Friday 14/09/07 Day One @ End of the Road Festival, Salisbury

 Excuse me for throwing my toys out of the pram, but this just isn't on. Returning to Larmer Tree Gardens for the second edition of End of the Road is like stepping the wrong way through the Looking Glass. Stalls have moved to new places, the incredible ice cream van isn't there at all. The piano on its abandoned stage is bigger. Suddenly there are all these people here and I'm a girl who doesn't play well with others, let alone share.

Selfish lip-trembling aside, considering the organiser, Simon Taffe, nearly bankrupted himself putting last year's festival together, this influx of the curious and the returns is immensely positive. Last year's festival was something to treasure, and this year's expansion reflects the effect that really good reviews and word of mouth can have.

As well as return visits from some of last year's favourites (and British Sea Power), the comedy tent has got bigger acts, there's a new stage - The Local, dedicated to new bands - and Howe Gelb seems to be playing at least one set on each stage throughout the weekend.

Scout Niblett kicks off this writer's End of the Road experience with a set that belonged in a far later slot than it got. A headline performance if ever there was one, searing guitar and a perfect understanding with her bandmates showed off a singer who is just getting better and better. Shame she spoiled it with a truly dreadful solo version of 'Wolfie' as a finale, the grave sadness of the song giving way to the hysterical angst of a pissed-off MySpace kid but given how embarrassed and happy she looked at being cheered, she can have that one.