After last year’s headliners The Waterboys were cut short by a powerful thunderstorm, there were probably a few nervous glances cast to the heavens on the first day of Black Deer Festival 2023.

Could lightning strike twice?

We needn’t have worried, sunshine and clear skies blessed the opening day and the only elemental rumbling to be heard was the stuff rolling off Black Deer’s various stages - culminating in a thunderous performance from Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats.

Earlier in the day Eridge Park had played host to incredible performances from the likes of Kurt Vile & The Violators, Mid Lake, Far From Saints, and a dozens more on the festival’s varied stages.

For the early evening arrivals, Kurt and his violators provided an enticing soundtrack to the start of the weekend.

Over in the Ridge Tent, Bonny Light Horseman were creating a world of their own - beautiful melodies layered on subtle chord changes, only marred by the noise of the main stage drifting through.

Both stages were great, but two songs at the same time doesn’t work, so it was necessary to push further towards the band in the Ridge Tent to find a purer sound, perhaps due to the new layout of the tent, or early issues with sound levels.

Over in Haley’s Bar, Jamie Wyatt from Tennessee was holding the audience in thrall with songs about misdemeanours past, and making any later arrivals to the set wish they’d turned up earlier.

But there was no time for regrets and Nathaniel Rateliff and his sweaty companions were preparing for the night shift on the main stage.

Not the biggest name to grace the headline spot at Black Deer, but the band gave an outstanding performance and Nathaniel’s voice is one of the best to have floated out over Eridge Park since the festival began.

It had the power of Bruce Springsteen and Howling Wolf mixed with the soul and subtlety of Van Morrison, all neatly packaged in a beard and leather jacket.

A wondrous soul with wondrous songs, and the audience responded in kind, singing along to songs such as S.O.B, like they’d lived every lyric with him.

Saturday promises Chrissie Hynde and her Pretenders and dozens more, and while the festival this year looks to be laid out on a slightly reduced scale, the musical offering is better than ever.