The Great Escape seemed to take the view that there needed to be a break in the schedule roughly between 4 and 6pm. So having finished at the Hope and Ruin around 4 I decided to head to the North Laine Brewhouse in plenty of time before the next act I wanted to see, Entitled Sons, played. Especially as it was part of the Alternative festival, so free. And since Entitled Sons could sell about 2000 tickets at Shepherds Bush Empire I thought this tiny venue would be filled.
It also gave e the opportunity to have a pint and a meal (although at 4:30 I am not sure if that was a late lunch or early dinner!). Nice enough beer but would not recommend the cuisine. The cross between a pizza and a pie that I got was not exactly healthy or delicious. You would hope for at least one of those...
As you can see from photo below its an odd venue. I took that from inside the "auditorium" looking to the pub part. As you can see there is no door between the two
This is the stage. Tight for a five piece band with instruments!
But the nice part of being so early was that I got to see the lads setting up and had a chat with them, principally with dad Graham. While I have seen them play at least seven times (pervious reviews all on this blog) this was first time I had seen or spoken to them "off duty" as it were. And they are very much the nice family they seem on stage. Particularly impressed by Billy in how he talked to the sound guy, both chummy and respectful, and later how he talked to a young fan. Just super nice
As you can see, the stage was so small that Graham on bass didn't even have room to stand, but perched at the back
And so we were away for a truncated but very good set, and yes in front of an audience that was both small but yet absolutely packed. And for once I was at the front rather than at the back with the parents of the teenage girls that now flock to their concerts, so got a lot of quite decent photos even if from a rather low trajectory and mostly of Raffey who was in front of me.
Raffey started off in his smart new leather jacket. Indeed they all started in cool leather jackets other than Laurie on drums who was in a vest. It was obviously going to be hot and sweaty in this confined space
Soon the leather jacket was discarded and Raffey was going into full rock guitarist mode
You will get an idea of how tight the stage was that Raffey had to go off to the side to find enough room to whip off his t-shirt!
Charlie does have the most superb rock voice, and was gibing it all despite being such a small venue. He really gives the impression that he enjoys every performance
So that was a great performance. Next stop the Old Market. I had this on my schedule without checking distances. This was a long, long way away from the main venues. But a much larger venue too
I had come to Any Young Mechanic, a South Australian outfit. More folk music oriented than I normally like - note banjo, fiddle and double bass but no keyboard. Rather than centre stage, the lead singer stood off to the left with his guitar. And opened by saying he was from Adelaide and living on land stolen from the indigenous people. Then did a fine job promoting their forthcoming album, The Modern Shoe is Ruining the Foot
As it was a long haul to get out the Old Market, there was another long walk back to more central Brighton to the East Street Tap, a nice but very small and absolutely crammed venue. But it did mean I could see a bit of an evening rainbow over Brighton peer!
I arrived in time to see the full set of the act before the band I had come to see. This was Delta, who is Greek. And was very good. I did well to snatch this photo from my angle - I couldn't even see the back of the stage - I believe this chap had a drummer. And I was right by a door which was frequently opened by to allow the previous act one by one to depart with their instruments
But I had come to see local band Bones Ate Arfa whom I have seen many times before.This was part of the Alternative festival, although they were playing the official festival too. But after midnight so I had no chance of seeing them at that and still catching a train back to London. Anyway, they were good, and by this time I had managed to move around enough ti actually see most of the stage, as little as there was of it!
And last a further long trek along the waterfront to the est side of Brighton to Concorde 2 to see Working Mens Club, another act I have seen several times over the years. Fortunately this was a big venue, although pretty packed when I arrived part way through the set - it was a good half hour's walk from the previous venue. I had no chance of advancing from the very back of the hall. So this is a token photo giving an indication of the paucity of my view.
Over the years Working Mens Club have become more and more dance oriented, so this was a set with few songs and an audience bopping along to what might best be described as rave music. It was a nice enough change though. And they are very good.
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