2 posts tagged “london calling festival”
I bought tickets for the Crossing Border Festival, a festival I have been meaning to attend again ever after seeing Gavin perform at it. I never did though. For some reason there was always someone else playing, something else going on, or just general other commitments keeping me from going.
The lineup this year is just too brilliant to not go though. For a mere 60 euros (and a bit) I'll be treated to Patti Smith, Malcolm Middleton, the Super Furry Animals, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Windmill, Kula Shaker and Andrew Bird, just to name a few. Then there's the interview with Rufus Wainwright, and something called "Meeting Salman Rushdie" which I really want to go to. Time, location and ticket sales will be announced at some later point. Wicked, some excitement in art!
However, before all that bursts loose, I'll be going to the London Calling Festival. It's always been pretty indie, unknown and underground, but just about everyone and their little doggie seems to have discovered it now, which instantly makes it mainstream and impossible to get tickets for. I had to scrounge the net for one, and managed at only a tenner on top of the original price. Oh well. Bands performing there are: New Young Pony Club, Black Affairs, The Hours, Reverend and the Makers, Jack Peñate, the Wombats and many many others.
So a lot of great music coming my way. It's been a while!
Last night I went to the London Calling Festival, a festival which is turning into a bit of a hype over here. This was the first time in history it was completely sold out before even a single band name was announced to be playing. The concept is pretty simple, take young, promising Brit bands, put them all together and let people go nuts. Some of the bands that it helped break over in The Netherlands and maybe even Europe: Placebo, Blur, Snow Patrol, Franz Ferdinand, the Kaiser Chiefs and more.
Over the years the festival has turned into a bi-annual two day event and it's still growing. The last time I saw them The Pigeon Detectives were the big breakers. This time around I was a little slow getting tickets, until Keith told me his nephew's band My Luminaries would be playing too. Of course, by then it was sold out and all the scalpers were putting 200% on the original ticketprices, so I just kind of gave up. Thanks to the internet however, I had absolutely no chance finding myself a last minute ticket, so off I went, camera in tow.
The line up for this evening was: Our Lunar Activities, The Wombats, Kate Nash, The Twang, My Luminaries, The Long Blondes, We Are The Physics, Pigeon Detectives and a few more, but I bowed out after that one.
Our Lunar Activities had the difficult task of being the first band to start off in the little upstairs room. Not everyone had arrived yet, so it was a little quiet audience wise. I thought they were an alright band, not very convincing, but it's possible they'll grow in future.
The Wombats started up with a little itty ditty a capella clap along, which hit off a storm. Not a bad feat when your slot starts at 8 pm when everyone is just starting to trickle in from having dinner. After that it was very happy and loud, which really got the (very young) audience going. Nice little band; I don't think this will be the last we hear of them. They seem to be hardworking and enjoying themselves, which for me are the most important things to make a band. I suppose having catchy tunes helps, and The Wombats certainly did.
Next up, Kate Nash. She didn't quite fit into the rest of the lineup, which mostly invites pogoing and stage diving. Her repertoire is more voice heavy and less beat, drums, guitars and noise and explores the more alternative side. She's got that very cute girl next door kind of appearance, including bright red hair. I was well surprised by her and think she could be a great performer. Strong vocals with an alternaive edge to it. I will probably check her out again if she plays in the area.
Then The Twang. What a bunch of losers. Their music didn't appeal to me at all and came across on me as very white boys trying to be hip hoppy cool. Or maybe I just didn't stick around long enough to really listen. No sex appeal, no charm, no catchy tunes, gouchers. 'Nuff said.
Then the surprise of the evening, the one band that no one expected anything off and completely blew everyone away We Are The Physics from Glasgow. A high energy band, with speedy catchy songs, band members with a sense of style and the ability to completely turn the audience to their hand. In no time the audience took over the stage and the crowdsurfing began in earnest, along with people dancing on the stage. The lead singer egged them on and the guitar player joined right in. London Calling being London Calling, filled with promotors and people trying to find the next best thing to sliced bread, this is one band we'll undoubtedly be hearing more from in the near future. They blew me away! Check out their site for samples of their work. They have to be seen live though.
Last band I saw were the Pigeon Detectives. They played the previous edition of the festival as well and were then the big breakthrough. If I remember correctly they also supported the Kaiser Chiefs at the Melkweg earlier this year. It's undeniable, they're a fun band. With a singer that has a lot of charisma and doesn't mind joining the masses in stagediving and crowdsurfing he appeals to a lot of the members in the audience. I think I may have cracked a few ribs in the chaos that ensued, but their performance was a very nice ending of the evening. Not a bad night at all for a mere 20 euros.
Of course, I just missed the last regular bus home, so I had to wait for the night bus, which took forever to get there. All in all I ended up in bed at 3 am, which wouldn't have been so bad if it hadn't been for my buddy storm jumping right on top of me at 7:30 am going HELLO! IT'S A BRAND NEW MORNING! WAKE UP AND PLAY WITH ME! MEOW! He's a very persistent little bugger :)
I had a hard time waking up and came along slowly while editing some pictures when I got a call from the saddle fitter at 10:20 am, to ask me if I was at the yard yet. Uhm, not exactly, I was sitll in my sleeping gear, heh. So I had to rush to the yard to meet him and fit Solon's new saddle. So I now have a saddle that was almost more expensive than what I paid for the horse in the first place... Typical. It seems to have really improved a few things though, so I'm touching wood here and hoping that this will mean the end of some of the troubles I have had with him.
Tomorrow I'll be going to the beach with Solon and two friends. The weather is supposed to be brilliant and I'm really excited about going. Not a great thing to do to a brand new fitted saddle, expose it to salty water, but what gives?
