Brugge/Bruges is one of the most perfectly preserved medieval cities in Europe. The Markt and Burg square, the Belfry, the old gothic City Hall, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, the Church of Our Lady, the Beguinage. Definitely sights worth seeing. We're starting to sound like the local tourist information office, but Bruges is a splendid city (David Eugene Edwards also said something of the same tenor on stage), be it that the old town has the feel of a museum and not of a "living city".

Nearby the Beguinage is the picturesque Minnewater (lake of love) park where the 22nd edition of the Cactus festival took place. Notwithstanding that name the logo of the festival actually features a cow. It was a glorious summer's day. The atmosphere in the park was relaxed and civilized in an outmoded 1950's kind of way. There was only one stage. So you did not have to run like a madman from one podium to one of many other podia in order not to miss anything. And in doing so missing most. Compared to the Roskildes, Pinkpops en Werchters, Cactus is small scale festival with a maximum of 8.000 people on its charming site. All and all a perfect setting.

The organisation of the festival had recently been fined after local residents went to court complaining about noise pollution. That is probably why the sound level was rather low. The amplifiers had definitely not been turned up to eleven. But nevertheless the rather straightforward pub rock 'n roll of Admiral Freebee (a Belgian act and one of only three acts tonight. Woven Hand and Suzanne Vega being the other two) was received enthusiastically by the crowd of some 7.000 people. And not only by the first few rows.

Sadly the greater part of Woven Hand's 70-minute set did not manage to excite many people beyond those front rows. Perhaps because the crowd was more into convivial, pleasant music like Admiral Freebie. Woven Hand's music is not a right knees-up and Edwards is not Admiral Jolly on stage. But whereas the captain Admiral Freebie was clearly enjoying himself and very energetic, Edwards' battery seemed to be dead and the whole show consequently was rather flat and lacklustre.

During the Blush performance at the Amsterdam Stadsschouwburg Woven Hand was very focussed and concentrated. And they had to be because the music had to played tight to be in sync with the dancers. Tonight's show was missing that edge (no, no The Edge jokes :-) and excitation. Again, it was a low voltage affaire. With two notable exceptions. Your Russia was the first one.

Starting with that swelling organ intro that builds up the tension. Then the guitar, prudent at the outset, but the loud bass (tonight, the relatively loud bass) and the drums kicking in, soon make the guitar throw caution to the wind. And suddenly Edwards is no longer subdued. The limiter is switched off and it can't be a coincidence that now the whole park reacts to the music.

Unfortunately there is a subsidence of tension after Your Russia. Edwards starts to curb himself again. Such a restrained performance may work in small, dark club. It doesn't work here in this open space with twilight still to set in properly. The last song on the setlist is The Good Hand, but that isn't played even though there was still time.

But we do end on a high. A long solo version of Black Soul Choir/Phyllis Ann. Just Edwards and his banjo. After the first notes there's a "recognition-applause". Energy levels are up again. The concentration is back again. And the crowd responds again. It is a simple as that. You get back what you put in.

But let's not get pseudo-philosophical. A Dutch proverb says that one swallow does not mean it is really summer. Two good songs do not make a good show. Overall, tonight was a bit of a letdown, desperately lacking the vigour of the Blush show. Who would have thought it but we're almost about to say: Bring on the dancing frogs.

by TYFC