Solfest Day Three - Sunday

So Sunday starts very wet and windy. After securing my tent to mountaineering standards I head off to the main stage for the first act, House of 3 hands. These are local lads and admit to everyone they are feeling rough after a heavy night. Most people in the audience sympathise. Their prog rock style has been noticed by the likes of Chris Moyles and even though they have only been together for 10 months they have their debut album out soon. Its an impressive start but I would like to give them another 10 months and see what they are like then.

3 stars

To get out of the wind I retreat to the bar stage and catch a band called Minus 27 who consist of two guys who sing, play guitar and the bongos.. They are great fun and their Barenaked Ladies cover versions get the crown singing along.

3 stars

After wandering around the green fields for a while I catch the last few songs from Joana and the Wolf, an alternative rock band with a kooky female vocalist. The more I pay attention the better they get. They have played Bestival and the Big Chill in recent years and judging by the crown reaction could be ones to watch

3 stars

The next band have a bit of hype around them at the moment which is why I am surprised they are playing the Drystone stage. Straight from the mud bath that is the Reading and Leeds festivals Reading based Genuine Freak Show treat us to a mixture of acoustic folk and Math Rock and are a live delight.. There is a great interplay between the cellist and violinist while the two guitarists battle it out. There is also a trumpet and a xylophone thrown into the mix, which gets the whole crowd dancing. I think these guys are about to be huge

4 stars

Cando Bongo Man was a big hit with John Peel and his son plays his songs regularly on his show. I wasn’t sure how he would be received at Solfest but by the time his two backing singers have warmed up the crowd, everyone is dancing along as the rhythms are very infectious and it doesn’t matter that you don’t know what he is singing about. There is plenty for us males to feast our eyes on as one of the backing singers gyrates sexily in a very skimpy outfit! This is a colourful performance in every way.

4 stars

Wandering in to the Bar stage I hear the next band announce “We are the best band in the world” At first I am not sure if the Lottery Winners are being ironic or just plain bigheaded but as the show progresses it is clear that these guys are a bunch of musical buffoons in the nicest sense. Their pop/punk is infectious but the sell deprecating humour and the obvious fact they are having a great time makes you love them more. There are loads of crowd interaction moments and the release of branded beach balls cause much hilarity. They have the balls to do a cover version of Love will tear us apart but it rips and roars through the tent and everyone is singing along. As they leave the stage the singer treats us to his version of Bonkers. Yes they really are and they are my new favourite band.

5 stars

The penultimate band on the main stage are 90s indie boys Cast. It is always risky starting a set with one of your biggest hits but it is what Cast do and it really doesn’t pay off as everything else seems a little bland. Towards the end of their set we get a few more crowd pleasers but although the crowd seem to be having fun this reviewer is more than a little bored.

3 stars

The final band of the festival are 80s punksters the Stranglers. Even though Hugh Cornwall has separated from the band they are still a force to be reckoned with and the crowd is massive despite the freezing temperatures. Jean-Jacques Burnel as taken over vocal duties and sounds fantastic.

Tonight we get a mixture of old favourites and obscure album tracks. Jean Jaques throbbing bass lines are really a signature of the Stranglers sound and they sound magnificent tonight. Peaches gets everyone pogoing along and golden brown and never the sun gets everyone singing along. This band could play forever in my book but all too soon they leave the stage but come back with my personal favourite Duchess and a floor-shaking version of Hanging around and No More Heroes.

4 stars

So Solfest has come to an end. It has been a lot of fun and I will definitely be back next year but will find a slightly nicer place to pitch my tent.



All photos by Dave Thorpe