You could tell Cambridge Folk Festival was on again because the Co-op had sold out of The Guardian. Thursday night, the first day, is always a night of happy anticipation – a summer version of Christmas Eve. Some bands we know, some we don’t – but all of them will be virtuoso musicians.
It’s always the acts you don’t know, the unheralded gems, which give the most uplifting delight. The Paperboys, on Stage 2 on Thursday at six o’clock, first-timers at the festival, were surprised to see a packed tent.
“We are pleased that the place is so full” band leader Tom Landa told the crowd.
This exuberant band describes itself as “Canadian via Mexico” – its music is joyous with brass with triumphant trumpet – trombone, flute and fiddle, bongos, drums, and guitars.
On Thursday night they played a range of music including blue grass and reels.
With only a slightly different line up as “Lorcano” and this time with a Latin beat that no one could keep their feet still to, they closed Stage 2 on Friday with a powerful vibe.
Tom Landa was born in Mexico City. He moved to Canada aged 15. Later he rediscovered his roots through Mexican music. He spent two years studying the eight-string Mexican guitar.
He said how sensible of Cambridge to have tents. In Albuquerque, invited to play outdoors, they had been rained off by a sudden violent storm as they stood holding their instruments waiting to go on.
But not to worry, they had written a song about it, which they would play for us now. Landa said they had never played to such a warm and giving audience as here in Cambridge.
He loved the whoops, the cheers, and the way we tried singing in Spanish.
Yes, we would have all got on the stage and hugged every one of them if we could.
The band Rum Ragged from Newfoundland -but all speaking with the most lyrical Irish accents, also opened the festival on Thursday – and also appeared again on Friday evening.
If there is a single band embodying the festival spirit, these are they. Singing their own compositions, they combine tremendous musicianship – on bouzouki, fiddle, bodhran, banjo, guitar, and button accordion. with anthems that make you want to lead the revolution.
The songs have titles including Lazy Afternoon, Mug of Old Ale, The Thing about Fish and the stirring Flesh and Blood with the chorus: “The question not to so deep – Why is the price of milk and bread so dear and flesh and blood so cheap?”
Despite some soul-stirring lyrics, the music was cheerful and jolly.
At one point, Colin Grant, the fiddle player, who smiled delightedly throughout, got up and deftly did an Irish dance. We loved it.
Lead singer, Mark Manning said recitation was part of the Newfoundland tradition and – with an Irish accent that could break your heart soon as look at you, he gave us a poem called The Ragged Jacket.
Although I’m but a working man,
I live by honest labour,
I always do the best I can
To assist a needy neighbour
Content and health are all my wealth
With honesty to back it,
My motives pure, although I’m poor,
I respect the ragged jacket.
Let people say whatever they may
Of broadcloth and who wore it,
It’s not the coat that makes the man,
But the deeds through life that bear it!
So always help a fellowman
If assistance, he should lack it,
Do him all the good you can
Though he wears a ragged jacket.
All were equally born at first
Of this and every nation,
The rich among the poor would be
But for health and education,
And when we’re laid beneath the sod,
With a hundred years to back it,
Who can tell which were the bones
That wore the Ragged Jacket.
