Star names headline at 2009 Eastnor-based festival (From Hereford Times)

Star names headline at 2009 Eastnor-based festival

12:41pm Monday 10th August 2009

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AFTER weeks of rain, the sun came out, as it always seems to, for The Big Chill in Eastnor Castle’s Deer Park, and the chilling began in style.

The rain had left its legacy and wellies were the only footwear for Thursday and Friday, but glorious sun made them redundant by Saturday.

Gingerbread men and a flock of flamingos, kids in fairy wings and a six-footer in a flamenco frock – The Big Chill was in full swing.

Two years ago a band called Mr Hudson and the Library played the Castle Stage to a small but enthusiastic audience, with Ben Hudson and the band happily signing copies of their first CD, A Tale of Two Cities, and chatting to fans post-set.

Last Friday, Mr Hudson was back - the audience was a good deal bigger, the enthusiasm ratcheted up and the reception deafening.

It was a set that provided the satisfaction to those who caught him last time out of having predicted imminent stardom as he gave us Ask the DJ, Too Late and Up on the Heath from A Tale of Two Cities and showcased tracks from the forthcoming Straight No Chaser including the tantalisingly close-to-the-top-of-the-charts Supernova, a soaring, anthemic track that should have you weeping but paradoxically achieves the opposite.

There was a stampede from The Coop immediately Mr Hudson exited stage left as the Mercury nominated Friendly Fires had already started their set on the main stage.

And it proved well worth the rush with the impossible to pigeon-hole Hertfordshire trio producing an energetic set that perfectly matched the too-good-to-be-true weather and The Big Chill vibe, complete with calypso drummers and Brazilian dancers bringing their hour on stage to a passionate, exciting and dramatic close as they signed off with current single, Jump in the Pool.

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