I have spent the last couple of days at the first Common People festival on Southampton common, organised by Rob DaBank and the Bestival crew. Would be interested to hear what any other attendees thought.
On Saturday I really enjoyed Black Kat Boppers on the uncommon stage (that’s the real ale tent;)) and Fatboy Slim put on a great show at the end of the night. Big tunes and great visuals.
Disappointed by DeLaSoul.
Sunday was much the better day for me. Loved Slaves who tread a fine line between spiky, attide driven punk and melody free, shouty mess. Clean Bandit were suprisingly good. Band of Skulls were ok, a bit meh. Like Kasabian without the hooks or a poor White Stripes. Beige Stripes maybe.
Grace Jones was absolutely mesmerising. Kid Goat summed it up for me. She described the 67 year old Grace Jones as ‘completely bonkers but kinda cool’. Well worth seeing if you get the chance.
The Queues were much more bearable on the Sunday. More toilets, more bars and cheaper food next year please!!
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I have to admit that I’m one of these miserable bastards that sees Southampton’s fledgling attempts at doing more music with a bit of smugness. I’m not proud of it, but even during this festival, the missus had to convince me that any of them were worth seeing. Certainly didn’t help that the city decided to put on a festival last year called “Let’s Rock” without any actual rock bands.
Still, these things have to start somewhere, and while I wouldn’t be itching to go to see the lineup that was there over the weekend, it’s good that people did go and enjoy it. Maybe future bills will be more to my liking.
Didn’t go Goat I’m afraid. But to be honest I enjoy practically any live music. There’s something really base about being part of a music event. Don’t know what it is, but it means I enjoy stuff live that I wouldn’t really listen to at home.
The only provincial festival I’ve attended was a the Gosport Festival in 1995 (I Google’d it) where I saw an excellent Del Amitri at Gosport’s leading nightspot - Walpole Park!
I remember that they did a ‘cover’ of Motorhead’s Ace of Spades. The guitarist aped the way Lemmy stretches his neck to sing by having the microphone about 10 feet off the ground. Justin Currie (singer) then brought on a step ladder which was duly climbed so his mate could reach the mic. Surreal and was obviously their tour gag, but funny at the time.
A couple of other notable things that happened in Walpole Park include getting amorous with one of a pair of twins in my youth, and getting stuck in a refuse bin after my ‘mates’ sat me in it on my 18th. I remember eventually getting out and finding that I was covered in KFC BBQ beans and chicken bones. I was deeply conflicted between my love for that smell, and the fact that I was covered in a foodstuff, so I was sick just in case. I haven’t drunk Southern Comfort & peppermint since!
Actually Mrs. Bletch is quite keen to go to The Wickham Festival (The Proclaimers and Billy Bragg + 10cc + Steve Harley & CR + back from the deal Wilko Johnson). So I might get along to that. Anyone else going?
Have to say I like the look of the Wickham Festival. Friday looks folky and very good with it - Martin Carthy has near-legendary status and I’ve always liked Show of Hands. But there are good acts every day - I’d love to see the great Wilko Johnson again (last time I did was in 1978 I think).
What day or days were you thinking of going?
Not sure if we can make multiple days, but the Friday is favourite at the moment.
Goat I absolutely <3 Slaves. Going to go see them in London later this year. Also saw Grace Jones a few years ago supporting Pulp, completely agree. She’s batshit bonkers, but totally entertaining. You cannot accuse her of not knowing how to put on a show.
also agree with bletch, it takes a pretty monumental shambles for me to not enjoy a live event.
Very pleasing to see the Common put front and centre. I have fond memories of cutting holes in fences for the Southampton Show and playing footy with MLT (then a youth player) at the Southampton Flower and Balloon Festival.
There aren’t many places I truly miss in Southampton, but the Common is one of my favourites. At the heart of Southampton and in the hearts of most Sotonians, I’d wager.
