Finishing the Friday of Bloodstock this year are one of the most renowned Blackened Death Metal bands around; Behemoth. With their Vocalist Nergal having only recently recovered from Leukaemia this set is one of their first major festival appearances and their chance to show the world that they fit and ready to play again. Following on from such acts today as Watain, Sepultura, Iced Earth and Grand Magus they had a challenge against them to pull out the best show of the day!
Behemoth rose to this challenge soared showed everyone here and all those watching on the live stream why they were headlining. The whole set had an excellent light show, as well as plenty of fire jets to add to the atmosphere too! Their set props included their trademark custom made microphone stands depicting their symbols. The band all had excellent stage presence, especially Nergal who made sure the crowd kept revved up and wanting more. With horns being thrown, lots of roars, crowd surfers and even a Polish flag nearing half the length of the stage being held aloft by the crowd it was obvious who everyone was out to see tonight. As well as getting the crowd revved up via a great stage presence, Nergal also broke up the set to talk to the crowd, acknowledging the great honour it was to play here, with last time they were booked to be at Bloodstock having to be cancelled due to his illness this set obviously meant a lot to the newly recovered frontman. Part way through the set the band set alight to 2 inverted crosses on the side of the stage, adding more to the already thick and intense atmosphere they had created on stage with their pyrotechnics and lighting. As a band with a huge discography they had plenty of songs to draw from, including such tracks as Demi God, The Left Hand Of God, Slaves Shall Serve and Conquer All.
The set finished with a culmination of all their stage tools, with the lights blazing, fog machines working at full capacity and jets of fire shooting up the stage, the ending of this set was signified by the firing of huge amounts of glitter across the crowd which span across the smoke filled and impenetrable sight of the stage. As the music drew to a close so did the light as the fog slowly creeped back to show their amazing set had come to the end.
This Friday night has set a high bench mark for the following headliners Machine Head and Alice Cooper of this festival to try and outdo, Hail Satan for the triumphant return of Behemoth!
It’s difficult to tell if it was the festival theme and fancy dress, the smaller size of the festival, the setting, the mix of music, or a combination of all of these factors, but Standon Calling 2012 had an amazing atmosphere! It was certainly easy to feel right at home at this really friendly festival.
Well the theme was ‘Journey to the Ends of the Earth’ and organisers had created a great setting at Standon Lordship which was amplified even more on the Saturday when everyone donned their fancy dress outfits. There were costumes of all kinds to be seen including traditional explorers, Wizard of Oz characters, characters from Up, native Indians and much more, some of which words cannot begin to describe!
Although this festival is smaller than many, this helps contribute to the friendly atmosphere as you encounter the same people multiple times throughout the weekend. The setting and multiple stages of Standon Calling are certainly at the level of much larger festivals though – and how many festivals do you go to where there’s a swimming pool?!
The music at Standon Calling 2012 was definitely a key factor in generating its amazing atmosphere. The 3 days of the festival were packed days with live music which catered for everyone as there was practically every type of music you can think of – rock, dance, drum and bass, folk, reggae, ska – a complete mix. From small unknown bands to Standon Calling regulars right through to Beardyman – there was a lot to take in.
Overall Standon Calling 2012 was a great festival with an amazing, super friendly atmosphere with a lot of music and fun for your money!
Hyde Park was heaving as the sun shone down on what turned out to be ‘Super Saturday’.
Musical entertainment was provided by Rusty Shackle and The Asps on the Bandstand stage and pop sensations McFly and electronic stars Saint Etienne on the Main Stage amongst others.
Alongside the music, the giant screens televising various live Olympic sports kept the crowds entertained. There were also guest appearances from Team GB Olympic medal winning stars Bradley Wiggins, Gemma Gibbons and Karina Bryant.
To kick off the live music on the Main Stage, Tenors of Rock entertained the crowd with covers of popular chart songs ‘Price Tag’ by Jessie J, ‘Walk This Way’ by Aerosmith and ‘Grenade’ by Bruno Mars, adding their own quirky rock twist.
Up next were McFly. They opened their set with ‘Nowhere left to Run’, the boys also played some of their greatest hits including ‘Obviously’, ‘Star Girl’, ‘5 Colours In Her Hair’ and ‘All About You’. The crowd danced and cheered as they covered two well known British hits, ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ by Queen and The Beetles hit song ‘Twist and Shout’. They also performed a cover medley consisting of Bon Jovi’s ‘Livin’ On A Prayer’, One Direction’s ‘What Makes you Beautiful’ and Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’. To round off their performance, they congratulated Team GB and all the athletes on their success and dedicated their single ‘Shine A Light’ to them. McFly certainly enhanced the ‘Olympic Super Saturday’ atmosphere and left the crowd psyched for the upcoming athletics medals finals.
Between acts the crowd gathered round the Main Stage’s big screen, to witness some of Britain’s proudest Olympic moments so far. The atmosphere was electric, second only to being at the stadium itself, when Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford all won gold medals within the space of three-quarters of an hour!
