- Festival Reviews
Arriving at what was now a free festival (if you already had a ticket) in
Still, no 30 minute queues for a beer or food and no gold or silver circles, so it was pretty close to the main stage for Gabrielle Aplin and her set, which I think is still a work in progress. The Bandstand was an easy next call for the fabulous Thea Gilmour. Polar opposites to Ms. Aplin, after a few more years’, albums and, experience in the 'industry'. Just back with a new and very promising album.
A wander around the site. One thing that stood out was a caged off merchandise stall with piles and piles of Rolling Stones tee shirts for the next day. A few bob’s worth there! We also found a decent pie stall as well.
Elvis Costello hits the main stage with hit after hit after, hit. On fine form and in good voice. The only drawback was that a lot of the songs had slightly different arrangements to the originals, which made singing-a-long, a challenge at times.
What then remained as a star of the future and a star of the past, both who found their niche on this hot summer's evening; Lucy Rose ex Bombay Cyclist member is now out on her own. Voice of an Angel, a band that is tight and funky and songs without doubt, from the indie world yet, that fit the Band’s groove perfectly. There were even a couple of Physch-out instrumental moments! With so many singer-songwriters around, believe me, Lucy Rose is something special.
Back to the main stage for tonight’s headliner. Absent friends says Ray Davis early on “We hope bunter gets better soon” Ray and band then proceed to give us a Kinks greatest hit’s set, which in the middle of Hyde Park, in the centre of London, is just perfect for the evening.
The outstanding moment was ‘Waterloo Sunset’ mid set, which the crowd sang with him, word for word in hushed tones before belting out the chorus. Singing about a place just a mile or two down the road was just right.
A
Thanks to the ‘powers that be’, for keeping this particular show on the road after Elton John's Illness, it really was still a special night.
“Get better soon bunter”!
Pete
- Festival Reviews
So...to truly describe this new festival in
But recently, there has been a shift in local politics and attitudes. There is a concerted effort to promote
TURF was created...its site in the downtown core of
A lot of planning later. and the event was upon us.
- Festival Reviews
Thursday
It was so good to be back at
There is nothing happening on the main stages on the Thursday so it is a time to chill and wander round the vast site and marvel at all the imagination and ingenuity of thousands of people who created this unique wonder that is Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts.
We did catch some music however, Anthea Neads and Andy Prince (who used to be in Sham 69) with some retro pop rock. Rodney Branigan from
After a sunny day, the evening brought rain which in turn brought some of that special ‘Glasto mud’ (on Friday the sun came out again and Saturday was a beautiful sunny day). We headed off to the Rabbit Hole and squeezed into Dermot O’Leary’s DJ set for some dancing. Afterwards we caught the Pictish Trail (Jonny Flynn) at the Crows Nest Stage for an excellent acoustic set.
- Festival Reviews
It’s easy one Saturday afternoon in Cambridge each year, to step out of the normal life and step onto planet Strawberry Fair.
The Strawberry fair is in its 39th edition this year and remains a free event on Jesus Green in Cambridge. The event is put on by a group of volunteers working tirelessly for twelve months. Because it is free, the event attracts people of all ages, all walks of life and for all different reasons.
The music stages contain just about every style you can think of, Folk, Ska, Jazz, Reggae, singer – songwriters and Rock. Circus, film, poetry and very decent beer courtesy of The Portland Arms (in the acoustic tent) are among the other attractions.
As we wandered around we came across Dave Crowharr with this Tom Waits like folk, a lively Eureka Stockade some Ska warriors Killimonjambo and loads more.
So a great afternoon, I left the evening to the kids! The Strawberry Fair is 40 next year if you want to come to the party.
Eureka Stockade
- Festival Reviews
Thursday
Sounds
Girls Names, of
A great line-up – Jeremy Loops, a SA singer/guitarist who uses…guess what…loops, to great effect with some really catchy sing-along tunes, all done with bags of charisma; Deap Valley, a real highlight, a female White Stripes from California, initially put off a bit by the cheap leather undies and hairspray, but they really rock! Came on to the sound of Led Zep; looks like Barbarella on guitar and the young Liz Taylor on drums, great blues voices and crunching riffs. Guitarist turned up in the moshpit for Parquet Courts too, much respect!
- Festival Reviews
Despite an early night..this day was still based around the theory that we both needed some rest. Breakfast and lounging started the day off and then the leisurely walk over to La Zona Rosa for the Rolling Stone party. La Zona Rosa also will be the site for the Prince show tonight and security is already there and they are setting up some new barricades for what would turn out to be the huge lineup to come tonight.
- Festival Reviews
One thing to note before day 4 begins..the lottery. There were a number of lotteries this year at SXSW. Started last year to award lucky winners a ticket to see Bruce Springsteen, this year, the showcase list that required a lottery winning was longer. There was Nick Cave, Yeah Yeah Yeah's, Green Day, Sound City, Depeche Mode, Prince, and Justin Timberlake. Sandra and I entered all the lotteries and we did not have a lot of luck. One thing to note, it was clear after the Nick Cave and Sound city night at Stubbs..if you hung around outside in a badge line long enough..you could eventually get in, which is what some friends did. You really have to want to go though as you miss a lot of music standing outside and it was for that reason that we chose not to..
