Today was a very good day in the fields with the sfcsimās.
We saw the below.
Maximo Park, who were delayed on their flight from Germany, so only had a 25 minute set, but weāre still very good, but a shame really, that we did not get a full set.
The Darkness, who 13 years ago, when they headlined Reading I could not stand them! But today I thought they were pretty good and entertaining. The lead singer was quite funny. I think they played the whole of their debut album. As the lead singer said 'well what can is the point of playing songs that none of you have heard!
The Hives, were very good, very lively and very well dressed as ever. Really fun band and a great set. Never seen them in their own gig, only ever at festivals, but would like to.
Madness - what a show as per normal, got the crowd going, very easy to jig around to, not having to really ādanceā. Make the whole set look really easy. Brilliant and such a good relaxed friendly crowd every time I see them, just fun! Like a big house of fun!
Right, that was the last day, just back from a great 4 days of music.
Band of Skulls - love them as they always say āWe are the band of skulls, from Southamptonā. Also they are a good guitar band.
Lightening Seeds - old classics, really good to just sit back and chill at a festival with.
Noel Gallagher and his high flying birds - love his music really good to listen to, so, well Noel Gallagher. Always interacts with the crowd and jokes about. Also you get an oasis sing along during the gig as well.
James, BB, Proclaimers and The Selecter should be cool.
I saw Seth Lakeman supporting Bill a few years backā¦
He wandered out with a fiddle so my heart sank, there were also far too many 'folk musiciansā on the stage for my liking - but he was bloody brilliant.
Ask Will Varley if he remembers signing a drunken idiots Tommy Hilfiger shirt with a marker pen at The Joiners - shortly before same drunken bloke gave him an enveloping and excruciatingly long and awkward hug.
Jeez Bletchā¦was that you !! I was saying to Will after the gig there was a guy sooo pissed-up he mistook me for him in a vey embarrassing momentā¦the finger was not necessary.
Faithless last night at Brixton Academy. Ears still ringing, sweat box but totally worth it.
Completely mixed ages in the crowd - some 25, some 60 and plenty in between.
Amusing to see people arrive in sweatshirts, formal shirts and all sorts of garb to confirm they had never been to see the band or to the venue before. Bemusing to see a few (guys mostly) stood rock still throughout, even during Insomnia when 99% of people - including some bar staff - were dancing their tits off.
Brilliant and would do it all again in a heartbeat.
Currently at Green Man. Havenāt seen anyone yet as still sweating off the 3/4 of bourbon drunk last night. I was āwankeredā according to the missus.
Off to see Jason Isbell followed by White Denim later.
Faithless are by far one of a handful of the best live bands I have seen. In the same kind of ballpark pendulum and Prodigy are right up there. The Prodigy played in a massive marquee/tent at the Brighton festival in 1996 and people were climbing up up the support polls and shaking them during ātheir lawā and I seriously thought the marquee/tent was going to collapse!!
Hammered down yesterday morning then the sun came out when the music started. Will Varley played to his ābiggest crowd yetā and was pretty good for a festival opener.
Next up was the awesome Ezra Furman. Spiky rockabilly tinged punkiness and a front man in a dress and pearl necklace. Nice.
Then came The Damned. Not really my cup of tea but they were bloody good! Good show, tight band.
Then off to the Big Top for the fucking brilliant Unthanks. I am a bit in love with The Unthanks. Amazing harmonies, a string quartet and some Northumbrian clog dancing. Whatās not to like? They started their set with: āSo many people have come to listen to miserable songs about northern England!ā My mate turned to me at one point and said: āthat was so good I nearly started blubbingā
Billy Bragg then started his set with: āwelcome to the folk tent. Real music here. The boys with the laptops (Leftfield) are out on the main stageā
He was great and Verbalās a cunt.
Today offers Terrorvision, Reef, The Proclaimers, James and a little bit of Toddle T dance hall madness.
Just realised I missed xylaroo yesterday. I will console myself with another 8 pints of Beautiful Daze (Ā£3.60 per pint muthafukkas!)
Went to see a pub band, Fat Badger, last night. Excellent set full of classic old Zeppelin, AC/DC, Sabbath, Goldern Earring, Kansas, Muse etc tracks. Best of the night though was Rushās Spirit Of The Radio. Spot on, note for note perfect.