What a contrast! Taking a Ramblers show onto a big stage in front of 2,000 people after tiny packed pub gigs was both startling and rewarding. So proud of all the musicians and Rowan who have been with me and especially Alan Prosser coming in to play bass for us, to boost the sound. Big thanks to Steve and Phil from Show of Hands for including us in their evening. The three-part harmony version of “Here’s Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy” from our shared West Country past will live with me for a long time. So many memories of a beautiful and inspiring walk with so many interesting and genuinely likeable people. It built a bond that was very difficult to break last night. Tears flowed – and so they should. And now the big one: Oysterband close the new Village Pump festival, as so many times before. Bring it on.

We’re here! 100 miles down and one gig to go….

Walking in a narrow lane being baked by the hottest sun of the week, such a contrast with the earlier days. We’re down below the escarpment of Salisbury Plain, which rises in front quite thickly wooded. We’re on our way to the 3 Daggers at Edington. Twelve people walking this morning out of Devizes. I was worried last night about my voice holding out, with a big weekend to come, but we had a great gig in the crowded Southgate pub. It was lovely to have Rowan back with us. Big thanks to Ian and Sarah who hosted the evening at the pub. Mixed feelings now. Glad to be on the final leg – 90 miles down, getting into the last 10 – but such a great spirit builds up over the week. That’s what I’ll miss and I suspect everyone will miss it. But for now we just have to get to the next pub!

At the Southgate pub in Devizes for the last gig of the walking tour before we hit Westbury Village Pump festival tomorrow. We’ve still got 12 miles to go to the white horse above Westbury where we hope even more people will join us for the final 2 miles down into the festival. The focus of the whole week has been not only about the landscape, walking and great pubs but the real achievement will come tomorrow when we play before Show of Hands on the main stage. The Village Pump festival at Trowbridge was a favourite festival for Oysterband, we had many great gigs there and we really hope the team get a great start in the new location this weekend. And hey – what better weather could they have – the first glorious weekend of the summer!

By the side of the Kennet & Avon canal with a string of 23 people having an extended lunch break on our most leisurely day of the whole week. The Vale of Pewsey is bathed in sunlight – I can use that phrase for the first time in weeks – with cornfields stretching on either side up to the high downs of Tan Hill and Mill Hill in the distance and the Alton Barnes white horse visible. We’re here with Uisge Beatha, the narrowboat owned by Craig and Kirsty, with us all the way today carrying instruments, bags and currently a huge range of food laid out. A unique day, not head down into wind and rain checking off each footstep but enjoying the surroundings and each others’ company. A cracking session in The Crown last night, totally packed with Verity Sharpe and John Taylor playing host to a full-on singing and playing evening. Lovely to see and hear Bob and Jill Berry – what a wonderful voice Jill has. Our thanks to Vaughan and the regulars who will probably long remember the spontaneous outburst of Sir Roger de Coverley in the smallest space ever. Another 2 hours walking and we should be in Devizes for our gig this evening but already looking forward to the Village Pump festival at Westbury on what could be the first sunny weekend of the summer.