As others have said. The Songwriters programme was excellent, though I did think Mike Chapman had a bit too much of a mid-Atlantic accent at times which spoilt his delivery for me. Steve Tilston's Slip Jigs and Reels to finish was first class. Great song and first class performance.

The Irish programme that followed it was simply not in the same league. I wasn't even particularly impressed by the house band. I thought there was too many of them and the sound was just a mush, though I did think the whistle player was first class. I suspect they are all excellent musicians in their own right, but together they did not really fit together somehow and their backing for the singers was just too much. There was a need for a much lighter touch on the arrangements. It all felt over produced. I got up and went to do the washing up half way through Cara Dillon's attempt at 'She Walked through the Fair'. As Marj put it above, I've heard much better in local folk clubs and these are supposedly top line professionals performing in Scotland's Premier Folk Festival.