To round off the evening, headlining act, British electronica trio, Saint Etienne took to the stage. The audience enjoyed a late night boogie to a mix of their greatest hits ‘He’s On the Phone’ and ‘Only Love Can Break Your Heart’ along with a selection of material from their latest album ‘Words and Music’, with hits including ‘Tonight’ and ‘I’ve Got Your Music’. Saint Etienne certainly didn’t disappoint and kept the party atmosphere going right through to the end of the night.
However, a word of warning… there is airport style security on the gates with no food or liquids permitted through the barriers, so you have no choice but to buy in the venue, which can turn out to be very expensive. Also seating is limited so make sure you take a picnic blanket at the very least.
As part of the London 2012 Olympic celebrations, BT London Live offers free all day events that have everything you could need for a great summer day out.
In Victoria Park (near Mile End tube station), you can expect live music, three big screens bringing you the latest from the Olympic events, free activities and even a few bars and places to eat. Table Tennis tables are free to use, along with tennis serve speedometers, and aim practice targets. There are classes throughout the day where you can learn Basketball, Judo and other sports. For the more adventurous, there are other activities such as zorbing, a huge zip line, and a big wheel; which are among the only activities that you need to pay for. Prices start at around £5.
There is a wide range of free live music throughout the day, from local talent Community Music, classic rock songs from Tenors of Rock, and Britain’s got Talent finalists Jive Aces. Plus loads more big acts yet to come over the next few weeks of the event. I also managed to see the Pearly Kings and Queens performing a rendition of the British National Anthem, a bit of London’s tradition and history right there.
So you’d think this was going to be one packed out event, right?
I did too, especially when my way into the park I was greeted by a number of really helpful Olympic volunteers, all in place for the crowds they were expecting, and who get me through the security process in a flash.
Although there was some turn out at the park, it clearly was nowhere near the volume that was to be expected, and I’m really surprised when I arrive at the lack of crowds.
What’s the reason for this?
Well, talking to a few of the visitors, and a handful of my Londoner friends, it quickly becomes clear that those who live in London have been so frequently warned to stay at home to ease congestion, that that’s exactly what they are doing.
To add to this, those not living within immediate surroundings of Victoria Park don’t seem to know this event is taking place. Maybe it’s all just a lack of advertising?
One drawback about the event, and one that is brought up to me quite often, is that you cannot picnic in the park, and therefore all food is confiscated before you can enter the park. There are, however, many options for food inside the park, all ranging between £5-10, and free water stations. So surely this can’t be the sole reason behind the lack of participation.
If you happen to live anywhere near Victoria Park, within tubing distance, or are just visiting London with some time on your hands, I really would urge you to take the trip and make the most of this event.
Whether you just fancy a laze around outside watching the Olympics on the big screen, enjoy a bit of live music, or want a day out to entertain the family BT London Live is catering for everyone. This is a great way to get into the Olympic spirit (especially if, like me, you couldn’t get tickets), and to get involved with part of London’s celebrations!
Renowned as The heavy-weight family festival, any hard-core aficionado would be forgiven if they gave Camp Bestival a wide berth, opting instead for its big brother, Bestival, held on the Isle Of Wight in early September each year. But without question, this is the most superb event for families seeking a delightful break with so much more than great music! And, we were blessed with glorious sunshine and no mud whatsoever – ‘twas pure lushness even without a family in tow… done that one!
As for the children’s entertainment, they had Howard Marks (yes, Mr Nice) telling them stories; I hope he didn’t go too far back in his time vault! Rob Da Bank’s Music Club tent (err, no, he’s actually a DJ and the Bestivals’ creator/operator) was hosting various music and street dance workshops; clearly popular with younger festival goers. There’s a massive Freestyle Sports Park for BMX, skate and boarding with pretty awesome trick demo riders; Silly Olympics; the Dingly Dell trail; Dick & Don… but hang on, I can’t list it all, as their website says: “there’s a staggering array of magical treats with 100s of free things for kids”.
So what about us big kids you may be thinking. Well, you could get wedded in the Big Love Inflatable Church, watch medieval jousting performed by top stunt riders from movies such as Gladiator, see Jimmy Carr on top form, and hear ‘Man of 10,000 Sound Effects’ Michael Winslow in the Big Top. Of course kids can do some of this stuff too, although Jimmy’s set was best avoided by early teens – some looked a little bemused or was it just embarrassment.
Even with such multifarious activities, this laid-back leisurely affair without good music would disappoint. As it turned out the line up wasn’t good, it was eclectically elating; no wonder Camp B attracts so many seasoned visitors.
