Music: The best Tolpuddle yet?

There have been some excellent Tolpuddle gigs down the years: Dick Gaughan, the Oysterband, Billy Bragg several times, and last year's set by The Men They Couldn't Hang was a real stormer. But this afternoon's lineup is going to take some beating.

I was still on the hike from Dorchester when Tracy Curtis did her set but the kids say she was very good.

Then after the speeches (but no cake) we had an unexpected appearance by The Levellers. Unfazed by having to go on early, or by the power cut three seconds into their set, they were excellent. And much more sober than when we saw them last summer in Regent's Park.

Crusties appeared out of nowhere to swell the crowd of dancing trade unionists, and by the end of 'One Way Of Life' the whole field was swaying and singing along.

After a very impressive quick set change, the festival was simply taken over by the phenomena that is the Alabama 3. Their trade union and progressive credentials are second to none, but what's more they've got great tunes and a hilarious on-stage performance which must win over the doubters in every audience. Not that there were many doubters this afternoon. Everyone was up on their feet rocking to classic A3 songs like Bulletproof, You Don't Dance To Techno and Woke Up This Morning. But it was the acapella rendition of Strange Fruit which was the highlight for me.

As if that wasn't enough, the party wound down, or up, with a set from Robb Johnson and the Irregulars (pictured). Always good fun and great lyrics, Robb is perfect Tolpuddle fayre. Despite having a band and some rocky numbers, there was a very chilled feel to the whole thing, tinged with the surreal when the fingerpuppets behind us started dancing along to Anarchy in Hackney.

An unplanned solo encore of Captain Swing was the perfect end to a great day of music and politics.