Stage one on Friday night was jam-packed, rammed full, not another fag paper could have got in. Not that we smoke of course. This wasn’t actually the sixties though in other ways it took us back there.
Every song came over as an anthem – powerful, melodic, totally captivating. This latest chapter in Plant life is presenting the group Saving Grace, a collective with Oli Jefferson on percussion, Tony Kelsey (mandolin, baritone and acoustic guitars), Matt Worley (banjo, acoustic and baritone guitars, cuatro) AND the absolutely supreme voice of Suzi Dian.
Her duets with Plant were sublime. There were some belters and some exquisite close harmonies – and she also plays the accordion. It’s a sheer genius combination. Some of the music has the sudden, final crescendos reminiscent of Fairport Convention, who Saving Grace have supported.
Earlier in the day, guitarist extraordinaire, Tommy Emmanuel had mesmerised the same stage on a sunny afternoon. He can play three guitar parts at once.
A fellow critic was looking for two other guitarists hidden at the side of the stage before he realised that one man could sound like a group of instruments. Emmanuel invited the audience to sing, and he accompanied them.
Thousands of people were in effect doing karaoke.
Described in the festival programme as a child prodigy, it says Emmanuel was “tearing it up” on stage when he was six, until the Australian authorities thought he probably should go to school.
Meanwhile, competing with Emmanuel over on Stage two were singer-guitarist Dean Owens and The Sinners. Now here is a band which makes you glad you have lived long enough to see.
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