I must start by saying this music festival, in its third year, gave me one of my most memorable gig experiences. And I have done a lot of gigs! For a number of reasons it is just the most wonderful little festival and a great tribute to the two young organisers. I loved last year's and just regret that I didn't know about its first year. I would love to be able to say I was there from the start!
So what makes this so perfect? Well the acts, obviously, even though I hadn't heard of any of them (well with one exception). But I will come onto the acts later.
The size - small enough to meet people and chat to band members. The auditorium felt about full from mid afternoon, without us being packed in like sardines.
The acoustics and lighting were both great, which is a slight surprise given it is literally a brewery with vats all the way down one side.
And the venue - Signature Brew - it has a large bar right next to the auditorium which unlike any of the bigger festivals actually serves a nice range of beers at "normal" prices, rather than shit Carlsberg, with no alternatives because if there was an alternative you wouldn't buy it, and at extortionate prices. And long queues.
So below is the bar. I started with a burger for lunch (To be honest, the beers are great, the food not so much...)
So, into the acts. Openers were Harbours, and a very decent little guitar band they were too. Unfortunately, being openers, they did not play to much of a crowd, although every succeeding act did play to what looked a full (if not packed) room.
Et Al were a four piece. and a slightly unlikely looking band not least because of the very obese woman on drums. And when the singer started up I thought oh no as he sounded flat, but after a few seconds it all came good. They were not at all bad.
Tough Cookie had, the middle aged lady I was standing next to told me, already been signed by a major record label. I could hear why. Lead singer just had a slightly unusual voice, and the band's songs had variety. Think an act like Muse.
The lady I was talking to, soon revealed herself to be the drummer's mother. We had a very pleasant conversation. The band were excellent (the mother did admit she might be biased!), but the type of indie rock they purveyed just isn't fashionable at the moment, which is what might hold them back.
Below is the drummer whose mother I was speaking to. Had to move position to get some photos of him as otherwise obscured, either by the band's one female member, or his cymbals. I bumped into him later in a corridor and said I had been chatting to his mother. He said he noticed - of course it didn't really occur to me but bands do look at their audience; it's not just us gawping at them!
I also made another dash to the other side of the stage to try and get a decent photo of the lead singer. The problem from the left of the stage is there is a big skylight above the singer's head, making any photo rather grey - see above. But of course as soon as I moved into position he started just staring down at his guitar, at which point all I got was hair!
Leo, one of the two organisers, had e-mailed me previously to say that I would like the Rolling People. He was not wrong. Furthermore between the last act and this I had got chatting to a father and son from Leicester who had come along principally to see this group. Who are from Stockport.
They had a uniform - indoor sunglasses!
I think it was so hot the lead singer removed his glasses. I think they just became too sweaty and slippery on his face!
They seemed a nice bunch and my new friends from Leicester launched themselves forward at the end for a photo opportunity and some chat. Like all the acts, very friendly. Just a much nicer experience than a big festival where everything is a mile away.
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