Oh yeah!

Totally great, as always. I must admit, I tend not to post about this best of the best, intimate festivals and keep it, greedily, to folks who really love music.

So, for all you celtic music fans - the ones who truly love the music (more than the beer and babes, or whatever), THIS is the one to come to. Well worth the trip from WHEREVER on earth to come.

It's so rare to see (professional - and the best of the best) musicans totally enjoying themselves and interacting with others. Rare is the chance for them to hear and jam with their colleagues from other bands. Cloud lets the musicans be and treats them so well, they love coming and it really shows, year after year.

I agree - hey, it's so great to watch Benoit Bourque - the man has got the warmest, most contageous smile. He looks as a man in total enjoyment dancing, playing, singing, performing on stage for and with the audience. And the others are great to watch and hear too. (One could almost go giddy like teen-film fans). They were just as great and delightful when they came the last time, a couple years ago: no flukes here.

I missed hearing more of Martin Hayes, who plays best when he does his thing, although it was great to hear him with Lliz Carroll, who's sounding better and better - I like her the more she loosens up.

And John Doyle - what a guitar player! It's so inspirational: I'm always torn between REALLY playing more or just burning my instruments because they're SO good.

Was this your first year?

I'm glad you had a great time. I always do. It's my personal, annual pilgrimage to Mecca.