On Blackheath

A new festival for me - On Blackheath. Fortunately the weather was as good as one could hope for in September. This was very family orientated and middle-class - lots of small kids, picnicking and sponsored by John Lewis. As likely to acquire champagne and Pimms as a pint of rubbish lager. All at eye-watering expense of course.

I got there in time to join a tiny group in front of the first act on the Main Stage, Kyle Riabko. Pity as he was really good. He was there to plug a musical in the West End - Bacharach Reimagined. But that was ok. A selection of old familiar standards from the great American songbook was a perfectly pleasant start to a festival, and he was a very decent singer. Best moment was his quick ad lib in Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head ("I hope not").

  

 

Next up was Venice Trip, a band that had won some sort of competition to take up the early part of the Festival. If you like throwbacks to the Seventies, or even Sixties, this was for you. Heavy-ish rock, rambling prog rocks overtones and lots and lots of hair.

Jack Savoretti was the first name act on the bill. Personally the gravelly voiced singer songwriter with the guitar is just too crowded a field at the moment. He was perfectly good in the role, but it just doesn't do that much for me.

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Now onto the first act I really wanted to see. Off to the main tent stage to see Temples, fortified by a chocolate crepe which Roma had valiantly queued for. Thanks Roma.

I do love Temples, and their set even included one new song, Henry's cake, to add to their collection on their debut album Sun Structures. Psychedelic rock played by a skinny bunch of boys who probably get sand kicked in their faces on the beach, but then again probably don't venture outside much. Good stuff though. Singer Edward Bagshaw seemed to be in constant dialogue with roadies over his pedal board, but the sound seemed fine to us.

After a quck toilet break it was off to the Main Stage again to settle down for the rest of the evening. First up the veteran Welsh rockers the manic Street Preachers. They produced a terrific energetic set including most of their best known hits. A very enjoyable set

They ended their set by blasting confetti out into the audience. Always a fun effect.

  

So that just left Elbow to top the night. Guy Garvey as genial as ever. Both the Manics and Elbow made much of this being their last gigs  for a while. Well, sad not to see these two sets of consummate professionals at their craft, but then again, one doesn't know how long "a while" might be. Maybe back for next year's festival season? I think I can hold out ok until then.

Nice the Elbow got the sing a long "one Day like This out of their system rather early instead of finishing on it. Grounds for Divorce was their chosen parting shot, somewhat surprisingly not being followed by an encore. Still we managed to escape from our place down at the front while most were hanging around for the non-existent encore, so suited us in getting to the DLR before the masses. A good day.