Jools Holland Jools Holland is something of a Guildford festival veteran, and it's always good to see him return. Jools came back, and he brought his harpsichord (not to mention, for that matter, his brother, Christopher). It doesn't matter if Rythym and Blues isn't your thing, there's something universal about the Master of Boogie Woogie that always gets the crowd up and swinging. When you see rough-arsed roadies dancing alongside hardened hacks, you know you're doing something right. Jools Holland took us from feeling like a boogie, through a more chilled selection than previous years, and finished in characteristic style. A perfect finish to today's line-up.
	Bez (Happy Mondays) In the dance tent we were treated to the eclectic delights of former Happy Mondays star Bez. Surrounded by a considerable entourage, Bez managed to whip his audience into a frenzy of activity, in imitation of his own style of crazy dancing. His Happy Mondays roots ever present, but also spinning new tricks on the decks, Bez showed you can take the boy out of the Madchester, but not the Madchester out of the boy.

Lonnie Donegan 

Fun Lovin Criminals

On only a slightly soggy stage, the Fun Lovin Criminals did not disappoint the eager audience of Guilfest. A new twist, however, to the usual frenzied crowd, was the chorus of "We Love You Huey!" from a veritable pack of admirers at the front of the stage. Teen hysteria apart, we could not fail to be won over by Huey's smooth talking ways and husky vocals (a perfected art form or just too many Lager and Lime's?!) and not a person in sight was unable to literally scream out the lyrics to 'Scooby Snacks'. A true gentleman, Huey dedicated an entire number to "the newsagent guy who sold me last pack of green Rizla's" - how is it possible not to think this guy is not only a music genius but also a bloody nice bloke?!

The Criminals' set was electric and the crowd was MASSIVE! Other tents were deserted as people flocked to hear the masters of crazy, catchy and kicking tunes do their thang! .

Mercury Rev

The boys from Buffalo leapt on to the Main Stage kitted out in true rock star chiq - visions of stylish black and obligatory shades. For the band who started out simply to create soundtracks to experimental films, these guys truly rocked the crowds of Guildford! Every number in their wild set left the audience reeling and screaming for more. On a night where they could quite easily have been a casualty of the 'The Fun Lovin Criminals are THE act not to miss' war, Mercury Rev stood tall. Even the torrential downpour that randomly hit Guilfest as they began to play did not move the audience whose world they rocked.

Rolf Harris

Rolf Harris Rolf Harris is another Guilfest favourite, and today is his debut on the main-stage.

Didgeridoo player 'Bear' started the set, bringing the audience into a state of excitement sufficient to justify the genius of Rolf. Using his didgeridoo and claves, he managed to turn an already agitated crowd into a riotous one, perfect for Mr Harris's eventual appearance.

After the excitement of 'Bear' Rolf emerged, in a stunning pink and green shirt (for stunning, perhaps read 'somewhat loud') and after some brief banter burst into 'Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport' (accompanied by Rolf-Aerobics). As much of a crowd pleaser as ever, I'm pleased to report.

Rolf and The Rude Brothers kept us going with a traditional set-list including old favourites such as 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Sun Arise', but also a blinding rendition of 'He Ain't Heavy' as well. Rolf showed exactly what makes him the consummate musician, as he seems as comfortable on an accordian as a wobble board.

"I fully intended to rush off" Rolf informed us after being persuaded into an excellent encore of Stairway to Heaven, but all good things come to an end and he left us with a brief moment of thanks: "you've been fan-bloody-tastic".

Julie Felix

How appropriate it was that, as the lady from California appeared on the Aladdin's Cave stage, cloudy skies made way for brilliant sunshine and out came the sun-worshippers of Guilfest to watch what can only be described as an eclectic, yet very cool, set. Much swapping of guitars occurred during the set (as seems to be the way for nearly all 'true musical genius'!) and there were shades of an older, probably far wiser, 'Jewel' to the pieces Felix delighted her audience with. Funny and touching, the lady who The Times named 'Britain's First Lady of Folk' knows how to hit the spot on a lazy afternoon at Guilfest. .

The Stranglers

Mysteriously, the old skool band with an almost cult following, played on the Aladdin's Cave tent and the area was literally teaming with people re-living their mis-spent youths and reminiscing about school disco's and the like. The loyalty of their fans is legendary and there were people at Guilfest today who had followed the group around the world to hear their music, not surprising when you think that the band has been together for 25 years and are considered the most enduring band of the UK punk/new wave era.

Those die-hard fans who had followed the band to this festival were not disappointed, and nor were those that had little or no experience of their magnificence. Playing favourites such as 'No More Hero's' and 'All The Day and All of the Night' (yeah, that was originally a 'Kinks' track but the Strangler boys do it SO well!), the Stranglers proved that punk/new wave is not in any way dead yet and nor are they! A triumphant set.

Fish Belly White

Well, things started out swimmingly (every pun totally intended!) for these local boys - the sun was out, the crowd was ever-swelling and best of all, they had the honour of beginning the days Main Stage festivities. Two numbers in - the audience was dancing and the sun looked set the last the day, perfect conditions for a wicked set. But, the gods were not smiling on this aquatic group (who have, impressively, toured the States) and two minutes into their third number, everything went strangely quiet - the power had gone and that, said the noise boys backstage, was that. Very regrettably, there was to be no more 'Fish Belly White' for this year's Guilfest. A tragedy UNTIL the lovely boys of 'The Cureheads' were gallant enough to share their own stage with them for one number. Fish Belly White live on another year at Guilfest.

The Joyce Gang

Fresh from tours to places such as Edinburgh, Derry and Stuttgart, the Joyce Gang are an Anglo/Irish mix of talent, charm and fine toe-tapping roots music! Although they played the Aladdin's Cave tent whilst the mighty Pretenders took to the Main Stage of Guilfest, they attracted a sizable audience and serenaded them with a brand of roots music that has to be described as chilled out and, ultimately, f*$%*ing groovy! 'Six Hundred Thousand' was a thigh-slapping, low down dirty number forcing the crowd to leap up and get down - I'm sure there was even 'doce doe-ing' going on amongst some of the more inebriated audience members!