Having just seen Seth Lakeman on the JJB/Puma Arena at V Festival, we’re pleased to report the Devon folk sensation’s performances have got quite daring – yes, Lakeman seems to have dropped some lemon drops, toddled off to visit the fairies in the woods and gone psychedelic.

Ok, maybe we’re exaggerating – Seth has gone to visit the piper at the gates of dawn, but only on one song. Joined by his three-piece band for the rest of the set, it was on ‘Kitty Jay’, the Folk Awards’ star’s most famous track, and his solo piece, that he really shined.

With his band offstage, Lakeman launched into the song, his violin swooping and sliding like John Cale‘s viola, but never overshadowing his singing. At the end of the track, Lakeman upped the pace and, with his violin bathed in a cavern of reverb, turned out an unbelievable violin solo. Far out, man.

The rest of Lakeman‘s set seemed to cast him more in the mould of a British Bright Eyes than a ‘trad’ folk singer, never a bad thing. Watch this space.

Words: Tom Pinnock