Forced by development to move from its previous site, Ely Folk Festival’s new home on the Stuntney Estate is an improvement in every way. A couple of miles outside the city, it has room for expansion and also feels intimate as befits a small festival. There were a few teething infrastructure problems as one would expect, but nothing that wasn’t sorted quickly and easily. The facilities were excellent too, with a beer tent that would put many larger festivals to shame with its extensive choice, together with decent food, albeit perhaps a little light on healthy options.

As for the music, this is again an area where the festival punches above its weight. Friday’s opener, Edinburgh’s Paper Sparrows, provided an impressive folk/Americana mix that easily won over an audience who had never seen them before, while local trio Octavia’s Tippet, complete with unusual (for folk) instrumentation including saxophone and clarinet were engaging and powerful. On Saturday Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne, later to appear in an equally good set with Granny’s Attic, wowed the crowd with virtuoso playing, fine songs and an increasingly dry wit in a set that blended folk, jazz and more. Sherburn, Bartley and Sanders saw Chris Sherburn on fine humorous form between some great tunes and headliners Lindisfarne, if a little diminished in vocal power, played a set that reminded you just how great a writer Alan Hull was and how many fine songs they have, all delivered to a wildly enthusiastic crowd including a highly energetic mosh pit.

On Sunday Honey And The Bear classy set was a treat for early risers and included a superb take on ‘My Lagan Love’ and they were then followed by the undoubted set of the festival from Truckstop Honeymoon, whose dry humour and playful bluegrass-based songs had the tent in raptures as the queue for merchandise afterwards showed. Sam Kelly and Sharon Shannon finished off their respective stages in fine style, ending a very successful transition for the festival. Next year can’t come soon enough.