Guilfest 2004: Sunday

A gentle stroll through Sunday reveals The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Eve Selis and The Saw Doctors. Now there's a festival band to die for - Galway's finest, The Saw Doctors. They're up with The Waterboys and The Oyster Band with their driving Celtic hearts and all the other clichés, continuing that rock tradition of re-acquainting itself with its roots. The ace Davy Corton leads furious medleys mixing traditional and modern instruments. Starting with 'Joyce Country Ceilidh Band', we're then treated to songs from the album 'Sing A Powerful Song', the brilliant 'Clare Island' and 'Green And Red Of Mayo'. Even Ritchie Buckley on sax gets his own spot, cruising through some great material, sounding somewhere between 'Greensleeves' and 'It's Only Rock And Roll'.

However, if you want to hear some strident up-tempo kickin' sax look no further than Femi Kuti who takes the stage prior to UB40.  Femi combines the afro-beat of his late father Fela and throws in the young vibrant sounds of Lagos, resulting in a mesmerizing mix. Colour and style envelope the stage and the sheer hi-energy feel makes your limbs ache just watching it all unfold.

UB40 overpopulate the main stage next and dazzle with their white-boy reggae, which goes down better than a Moroccan knocking shop. Once seen as a vehicle for protest, they may no longer have the edge but at least with them you know what to expect. All in all, a solid set of blissful stompers from Ali and Robin Campbell, who seem to get better as the years roll by - 'Rat In Mi Kitchen', 'If It Happens Again', 'One In Ten', 'Red Red Wine', and 'Kingston Town' are some of those on offer.

A great festival then, appealing to young and old alike. According to London's 'Time Out', Guilfest is 'the best MOR (middle of the road)' of the week. But they've got this all wrong. 'MOR' suggests blandness and Guilfest is certainly not that.