I wasn’t entirely expecting to leave today, but leaving early seemed sensible, so off we went. Packed everything I could think of taking first, taking my rucksack and daysack. Only one umbrella, though.

Drive to Cambridge was quite quick, aided by Messers Johnny Cash and Ben Folds on my iPod through the FM cradle thingy (which almost gets in the way of the gearstick, but luckily it’s just about alright). Decided to head to the actual festival site first to get our wristbands, and: blimey, it’s like you never left. Everything is exactly where it was last year. And everyone else appeared to have got there before us. Never mind. There was a giant wicker man, which was new, and the main stage was totally deserted, which was weird:

Anyway, got a drink, wandered about, drove on to the campsite
and got the tent up:

just before it started raining. A lot.

Hurrah!

(later) Well, while it rained — and really rained — I bought a rather nice burger in a sorta wrap thing with chili beans from the campsite food shop. After raining for an hour or so, it kinda cleared up. The ground was rather muddy, though not to Glastonbury-style proportions. Headed down to the festival site at half-five or so, where I tried and failed to get on the wi-fi at the internet cafe (gonna try connecting through my phone, possibly). Then it was off to stage 2 for the first act of the day, Mabon: Irish (well, Welsh) folk which was quite interesting really, good start.
Next up was Seasick Steven, an authentic Deep South driftin’ hobo (well, he was really an authentic, driftin’, train-ridin’, gamblin’ hobo before becoming a recording artist) who was genuinely charismatic and great fun to watch. He was on Jools Holland at Hootenanny. It also rained some more.

Skipped whatever the third act was in favour of a falafel from the Greek food stand. Sat and ate while listening to some random band playing in the food tent. That’s Cambridge for you: random acts of music springing up everywhere.

So the final band was Alabama 3, a band I vaguely know, mainly for the excellent Woke Up This Morning (famously from the Sopranos, natch). They did an acoustic set and it was really rather good: a captivating live show, several nods to Johnny Cash including a impromptu impersonation contest, and generally being quite insane and different.

On the bus back we had a story from the master storyteller guy who appears every year. Awesome.

Back at the campsite now, in the tent where there’s a nice darkened atmosphere with tealights and yet more minor, yet good acts on the stage here. Feeling self-conscious that I’m the only one nerdy enough to blog. But it’s not like I can post it yet?

Phone battery ran out too. Hope the car adaptor works…