At about this time each year I have a fit of conflicting emotions about Glastonbury. On the one hand I see some of the TV coverage and really wish I was there to soak up the vibes and see some great performances, but then I see pictures of the huge queues just to get water to wash with, hear stories about the toilets, and see the mudbath and realise that there is a lot more to it than just loads of live entertainment.

Increasingly I have thought that if I went there I would actually be likely to spend only a small part of the time watching the big acts on the Pyramid Stage and would want to spend more time in the Jazz World tent or the John Peel stage or at some of the events on the fringe.

Reading a review in the paper today I found myself really thinking I would have put up with all the mud, filth and discomfort just for one show – a show which I had heard mentioned in passing but which was not televised at all –  Africa Express at the Park Stage.  This was a 5-hour show by a revolving cast of musicians, mixing African and 'western' artists together in a semi-improvised marathon.  If I put together a mental list of my ideal concert line-up it would not look too different.

The highlights were:

• Amadou & Mariam starting off
• Billy Bragg joined by Soumaïla Kanouté
• Toumani Diabaté's Symmetric Orchestra together with Baaba Maal
• K'Naan and Rachid Taha
• Tinariwen with Amadou and K'Naan
• Damon Albarn, Tony Allen and Baaba Maal  joining in while Fatboy Slim plays Fela Kuti
• Ending up with everyone joining Rachid Taha on Rock El Casbah

And I'm sure there must have been lots more in the 5 hours.  All it was missing really was Angelique Kidjo and Manu Chao.

I think I could have put up with any amount of mud to see that.