Month: July 2014

Festibelly 2014 Review

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The New Forest was brought to life by Festibelly. Located in one of the most beautiful areas of the South, the breath taking scenery dotted with wildlife makes for a pleasant journey to Lymington. Taking place from the 11th to the 12th of July, this small-scale festival really does cater for all.

On arrival, the short queuing time and onsite camping made for a quick and easy start to the weekend. Once the tent was pitched, I explored the array of stalls. Festibelly offers something for everyone, with children’s entertainment including games and crafts. While the kids were occupied, adults could enjoy the music only a few meters away. However, this festival isn’t just for families, it caters for all ages.

The vibe was chilled on Friday, with musical highlights from Laurel, Amber Run and Lewis Floyd Henry. The atmosphere picked up as Skinny Lister took to the stage, with upbeat sing along songs that got the whole crowd involved. The Cuban Brothers headlined Friday night and had the whole crowd captivated with their dancing and humor. I didn’t know what to expect when watching them, but they defiantly entertained!

Saturday welcomed in more festival goers, with the crowds drawing in to watch Jus Now and DJ David Rodigan. Entertainment was also on offer at the Massive In China and Terrapin Station tents through out the day, with a variety of comedy, music and dance workshops to participate in. Although slightly limited in choice, the food on offer was delicious with produce being sourced or grown locally. Delicious Orange Rooms cocktails were also available to buy from their teepee.

 

The main stage showcased FEMME and Mausi, who brought the pop vibes to the festival with dance beats blasting out in the sun. Hudson Taylor was the perfect end to such a family friendly festival in a beautiful location. I’d highly recommended this festival to anyone!

Photos by Mickey Cole

Electric Daisy Carnival 2014 Review

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Originating from the USA, Electric Daisy Carnival, or EDC as it is more widely known, made its second trip across the pond to the UK this weekend, transforming Milton Keynes outdoor National Bowl into an entertainment spectacle.

Riding on the success of last years London based event, EDC 2014 offered a who's who of chart-topping EDM, (electronic dance music) producers, best known for their knob-twiddling skills and dance music know how.

Aside from the music, one of EDC's unique selling points (persistently featured in the promo videos) was the scale of special effects on offer. Promising the UK's largest ever 360 degree LED light display, pyrotechnics and hundreds of weird and wonderful performers, the organisers clearly aimed to make their event just as visually appealing as the music itself.

Musically, this years EDC boasted a diverse line up of British and European producers, with EDM duo Bassjackers opening the main stage at midday before Avicii's headline set in the late evening, with chart hits 'You Make Me' and 'Wake Me Up' lighting up the bowl.

Earlier in the day, Calvin Harris played a mid-afternoon set, including recent number ones 'Summer' and 'Under Control', with the majority of the crowd on each other's shoulders early on. It was a busy day for Harris, who hurried off to play a main stage set at T in the Park where he was joined and introduced by Will Smith! Not a bad day for Calvin, who achieved eight top-ten hits from his 2012 album, '18 Months'.

Meanwhile, over on the Cosmic Meadow stage, house music was the order of the day if EDM drops became too much for some. Route 94, who scored a number one earlier this year with his piano house track 'My Love' featuring vocals from Jess Glynne, opened the stage at 1pm with a well received set. Later on, Leeds success story Hot Since 82, real name Daley Padley, performed an evening set of deep house drawing on tracks from his album 'Little Black Book'.

Back at the Kinetic Field main stage, 19-year-old Dutch producer Martin Garrix, who topped the chart with the inescapably catchy 'Animals', which is given an outing today, as well as follow-up top-ten track 'Wizard and a remix of Empire of the Sun's 'Alive' drew a large crowd. Mixing Naughty Boy and Sam Smith's number one 'La La La' with his own new single 'Tremor', the chorus bass drops team with confetti and smoke machines going off in unison.

Next up was Steve Aoki, who is currently hosting his Aoki Play House residency in Ibiza, here making a rare UK appearance, dropping bass heavy tracks, 'Boneless' and a new collaboration with Afrojack, before scaling the grand DJ podium set up. While stood high, he threw numerous cakes at the crowd, something which has become synonymous with the 'Beat Down' producers energetic sets.

For only it's second visit to the UK, it's safe to say that Electric Daisy Carnival is here to stay, fulfilling a gap in the British festival market and offering a world class line-up! Next year's event can't come quicker!

