Culture Clash?

Cambridge Folk Festival Day 3

Following on from yesterday's blip, here's some more of the artwork adorning the festival site.

This poster made me laugh a lot since it brings together two of the things that have had a big influence on my life - punk and traditional English music! They're really not as far apart as some might think!

Here, some dangerous anarchist subversive from the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) has 're-imagined' the cover of the first Clash album to show the self-appointed Clash City Rockers as Morris dancers, complete with sashes (known as baldricks), bells and - in Paul Simonon's case - a hanky.

Note for fact fans: This style of dress is indicative of the Cotswold Morris tradition.

Today's major excitement involved my friend Cal buying a guitar from one of the vendors on site. This was thrilling enough in itself but became even more so when it emerged that the salesperson was none other than Terry Bickers, formerly psychedelic indie-guitar hero with The House of Love and Levitation. And, what's more, he gave her a 50 minute on-the-spot guitar lesson! I saw some of it with my own eyes! It may ruin his rock n' roll cred but Cal wants it known that he is a lovely, solicitous, courteous man who is respectful of older women in all the right ways and a credit to his mother!

Next time I see her I hope she's going to give me a rendition of House of Love hit Destroy The Heart, as seen here (Terry's in the white shirt on the left).

Acts I saw today (in a marathon session!)

Emily Smith
Spiers and Boden
Spiers and Boden with Saltfishforty
Frankie Gavin and De Dannan
Penguin Café
Kate Rusby
Richard Thompson
Pentangle
The Paul McKenna Band
Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts