First Dylan now this. Am I turning into a folkie?

The hundred man orchestra is actually only three strong and while over amplified (or perhaps I am sitting too close to a speaker) but they're rather good. Banjo, bass guitar and flute, played by young men sporting only one beard and two ponytails. The flautist is animated, the bassist sways from side to side a bit and the bajoist (banjoer?) largely immobile. At least at first, he gets into it a bit more as the set goes on.
Between songs I move and seated midway between the speaker stacks the sound balance is, as you'd expect, much better. The whole thing is in a tented amphitheater on a surprisingly chilly July night and they're warming up for Richard Thompson.
After years of more or less going to one concert a year I seem to have gone a bit berserk. Four significant shows this year, and it's only half way through.
Next up is Dave Sawbrick, who I should know lots about and actually know little. He fiddles away merrily, though I can't help thinking that all folk fiddle tunes sound more or less the same. Entirely pleasant though he is a bit snuffly.
Then at nine the man himself arrives to play three older songs with Dave Sawbrick before going into his more modern repertoire. The fiddler and guitarist meld beautifully, old friends playing to each other's strengths, much more interesting than the fiddling alone was.
Once into the newer material Richard Thompson is magnificent. His is a great voice and his relationship with his audience free and open. Throughout the performance he was chatting away and taking requests, only once admitting that he couldn't remember the words - and still managing to play half the song. He finishes with an Abba cover of all things, after two hours of intense music. If you possibly can, go see his show.