Exit Festival Day One 10th July Review

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Any Brits who were hoping the fact they had come to a European festival meant they would escape the incessant rain that sometimes besets those based in the UK had their dreams dramatically shattered as lighting began to strike above the Petrovaradin fortress a few hours before EXIT’s main gates opened. Festival go-oers went wet t-shirted to and fro between the ticket office outside the entrance and the EXIT VILLAGE campsite in a small park nestled between a busy main road and towering suburban apartment blocks. Residents looked out over their balconies possibly bemused as tents sprung up forming a carpet of synthetic canvass.

The reason for the move away from the traditional campsite on the banks of the Danube are unsure, possibly due to excess mess or lack of space in previous years, or perhaps the risk of flooding from the river (the organisers may have somehow predicted the weather). To me it seemed strange to encourage an overflow of tourists closer to the city center, especially as EXIT’s programme goes on late into the evening (the last DJ set starts at 6.30am), meaning there is a steady stream of people making there way back through the city (possibly merry) well into the morning. But then again this may be to bring more money into the city itself and provide campers with more facilities closer to hand, as the campsite is situated next to a mall with cafés, shops, restaurants, a swimming pool and a supermarket, as well as having a small street of food vendors inside the EXIT VILLAGE itself.

The walk takes about 40 mins but only a 10 to 15 minute bus ride, and for those on a western European budget there were representatives selling fairly cheap weekly bus passes for around 6 Euros at the train station and the campsite. Although the buses tail off around 1am there is a steady flow of taxis after this surrounding the venue which cost around 500 dinar (about 4 euros) for a ride back to the camp.

Fortunately the deluge was short lived and clouds cleared as people began to stream through the gates past the rather heavily armed Serbian security to the sight of a glorious sunset over the city of Novi Sad.

The show was kicked off on the main stage with some smooth reggae from Hornsman Coyote which the gathering crowd seemed to enjoy, followed by the Energy Opening by Balkanopolis. Their set consisted of an engaging performance from Renaiszance who played their single “ I Will Rise” accompanied rather effectively with visuals taken from the graphic novel The Inventor: The Story of Tesla based on the life of famous Serbian inventor NikolaTesla, as well as an uplifting act of semi traditional Serbian music using a variety instruments including a form of local bagpipes made out of the body of the goat. The crowd began to dance around the rather deep puddle that had formed treacherously close to the main stage as the finale including aerial silks came to a close.

When it was finally dark it was the turn of Belgian music maestro Stromae to take to the stage in an arresting and pitch perfect performance that had the Serbian and European crowd singing along in French with gusto.

Stromae used all of his charisma as well as beautifully paletted video backdrops to get the audience below him to raise their hands in the air and bounce around without ever having to request it. He was a fascinating performer to watch live with his cartoon like facial expressions and physical flourishes while managing somehow to make a school boy style of long shorts, socks and cardigans look cool.

This was arguably the busiest point of the evening and as The Pet Shop Boys prepared to take to the stage the crowd thinned out to a more chilled out volume while they strutted and sang through modern classics as well as new mixes. Neil Tenant sported a fascinating variety of head wear including the infamous Disco ball and a post modern metal mask in the shape of the cow’s head, which was complimented by the cow skulls and wigs that both the  live and pre recorded backing dancers sported to creepy effect. As the night progressed and came to a close people spread out to the various other smaller stages dotted around the venue to sip beer and smoke cigarettes while lying in hammocks. The genre of music was varied so that there was something to be found for everyone, and despite being the first night of a major festival the atmosphere was relaxed and happy, the most common sight to be seen was people dancing and smiling with their eyes close, whether that be Dub by Dimension, Heavy metal, or Flamenco dancers at the Latino Stage. EXIT festival had officially begun.

 

 

T in the Park 2014 – Friday Review

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There’s very few things I expected to happen in my lifetime; meet the queen, find the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow and for Scotland to be so hot my eyelashes are even sweating (they pay be pity tears for my poor ginger skin). If only the free tap water was free factor 50 and we would all be sorted, unfortunately the only thing someone has thrown my way is a cup of warm pee.

A woman who won’t need to worry about looking like a juicy, home grown tomato by the end of the day is Foxes. The dark haired, golden skinned beauty graced the main stage with her soft voice teamed with a bubbly, flirtatious stage presence made for an enjoyable watch. Going from one extreme to the other I then found myself in front of possibly the three fiercest women I have ever seen. Haim are made up of three sisters from LA with enough attitudes to put any old Rock and Roll band to shame. They’re absolutely and utterly off their rocket. The energy they put in to their live performance means that if you’re going to see them live, you’re definitely getting your money’s worth.

