Bristol Teenage Cancer Trust mini-fest/picnic

[Pete]

So, today’s Bristol Teenage Cancer Trust mini-fest/picnic was quite sedate. They sold well less than half available tickets. Those there were very chilled out, lying down in the sun apart from a handful of standers, who weren’t even by the stage in the main.

Last band of the day was Charlotte Hatherley. I wasn’t really looking forward to it as she had disappointed at Glastonbury last year in a side tent performance. However, she was very good in the first 3-4 songs; very rocking and getting the crowd’s interest, although no active participation. Suddenly she started playing kids in America for some reason. Interesting. Then, her guitarist comes bounding out from the twee bandstand with an unplugged acoustic guitar and starts dancing around. Quite interesting.

Then, said guitarist stops playing and goes to a seated group of teenage girls and pulls then to their feet, exhorting incoherent encouragement to apparent start F*£$%&! dancing. He does this again and again. Now very interesting, but not quite genius.

Genius arrived when he approached the next group, grabbed a can of beer, took a swig and found it disappointingly empty. He took another, took a big gulp and swallowed. Took another big gulp and spat it out at the sedate party, after which he made them stand up. He next went to a very low-key picnicking couple, grabbed their grapes, bit off a few and threw the bunch back at them and, again, got them to stand.

Everyone, including those “attacked” were first shocked and then just started laughing and dancing. It was all the better as the guy looked to be the least likely to go a bit mad ever. Made my day.


Kevin
13 June