buying from him - indeed I went elsewhere and bought my own in for the rest of the festival. Did it cross his small narrow minded view that all festival goers are drunkards that perhaps it was for medical reasons or that because I was driving?? I expect not.

Thursday: So it was with mixed feelings that I went into stage 2 on Thursday for the first music of the festival. I love the Thursday sessions, there is always something special about them and this year was no exception. Pete Molinari and Alela Diane closing with Adrian Edmundson and the bad shepharps who provided a raucus closing set of Punk Folk!!! I kid you not. Go see them it was both entertaining and great fun.

Friday: Held out a lot of promise with Edward II and Bellowhead having seen both before. However it was Susan Tedeschi and The waterson's who worked for me. Susan Tedeschi provided a rock/country/folk/blues cross over leaning heavily on the blues. It was hard driving fun music which showed a well honed skill with the guitar.The Watersons were in attendence mob handed and showed why they were folk royalty with close harmonies and virtuouso performances. The last act of the nigt were The Zutons - they provided energy driven rock. It was a good set and we all had fun jumping around. But XXXXX (lead singer) seemed to want some vindication for being at the CFF. You are an indy rock band and thats all... get over yourself. Their inclusion in the line up reflects the festivals ethos - that folk music is about everyday people and their stories. It cover rock to blues to country to finger in the ear folk.

Saturday: If I am honest this was a slight let down largely because I didnt know much of The Saw Doctors and Los Lobos. the later were quite frankly uninspiring and very samey. The Saw Doctors had a great time on stage and clearly were energised by the reaction of the adoring crowd. But being a disspassionate attendee there music seemed like contrived pop. Fun but forgetable. The highlights for me were Booker T, Beth Neilson Chapman and Jon Boden and the Remnenet Kings. I wasn't sure about Booker T when he came on. His support band were loud and heavy... hoever things gradually changed. Booker T was like an old man watching some youth... he let them have their fun, cut them some slack and then bought them under control as they slipped effortlssly in to the classic Green Onions from the 60's. From then on it just got better! Jon Boden... what can you say... is slightly scary with a manic look in his eyes! But he delivers quality music and his set with the Remnent Kings was no different - witty and poinient and sufficiently different from his work with Bellowhead to be acceptable.

More to follow....

Score: 09/10