Imagine Dragons aren’t a band I would have paid money to see but after watching them today I’m willing to admit I’m an idiot. Every member is a completely different character, all full of confidence and grabbing your attention, with that much stage presence there’s always something to watch whether it be Daniel’s envy worthy hair, his golden guitar or lead singer Dan Reynolds strong strides across the stage. They played King Tut’s Wah Wah tent last year and this year, rightly so, were promoted to the main stage.

So since Rihanna deleted her Instagram, we’ve all been creeping on Ellie Goulding’s right? (If you’re answer is no, you’re doing Instagram wrong). Seeing her a few years ago, she was a quirky wee blonde; she has now taken on a completely different stage persona on and is now an uncompromising sex symbol, this teamed with her angelic voice makes her an unstoppable force.

Now I’m not going to lie to you, I did do a skip, a hop and an unintentional slip on the way to Ed Sheeran. My excitement was not without reason. Alone on the stage with nothing but a guitar and a loop pedal this man managed to get the crowd pumped up more than all other acts put together. Playing a few new songs from his breathtaking new album “X” Ed is one of the most genuine talents in the music industry today and with quick witted banter with the crowd in between songs this man could also possibly be one of the most likable guys in music.

I ended off the night with Steve Angello and if my sun burn wasn’t keeping me warm, his flame cannons definitely did. Proving he doesn’t need fellow Swedish House Mafia DJ’s he had the sun stroked crowd going crazy.

If you’ve not already got a ticket there are still some left on Ticketmaster http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/packages/t_in_the_park_2014.html. Acts for Saturday include Twin Atlantic, Rudimental, Pharrell Williams, John Newman, Elbow, The 1975 and Calvin Harris. Sunday you have Disclosure, Tine Tempah, Sam Smith, Example, Passenger, London Grammer and Bastille to look forward to. Come and join in the fun (remember your sun cream!).

 

Libertines at British Summer time Hyde Park Review

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"The good ship Albion strays off course"

The Libertines at Hyde Park started started as it ended, in chaos. By 3PM, the stitching on the red jackets was already unravelling. The Theatre venue for support acts was full, bursting to capacity, their was no chance for many wolf Alice fans to get a look in and further disruption as both Graham Coxen and Swim Deep sets had to be cancelled. 

The shambolic aura of the libertines seemed to take over the whole event. Which on the previous day for Black Sabbath, ran with military precision, matched with a mature audience there to have a good time and enjoy the heavier side of music.

On the Saturday it was not to be, with bars running out of beers by 6PM, male temperaments were being pushed to their limit having to order £7.50 Cocktails; These were quickly expelled, as any flat upright surface was met with lines of lads urinating up them.

The Mid afternoon set from Spiritualized, an odd choice for such an indie focused bill, wasn't enough of a distraction as time passed and more alcohol was consumed. A cheery Pogues did lighten the mood, although it still got rowdy enough for their set to be cut short due to crowd pushing.

The stage at 9pm was lit up with flickering montages of old photos and clips from the Libertines glory days, this set anticipation even higher amongst the restless audience.

Finally the Libertines were on stage, Pete and Carl sharing microphones all grudges forgotten breaking into 'Vertigo.' It only took the second song 'boys in the band', for the music to be halted due to crushing at the front. Doherty and drummer Gary Powell had to calm the audience down with a odd rendition of 'fill me Up buttercup'. This stop and start seemed to drain the momentum from the group, and the rhythm section probably suffered the most. I couldn't help but feel sorry for them. They were and have always been the bands the safety net during live gigs and John Hassel's ashen face said it all.

With the shaky start out the way, the rest of the set continued in typical Libertines fashion. Appearing pub drunk and sloppy may go down well in small clubs, but even with the bounty of sing along songs the band have, they seemed to lose grip over such a large audience (even if everyone did know all the words). 

For the adoring fans at the barrier, who would gladly suffer being saved from the crowd by security just to be closer to their heroes, it was most likely a great night and one they won't forget. For others it was a memorable let down, with a greying Doherty now telling his audience to behave themselves when they climbed up the on the lighting platforms, his days of debauchery long forgotten. It is a blessing that with two more gigs announced for Alexander Palace, this wasn't the final voyage for the Libertines.