Well they woke up Saturday morning, with no way to hold their heads that didn't hurt' - as the Kris Kristofferson song doesn't quite go.

Nevertheless the lyrics were still apt, and no doubt the refrain of Sunday Morning Coming down would have still been echoing round some hungover heads the morning after Friday night, when this year's Black Deer Festival kicked off with a bang.

And how many would have been tempted to follow the second line of that song and decided 'the beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad, so I had one more for desert?'

Remember, drink responsibly folks, but for those that woke up in their tents in the midday sun in the midst of the best Americana festival this side of the Atlantic, then why the cotton picking goddam not? The retro festival harks back to the days when outlaw country ruled the airwaves - at least in some corners of some states - and if you wake up wearing cowboy boots and a denim jacket surrounded by folks (yes the punters here are 'folks' not normal people) dressed similarly it is technically ok to have beer for breakfast. And a hunk of meat in a bun from the nearest barbecue of course.

For a blessed hour the night before we had been immersed in the world of country legend Kris Kristofferson, a man who once landed a helicopter on Johnny Cash's lawn to deliver a demo tape, so the rules are different. We were back in Nashville, 1970.

Kristofferson may be 83 now - as in right now because it's his 83rd birthday today - but he and his band The Strangers put on a show that rolled back the years. His voice is cracked and lower than ever but the lyrics remain sharp and inspiring, with old one liners as perfect as haiku poems that will never rust.. 'freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose, nothing aint worth nothing but it's free' was delivered as reliably as a bullet from the barrelled of an old gunslinger and no one could be in any doubt they were in the presence of greatness.

Earlier in the night The Sheepdogs had impressed with a solid set of reliable country rock lavished with top lead guitar work, pedal steel and the odd trombone.

After Kristofferson came the John Butler Trio, pulling in the crowds with a set ranging from euphoric indie country folk to nu-funk-bluegrass, if that's a thing, while down in Hayley's Bar singer-songwriter John Smith treated a captivated audience to a masterclass of tunesmithery.

The night ended with Hayseed Dixie, as every night should, with a raucous cacophony of classic rock songs played on country instruments - AC/DC, Queen, Journey, Black Sabbath, and everything you could possibly play at 100 mph on a banjo.

* The festival runs until tomorrow, with acts including Jessie Buckley and The Shires.

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