After what has seemed like a protracted age, ladies and gentlemen, festivals this year really feel like it’s ‘all go’ now with the Cambridge Club Festival getting the summer underway in spectacular fashion. Yes, some happened here and there last year of course. For us, however, it was all too risky. This year it feels safer and very necessary to get some summertime vibes baked in.
Friday
This year’s Cambridge Club Festival did not disappoint to inaugurate us back into the festival groove. The weather came out supporting the music on stage as the weekend got underway on the right foot with headliner Level 42. With members Mark and Nathan King, Sean Freeman and Mark Lindup, they channelled the same upbeat, happy energy they always had, making them easy on the ears, smooth and fun to absorb. WIth the silver sequin jackets of the brass in the back sparkling in the evening sun as they rolled through hit after hit, the positivity was in the bank for the rest of the weekend ahead.
Saturday
Continuing on Saturday, the funk reached an epic high by night’s end. Our personal fave? Headliners Nile Rodgers and Chic who simply rocked the stage. Also, just perfect timing, seamless delivery as you would expect and the crowds responded as such. The members of Chic kept it tight with simply no gaps in the slightest – Kimberly Davis and Audrey Martells on vocals, Ralph Rolle on drums, Jerry Barnes on bass with stars on brass and keyboards as well. All just gliding along in harmony, delivering swift cadence, they never cease to give a flawless performance and get the audience dancing along in time.
Sunday
With heavyweight headliner Diana Ross on the billing, the other standout on stage for us was Corinne Bailey Rae. Moreover, she just captured that easy Sunday feeling with her quietly confident, easygoing vibe. Also, lyrical and breezy, light as air, her catalogue just flowed. But, mention has to be made to Uncle Funk on the Discovery Den Stage. For value, he and his band were giving maximum effort with the crowd dancing to every single one of the 70s hits they were covering, song after song. Also, their performance was a little bit of festival fairy dust sprinkled and ultimately heaped all over their set.
Overall, The Cambridge Club Festival was the good sensation, good vibin’ weekend everyone came to experience; it was a delivery of the promise on the tin and then some.
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