13 August 2010 (gig)
12 October 2010
Having said that I have to say I do however love this festival weather aside it was an eclectic but fantastic experience. Being an intimate affair of 5000 capacity, the festival is easily explored in a day leaving the other 2 days to thoroughly soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the music. If you live locally it is a great opportunity to catch up with old friends as every body wriggles out of the woodwork for the bands, and the novelty of having ‘festival’ on their doorstep.
Consisting of 5 stages packed into the gardens of de Montfort hall the site boasts a comedy tent celebrating the fact that Leicester hosts a month long comedy festival in the month of February.
Arriving there a little later on Friday I made my way through the crowds to see who was where and what the weekend had on offer, As I managed to navigate my way across a field populated by the ardent, hardcore following of The Teenage Fanclub I began to feel the excitement bubbling and felt compelled to move forwards and become part of the phenomena. But would the band be able to deliver? The fans were still rooting for them and they didn’t disappoint, worth seeing. Then taking in a little of Junior Simpson at the comedy tent, I do wonder why he is not on the telly anymore? Man I love this festival from Teenage Fanclub to faded comedy central…how bizarre it was as if the nineties had never ended.
During the night a couple of local bands tread the boards, Charlie and the Martyrs & Gadjos whose jazzy tunes take you back to the days of swing and seedy jazz clubs.
Finishing the night with Seasick Steve on the outdoor stage, well what can I say he is a living trailer park legend. He invites one of the audience onto the stage, sings her one of his love songs as if she was the only women there. Next up I am off to find Roots Manuva on the indoor stage; it has been along time since I have seen an audience fill the hall fit to bursting. I slipped upstairs as there was no room down stairs and took in the view. I look down on the crowd only to see a constant moving sea of people dancing, moving, swaying hands in the air. FANTASTIC! From Seasick Steve to Roots Manuva….I bloody love music me!!!
Saturday came and so did the rain! But of course it won’t stop us as the dependable wellies come out to play!! The Wooden Tops were better than I could have imagined, front man Rollo McGinty was full of enthusiasm and portraying the edge that so many lose over the years….later The Go Team, fabulous in their multi sounding band uplifted the whole crowd with there dancetastic tunes, Stornoway left us stomping, they have played before at Summer Sundae’s Sister Folk Festival and a different crowd appreciated them there, a good all round band. Turin Breaks had a huge fan base there as the heavens opened up they remained as they asked us to the brave. I am afraid to say I ran for cover to the comedy tent and fell upon Vicky Stone, what a find! I do love this lady’s twisted songs, holding out for a hero – holding out for a dildo… etc you get the jist. The Moulettes were one of the bigger surprises of the weekend, very refreshing sound although at times slightly familiar still well delivered, definitely a must see/ must hear! Also played at the Big Session Leicester’s 3 days folk festival at de Monfort hall and gardens.
Nearing the end of the night everyone flooded in to see and hear the ever infamous legendary The Fall, with front man Mark E Smith legend in his own pill box. The thing is with The Fall they are like Marmite, you love or hate em. The lyrics so profound once described as ‘abstract poetry filled with complicated wordplay’ that’s one for Countdown! Topping off the night with one of my personal favourites The Whip! Who strangely enough Fiona the drummers sister played keyboards for The Fall some years back for one gig (useless fact for you musos!) So the night did finish on a dance after all with their Electro –indie new rave disco sound, it is hard to stand still when such relish abounds the band have such a good time and it is evident through the music. Outside TINCHY STRYDER was doing his thang, the crowd was very mixed and so were their reactions about him performing on the main outdoor stage. As far as I saw albeit it be for a short time, he performed with justice and enthusiasm which seemed to go down well with the crowd without a doubt.
Sunday came along with the sun and smiles. Today I found was to be a very chilled day most musically. I started off the afternoon listening to the haunting sounds of Junip whose front man is Jose Gonzales. The tones were somewhat winding down the weekend fairly early, but still always a pleasure to listen to Jose’s material in the sunshine. Frightened Rabbit followed a little later on the main stage and to their fans they belted out well-written songs with a passion very few have, songs full of energy and most importantly sung form the heart, I can’t help thinking that the Little Night tremors (great name) sounded quite similar to Frightened Rabbit and share that contained rawness.
The Musician stage came up with some lovely surprises Megafaun being one of them. They seemed like they had just arrived on their Harleys, tuned up and launched into a spectacular show. Pokey Lafarge looked impeccable sporting the sound of Louisiana Jazz, I get terrified when having to put Jazz into a category but whatever this falls into it had the crowd moving and showing much appreciation for the traditional sound. El Pussycat, a local Ska band who always goes down a treat, featuring Neville Staples from The Specials! The weekend was being wrapped up with Mumford & Son having hits in the charts, possibly the most well known bands of the weekend, they did what it said on the can, delivery and songs but I did feel a little lack of enthusiasm, I’m sure lots of people would disagree, not a criticism just an observation. To top off the weekend, and I was almost overdosed festival activity at this point I slopped off to catch The Future Heads who put their heart and soul on show on the Indoor stage, only really knowing ‘ Hounds of Love’ they surprised me. It really was a energetic finish to the weekend with Sunday being especially laid back to start. Well done Future Heads! I will definitely be looking you up again, with a few other bands I discovered at Summer Sundae. Roll on next year!!!!
