Another Year, Another Fock Festival

Well howdy lads. Am just returned from the Cambridge Folk Festival, and SIGH back at work. But for the mo (my lunch break) I'll do my fock fest review and revel in the memories:

Me, Choc Chip and Schwesty (joined by Ma and Pa Ding and X and Y on the Saturday) tripped down the road on Thursday, pitched our dayglo tents, and sat in the (mostly) sun drinking litres and litres of cider. Happy days. As usual there was a great array of acts I've never heard of, to delight my ears, and this is my best selection:

• Fanfare Ciocarlia - not something I'd ever listen to in the comfort of my own home, but great fun live. An 11-man Romanian Gypsy brass band who I can best describe as being like all your disreputable (and slightly chubby) uncles let loose drunk with trumpets and horns. Best known for their version of "Born to be Wild" at the end of Borat the Movie...
• Shooglenifty - a rather brilliant bunch of Scots who combine traditional tunes with contemporary dance rhythms and general strangeness. Headed up by a bloke on a fiddle that looks like a tramp, dances like a weirdo, and who you might well cross the street to avoid in normal life. But well worth a listen.
• Newton Faulkner - A dreadlocked ging-boy much beloved by the teenage Ra-Ras of the South West, and a brilliant guitarist who even manages to make the theme tune to Baywatch sound mighty fine. His voice is not exactly offensive either, but you half wish he wouldn't bother with that lark, and just let the "plucking" do the talking.
• Rachel Unthank and the Winterset - Geordie lasses singing traditional Geordie songs, and keeping it sweet and simple. Lovely dubbly.
• Martha Tilston and the Woods - excellent singer, with a lot of her own material, including a song called "Artificial Me" which'll make any office-dweller feel melancholy with empathy.
• The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain - Just catch 'em if you can. Brilliant and hilarious. Definitely the most entertaining set of the weekend...
• Seasick Steve - He's actually a hobo. He actually does swig large quantities of Jack Daniels as he plays. He actually looks like he might die on stage at any moment. But really good fun, and a must for anyone who loves a bit of proper southern-style Geeeeeetar...
• Haugaard and Hoirup - a rather sweet Danish duo, one baby-faced, one chubby, who play traditional Danish tunes. Very chilled, and relaxing, and altogether pleasant to the ears.
• Bellowhead - High camp weirdness, involving fiddles, brass, wind up toys and car horns, and traditional English folk songs and tunes to boot. What the hell it'd sound like on a CD I have no clue, but live, it's enough to get even the grumpiest jigging with joy...

Oh there's too many. Anyways join the camp next year or be a fool!!!!

Frick. Have to work now. Arg.