The first tent on the right - and certainly the one with most consistent full on bass beat was Mungo's Sound System - a ramshackle booth with genuine tidal debris and some very home made but effective bass bins provided reggae lovers with a permanent haven in which to groove and catch whatever Mungo was serving up at the time. I have to say that Mungo seemed to be a permanent fixture too - a marathon session of mixing that put the other DJs in the shade - those bass bins never stopped pounding, whether the tent was empty, or heaving, Mungo just played on.
As the day wore on, the programme changed tack with rock and pop giving way to big beats, trance, and all manner of DJ sessions.
We caught Pipeheid in the Non-stop tent - 3 screens giving a visual backdrop - often slow motion water drops into puddles - aptly reminiscent of the large puddle at the back of the dance area - whilst the 2 DJs provided a soundscape to dance to - which lots of people where doing and clearly enjoying the mix - it was interesting to see how the 2 guys performed together, a lot of sideways glancing went on to check settings and to syncronise beats. Later on at the Mainstage, Mylo was doing his bit with a cuddly toy collie dog on the desk and a bottle of water on the turntable - once again there were lots of happy dancers.
Happy dancing too back at the Shipping Forecast - all manner of traditional music being provided using pipes, fiddles, whistles, accordions, you name it. One notable instrument was a 21st century version of the pipes similar to Nick Scott's uileann pipes - which always look like the contents of a plumber's scrap bag, but these were all chrome and plastic, and very modern looking. The dancing by the way was frantic by turns, other times it was almost tea dance sedate, but it was always happening and it was very noticeable here that the majority of both players and dancers were very much the young generation. By the time we had finished we had had a turn at the Gay Gordons, witnessed a very eager young lady capably organise a set to Strip the Willow, only to collapse in a drunken heap at the first hint of a swing, and so on and so on.
It was raining quite heavy off and on, but the site was coping quite well when we called it a night, needing our cuppa and a sleep in readiness for THE BIG DAY. Sorry, did I not mention it? John Martyn - oh yes - due up on stage tomorrow evening.....
Pictures by Gilly
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