Cambridge Rock Festival

The Cambridge Rock Festival is an annual four day music festival held over a long weekend each August situated only about half a mile from J12 of the M11. I've been going there for each of the last three years and it has become the centepiece of my own gig calender. This is no Glastonbury or Reading. It does feature some established names (Focus and Caravan this year), but mainly bands that operate below the radar of the mainstream media. You won't find any Radio One indie bands or choreographed dance routines going on here. Priced at £99 for a full four day ticket, or £40 for a full 12 hour day (inc parking), its incredible value for money considering the quality of bands that appear at the festival. And its a very friendly festival, friendly people and helpful stewards. And musicians wandering around and mixing and chatting with the fans.

There are three stages, each under a marquee, - The Main Stage, A Blues Tent, and an Acoustic Tent.

This years event happened last weekend. I was able to attend only on the Saturday this year. The bands that I specifically wanted to see were Chantel McGregor Band, Stolen Earth, Panic Room, Stray, Caravan and the Mick Ralphs Blues Band. The only real problem I could forsee were Caravan and Mick Ralphs both headlining at the same time.

After a 100 mile drive, I had to ensure I was there before midday for Stolen Earth. After arriving over an hour early, I managed to catch most of the opening band, Silverjet, playing some heavy rock and metal. Very entertaining and livened everyone up for the rest of the day.

I saw York's Stolen Earth playing their debut gig at the festival last year. A great gig then, but even better this time. They played songs from their stunningly good album (called A Far Cry From Home - one of those classic debut albums) and one new song in a set that mixed a modern sound with '70s style Floydish classic rock. The band was born from from the ashes of Breathing Space who disbanded about 18 months ago and are fronted by multi-instrumentalist, Heidi Widdop, on lead vocals, acoustic guitar and low whistle. Look out for them when they get on a full blown national tour.

Next up were South Wales' Panic Room who I've seen a number of times in recent years. They are also fronted by another multi-instrumentalist, Anne-Marie Helder (she plays everything, also plays in other bands, but just rhythm guitar in her own band Panic Room). They play their own brand of rock/prog/blues/jazz/funk and were also on the bill last year. I was blown away by their new album (called Skin) and their set drew heavily from this one. They also did a swampy blues cover of Emerson Lake & Palmer's Bitches Crystal. One of those covers that, to me, is far better than the original.

Stray were the next band to take the stage. I had planned to see them last summer, but the gig got cancelled. It was the first time I had seen them. They were much heavier than I was expecting, played a good set and finished with a really good Third Stone From The Sun.

Chantel McGregor has played the festival for each of the last three years. After her debut appearance in 2010 when she packed out the marquee at midday as an almost completely unknown artist (to the CRF goers) and was widely acclaimed as the star of the festival, Chantel has now become almost part of the fabric of the festival itself. She took the stage at 4pm for an hour and played a full band electric set. Chantel also played her new guitar which she had used for the first time in Essex two days earlier. One Joe song, a storming Bridge To Better Days. The majority of the set was the from the new album plus Satriani's instrumental Up In The Sky and we were also treated to a blistering Voodoo Chile which had the crowd roaring in approval. Chantel encored with Freefalling from the album.
The merch stand was heaving at the end of the set. Another triumphant return to Cambridge for Chantel. A great set, and Chantel is probably in the form of her life right now.

Things then went a bit flat in the main tent for a couple of hours. Last year, we had Larry Miller following Chantel. This time it was a UFO tribute band. I knew all the songs and they played all the old classics, but I felt they were far inferior to the original band and not quite good enough.  The short straw perhaps in having to  follow Chantel, but the marquee was emptying. Mott The Hoople's Verden Allen was on next. I didn't hear all his set and wasn't familiar with a lot of what he played apart from Roll Away The Stone and All The Young Dudes. He was reasonably OK, had a decent lead guitarist, but the marquee was only about a quarter full.

Now under the cover of darkness and the big screens either side of the stage fully operating, Swedish metal band Bonafide were on next. The marquee was packed again, but I went over to the blues tent regretting that I had not gone straight across after Chantel. I'd already missed The Mustangs and Roy Mette. Del Bromham's Blues Devils were warming up and played a really good set of raw blues. I actually enjoyed them more than Stray. In the end, it was not possible for me stay for Mick Ralphs. Something unexpected occured and I had to drive home.

I would like to have been there on Friday for Virgil & The Accelerators who I've seen a few before, and Heather Findlay. And Sunday for Ben Poole and Mostly Autumn. But just the one day for me this year, and another great day at the festival. Looking forward to next year already.

Here's the website for the festival - http://www.cambridgerockfestival.co.uk

A few vids have started appearing on You Tube. Here's a few from the bands on Saturday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_7C9fd06-M Chantel McGregor performing Help Me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lItfOCgWg0M  Stolen Earth closing their set with Perfect Wave

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctSFSDVWpDs  Panic Room performing Skin.