Sassy Imelda May with Irish folk Superstar Sharon Shannon

What a unique collaboration this is! Irish accordion and fiddle player Sharon Shannon with a rockabilly artist Imelda May. Sharon Shannon opens the set with some impressive Irish accordion music  Of course, she is a accordion virtuoso so it's bound to good!

Imelda joins Sharon on stage for the fourth song, dressed in a green tartan dress, red nail polish and black high heels - what else would you expect from Imelda! The duo played the latest single on Sharon's studio album, Go Tell The Devil, to much cheering from the onlooker's!

Swing Out (Quebe) Sisters

Stage 1 is currently swinging to the sound of The Quebe Sisters Band.

Since they formed the group have taken the American music scene by storm and their performance at Cambridge is part of the first-ever European tour where they're sure to win even more fans this side of the Atlantic.

The sisters will be doing a signing at the MOJO tent at 4pm today. Plus on Saturday they'll be busy with a song and fiddle workshop for young people at The Hub at 2.45 , a performance at The Club Tent at 7.10, and the one on Stage 2 on at 9.30pm.

Breabach opens main stage!

The Scots take to main stage with some toe-tapping folk music to get the crowds going on this warm summer's day. Their lively folk music mixes fiddle and guitars with bagpipes, flute, whistle and Bouzouki. And their opening even song included a bit of a jig!

The band were nominated for Best Up And Coming Artist at the 2006 Scots Trad Music Award and also nominated for the Best Folk Band in 2007 and 2008. Well worth a listen if your coming to the Festival, they are also here on Saturday.

Teddy Bears Picnic

Lots of children went down to the woods today and got a big surprise - a Teddy Bears' Picnic...

On Sunday there'll be a bigger bear on site - PUDSEY! Look out for him on stage with Gretchen Peters and at the signing tent giving out hugs.

The MOJO Interview: Seasick Steve

Being interviewd by Colin Irwin

Seasick Steve realy entertained his fans in the Club Tent during his interview with Colin Irwin from MOJO Magazine.  With his trademark beard and cap the blues man swigged from what looked like a bottle of wine while being quizzed by the audience.

The crowd were in stitches with his tales of living as a hobo, busking to pay the rent, playing his three-string guitar and diddley bow, and how how he almost muked up hitting the big time during his appearance on 'Later... With Jools Holland'.

He also told the fascinated audience about his trip to the Brits earlier this year when he was nominated for an award. The singer and his band mate busked at Earls Court tube station on their way and made £16.50!  However, when they arrived at the glitzy event they were turned away from the red carpet by bouncers!

Seasick also confessed that the only thing that's changed since he found fame is not sweating too much when he fills his car up with petrol.

Street Voices

Backstage after the interview Street Voices, a local group of current and ex-homeless people who busk in the streets of Cambridge, played privately to Seasick Steve after he invited them to. After that, he signed a few autographs for waiting fans then scooted off to his dressing room backstage to prepare for his performance tonight.

Seasick signing autographs

Seasick Steve is appearing on Stage 1 tonight at 9pm.

Stornaway end the first night of the Festival

Hotly-tipped for the big time Stornaway didn't disappoint as they took to Stage 2. Especially the front row, which was made up of young female super-fans!  

The foursome from Oxford made reference to the fact they were playing in their birth-place's arch rival city but they certainly didn't seem upset about that fact!

Having played at Festivals all over the country, including Glasto and Radio 1's Big Weekend, the band didn't show any signs of nerves as they whipped the crowed up into a frezy to finish the evening.

Check out what the boys have to say on Thursday's Festival podcast too!

Cocos Lovers do MC Hammer (seriously)

The great thing about this Festival is all the impromptu performances that go on.

Among some pianno playing, and a session from the recently reformed The Shivers in the bar, Cocos Lovers have just set up on the grass near Stage 1 and have drawn quite a crowd.



The band, made up of husbands, wives, brothers and sisters, are currently playing a mix of traditional folk and more up-to-date tunes, including (this isn't a joke) their version of MC Hammer's Can't Touch This.

Brilliant!