Got back from Portmeirion in the early hours.
Richard and band were fantastic, played most of Sky's Edge (minus Seek It) plus Open Up Your Door and a triumphant Streets. Audience reception was great and the volume of the boos when the crew came on to dismantle the gear said a lot (it seems that the schedules don't allow encores,unless you're New Order). Good to see Richard back on two feet and great to see some on-stage jigging about from the band (not quite dancing though, perhaps they need a routine).
The festival itself was terrific, kept loosely to The Prisoner theme so lots of very surreal moments, insane hairdressers creating outrageous haircuts, daily game of human chess in the piazza. Very laid back and plenty of room, could even get a seat in the cafe in the village every time we went there.
The Welsh music stage on Friday was brilliant with Euros Childs and Gruff Rhys doing a raucous Welsh language set. On Sunday on the estuary stage Y Niwl played a blinder in the middle of wind and driving rain off the sea, everyone in the audience had a smile on their faces at the ridiculousness of surf music in less than beach conditions.
Hope Festival No6 runs again next year and they keep it small and don't get too greedy (I doubt the venue would allow greater numbers). A few teething problems but not bad for a first time. Although getting stuck in the mud in the car park and having to get a tractor to tow me out wasn't the best end to a fab weekend.
Now to Birmingham next Saturday night.