FESTIVAL DIARY - SATURDAY
Another beautiful day, another corking line-up at Cherry Hinton. It's midday and there are still a few (very) late breakfasts being enjoyed when North Uist's finest, the (very) lovely Julie Fowlis, walks out with her band on Stage 1 to an affectionate reception from the Saturday crowd. She goes on to show exactly why she won the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Horizon Award earlier this year. Whether whistle or vocal, the music she makes is always a pleasure.
It wouldn't be a folk festival without sessions, and today's the day for the official festival session, over on Stage 2. The ebullient and enthusiastic Brian McNeill is again at the helm of the Good Ship Session, organising a host of fantastic upcoming musicians - some of whom are students from his course at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. While Julie Fowlis rushes over from Stage 1 to take part, the session audience are treated to a shining pair of sets from the young Ruairidh Macmillan band. Fiddler Ruairidh himself is plainly a composer and musician to keep an eye on, as is bodhran player Adam Brown and guitarist Tia Fyles, also of BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winners Bodega. Great stuff.
A quick run back to the main stage finds Tom Russell rising to an audience equally adoring as yesterday's but twice as large. Closing number 'Bill Haley's Comet' reminds us why he's one of the kings of Americana.
Back on Stage 2, Celtic quintet Bodega are being joined for the session's climax by Brian McNeill, Grammy Award winning mandolinist Chris Thile and violinist Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek, and fellow bright young things No ID, the Ruairidh Macmillan band, and the Anna Massie Band. As the posse reel off a barnstorming version of Dylan's 'Wagon Wheel', it's a wonder the stage can bear the full weight of their potential!
A wave of heavy mood is washing over the crowd in front of the main stage as Teddy Thompson grips us with stripped back versions of his country-tinged alt. rock. Minimal guitar playing underneath impassioned vocals creates moving moments which capture the full attention of Seth Lakeman, John Tams, Tift Merritt, Julie Fowlis and Cathy Jordan, who are soaking it up backstage.
At the other end of the arena, the atmosphere is somewhat broken by the unmissable sight of Brucie and his mate, a handsome pair of 9ft kangaroos bouncing through the crowd, pursued by children and grown women! They look cool in their sunnies but their sweaty backs are enough to rival Seth Lakeman's t-shirt from yesterday!
Saturday Festival Diary - Part 2Read Friday's Festival DiaryRead Sunday's Festival Diary 
