Had a great time at the National ( something wrong with you if you don't) saw too many acts by Monday getting a bit blaise about attending concerts. Some of my highlights but not in any particular ranking

Jamming around the campsite - magic stuff and meet so many people. It's an amazing thing isn't it all's quiet and you and your mates start playing and before you know it people with instruments appear from everywhere. This is the real part of the festivals for me I think.

Chris Smither - great singer song writer with a no nonsense attitude to performing. Comes on says hullo and before you know it he has hit with five great songs. Sometimes we don't need the full historical origin of every song, Chris is onto that and keeps the patter to a minimum but just enough to mak you feel part of the show.

Jez Lowe - A long time favorite and great to catch up with him again. Here this year with Kate Bramley. Always nice to sit back and enjoy the songs written by Jez.

Kevin Burke & Ged Foley - For those into Irish Trad Kevin is the man when it comes to the fiddle. One of the best.

Franklin B Pavety - Aussie bush band been around for years but do the old favourites with a new freshness and do it well. Always great to sit in on one of their concerts.

Alistair Huelett - Caught Alistair at at evening concert in the Merry Muse tent where he done a lot of his old traditional folks songs. Great concert great voice.

The sesion hall - Plenty of Bluegrass/old time /irish/ macedonian/scottish you name it it was there and you could see it all.

But for me the highlight of the wekend was the country comedy duo 'Nester Lou & Slim Knackers. Had us rolling in our chairs with laughter. Great to see an act not afraid to trample over that ever increasing issue of political correctness. They didn't tiptoe around it they charged right on in. No subject is safe with these two. Google their site and check them out.What a breath of fresh air.

And last but by no means least was the many unknown acts performing throught the weekend at blackboard concerts. Shit we have some talent in this country waiting to be discovered. It was great just to move from one blackboard concert to the next catching it all. Young children to older folk all with the one purpose, the love of performing and strutting their stuff, good on the natioal committe for providing the venues for the ordinary folk to have a go and thanks to those who did have a go for making another year at the National a special time.

see you next year

Cheers
Grubby