- Festival Reviews
At one point, our plans for every morning in Austin included a run and the early morning radio station sponsored shows..well, that didn't happen. Turns out wandering around the city and standing at gigs all day and night tires out this old guy so...our first band of the day on Thursday..is
- Festival Reviews
- Festival Reviews
After much planning and stress over planning, we hit Austin on March 12th to 80 degree temperatures and a city full of music. After the usual trip to Opal Divine's for a beautiful micro brewery beer..then Whole foods to pretend to buy groceries that were good for us, quick pit stop at our hotel and then Moonshine Restaurant for a Day 1 feast of tasty steak and more beer Then...Latitude 30 for the start..the British Music Embassy;.
The Huw Stephens hosted....Tuesday at British Music Embassy is always fun. Everyone wants to start off well, up first.. Y Niwl Welsh Surf Instrumental band. Wicked little band, no vocals, in fact no words at all (Huw pointed out before they played that there will be no banter...just 30 minutes of surf punk instrumental music...tasty way to start
Lucy Rose ..have been following her since her time with Bombay Bicycle Club..her performance started off with sound issues as they often do in Austin but the set built up nicely and the last two songs were perfection...she does have a lovely voice!
- Festival Reviews
A late afternoon drive down to Camber Sands and an arrival in the dark, but having missed the rush, we had a speedy check-in.
By 7.30pm we were ready for Stage 2 and the impressive Buke & Gase. A duo playing gritty guitar cords with vocals to match. LULUC followed in a more gentle style after which we sped upstairs for the end of the Kronos Quartet set, which really whetted our appetite for a full set on Saturday.
Bear in Heaven played a funky set. Their bassist (and his headgear – a raised black beanie) was a regular figure at shows for the rest of the weekend. Indeed, most bands seemed encamped for the weekend which was great.
Tim Hecker played in complete darkness at sufficient volume to make the whole experience uncomfortable, so after some Air hockey there was a much brighter Boris who ‘Rocked the Joint’ as they say.
Final band of the day was Kurt Vile & the Violators. It’s always interesting to see which Kurt turns up. Tonight he was in electric guitar mode and hit the stage pretty much on time. A rocking set for sixty minutes or so, although there was 90 minutes on the schedule.
- Festival Reviews
Birmingham’s amazingly diverse festival of ‘adventurous’ music, is 10 this year and had a great party! There was custard – it’s in the old Birds factory – and lots of cake, and more…Hard to pick highlights when the genres veer from metal via electronic and folk to totally unclassifiable, but here are some of mine:
Jarboe – in the wonderful high-ceiling whiteness of the Old Library (shhh!) the ex Swans and Skin singer performed stripped down songs with only backing singer Renee Valentine Nelson on piano. Jarboe’s voice…at 60? is still amazing, capable of so much pathos, plus vocal tricks that make you think ‘how did she just do that’? She looked stunning too, in black cocktail dress, long wild blonde hair storm tossed as she sang. She spoke infrequently, to joke about a Southern Baptist feel on one track, and to apologise for words wrong on a Swans number after a long tour. An artist to savour on cold dark evenings by the fire…
Pathos of another kind from Oxbow, this time in a cavernous warehouse with, stunning blue lighting. The Californian duo were backed for this special performance by an 10 piece orchestra, which included the doom tuba and horns of Ore duo Sam Underwood and Stuart Estell. They reworked their back catalogue, songs of passion and sadness complemented by the classical backing, alternately powerful and ethereal. Singer Eugene looked like a Stax soul singer, and delivered painful and ecstatic verses as if in the throes of an exorcism, gradually removing more and more of his Saville Row smart suit and tossing it aside.
Perhaps the most well-known performer was Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth. She performed as experimental guitar duo Body/Head, with free noise artist Bill Nace. Very low-fi, her vocals strong and mostly indiscernible, but she has such a stage presence. Lots of teasing and powerful guitar, against a ultra-cool black and white video backdrop of a couple in a trendy apartment. Kim also contributed Reverse Karaoke, a yurt full of recording gear where you could make your own CD; art with a good use at least.
Friday night is ‘dance’ night, with the PCM reunion, featuring ex Pop Will Eat Itself guitarist Richard an undoubted highlight; their wild dark drum n bass live in full effect. New Berlin label Small But Hard took over another warehouse. Based around the amazing DJ Scotch Egg, (now known for some reason as Scotch Bonnet) and his talented friends, it comes across as a real family concern, from the lovingly crafted cassettes to the many onstage collaborations.
Devilman were a bass heavy delight, featuring Mr Scotch and Taigen from the excellent Japanese psych/metal band Bo Ningen. One of the few negatives of the whole weekend was the cult rapper Sensational, once associated with the Jungle Brothers – capable of original work on record, but not a great idea to try to bum drinks of your fans then get so out of it that you cannot perform. Still, at least he turned up; Daddy Freddy, the worlds fastest rapper, preserved his title intact by missing his slot with the Bug completely. Still, they did have Flow Dan from Roll Deep and the lovely Israeli reggae rapper Miss Red, so they coped.
On a personal note, I was delighted to be the impromptu guest of Jo, from Cambridge’s imaginative Bad Timing nights, at an Alice in Wonderland tea party to celebrate the 10th anniversary. Suitably Supersonic, it took place on the top floor of the old factory, super sunny Brum cityscapes below, with tea cups full of champagne and tea pots of new Purity Brewery beer.
Several guests wore Hieronymus Bosch masks and did not move for an hour. These were the Out crowd, who went on to ritually distribute festival-goers good wishes on rice paper into the River Rea as it flows through the site. Just your average tea party then; DJ X of PCM won pass the parcel, and Stuart from Mogwai joined in on kazoo to sing Happy Birthday. So, raise a teacup to many more years of bizarre eclectic art and music lovingly curated by Lisa and her gang of Supersonic volunteers.
Kevin Hand