The Castle Stage hosted a string of quality retro performers satisfying young and old alike. Friday saw Adam Ant in his Dandy Highwayman’s regalia, while Saturday’s funky feast included Earth, Wind & Fire, Kool & The Gang, plus one of the world’s best live bands (IMO and Leo Sayer’s for that matter): Nile Rodgers and his band Chic. They performed a medley of tracks all written by Nile himself, such as Like A Virgin, Let’s Dance, We Are Family, I’m Coming Out, in addition to many Chic classics – the crowd Freaked Out, Everybody Danced and I relived my youth, kinda!
The Cuban Brothers press all the right buttons with their music, Miguel Mantovani’s banter and the most ridiculously impossible dance moves from a young Japanese guy. I say dancing, but it’s more street dance gymnastics performed by a contortionist! I hope somebody captured it on video; I’ll be checking youtube everyday now. The Dub Pistols, another high-energy act never fail to engage the crowd, and I found them riveting as usual. Hot Chip are not to my taste, but they were eagerly devoured by hungry fans.
Rizzle Kicks, Stooshe and Scroobius Pip were lapped up by a younger audience that welcomed any interaction going. Pip ran around the stage and then through the crowd like a man possessed, which he probably is – crazy stuff indeed. Clement Marfo & The Frontline, playing in the Big Top did a similarly rousing job during their late night gathering, albeit with a different style of music and its delivery. The Bollywood tent was essentially for DJs and dancing. I’m a big fan (and contemporary) of Greg Wilson, who was the first DJ to mix live on British TV and has been spinning the wheels since 1975; basically he’s a legend! LTJ Bukem, Justin Robertson, Netsky and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs were pretty awesome too. Again the list goes on and there were 8 performance venues, so you can understand this commentary is relatively limited – so check out the CB website for more details.
The grand finale was delivered on Sunday evening by headlining act, The Happy Mondays. Fully reassembled with Mr Maracas (Bez) wooing reminiscent mums and dads with his posy-dance antics while the Madchester gang played 24-hour Party People to the overwhelmed and perhaps over exhausted gathering of 72-hour Besti-people! I can wholeheartedly recommend this festival; plus, if you are lacking offspring – you don’t have to start a family to get in either and you’ll have a great time guaranteed!
To see what my words fail to express, please check out my photographs in the SFG Gallery and here too: www.nycgapp.com
There’s a certain amount of fear inherent in trying something new. You’re excited, sure, and with a line-up like Kendal Calling’s you know you’ll have a good time. But have you been oversold? Have weeks of hype and anticipation set you up for one colossal fall, that sinking sense of ‘oh, that’s it?’ and the slow admission that things weren’t quite all you’d hoped?
These were the thoughts I silently entertained on the drive to Cumbria, but as we entered Lowther Deer Park and spied a herd of the creatures grazing peacefully in the next field, I was assured of a magical weekend.
We were still fighting with tent poles (the vintage variety, circa 1985) as Newcastle outfit Maximo Park hit the main stage. The sound was surprisingly clear from our spot in the ‘party’ camping zone, and we paused for a brief impromptu dance session before resuming the battle against our half-pitched home.
The festival has a dream-like quality, owing much to its hideaway Lake District setting. Rumours circulate of a wedding on-site, and you get the feeling it’s the kind of festival folks take to heart. One mother of three said the family alternate years between here and Glastonbury, and Kendal does have that same quirky, wonderland (or is that woodland?) appeal, though on a scale less daunting (and easier on the wallet).
Billed as a ‘live music and contemporary circus extravaganza’, the spectacle that is Slamboree had the Chai Wallahs marquee flailing wildly. Bridging unlikely styles from classical to dubstep, I couldn’t count the performers – a juggler here, two exotic dancers there, oh and a few fire-twirlers if you weren’t impressed already. Punters weary from dancing up a storm took refuge to sway in their seats, and no one seemed to mind the stage getting smokey.
After a serious dose of the avant-garde, House Party just didn’t appeal. We made a beeline for bed armed with freshly steamed chai, curious as to what the dawn would bring.
Kendal Calling 2012 | Saturday
The Travelling Band open Saturday’s main stage, though I don’t mind saying that I’m too busy over at Ginger’s comfort van to see their show. You’d be distracted too if your other half handed you a double scoop salt caramel and peanut butter ice cream cone, suffice to say it all sounded dreamy. Of the weekend’s playful roaming acts, something called the Sample-ist stand was my pick. Manned by two DJs in labcoats, and another three gents in white coveralls dancing up a storm beside them, the project involved capturing a voice sample from willing passers by (and there were plenty), then distorting it as part of a broadcast soundscape.
I couldn’t miss suited and booted London lot Spector, who got the audience clapping with ‘Friday Night’. From their dress you can tell they mean business, and boy can frontman Fred Macpherson scream! There’s romance in their synth-rock, with one track introduced as “for the lovers. Yeah, I see you in the trees over there.”
It’s A-grade entertainment when the band breaks mid-set: Macpherson has something unsavoury on his jacket, and needs to brush it off immediately as best he can. Later, and mid-song this time, he produces a comb to deftly fix already slicked-back hair. Spector close to an eager audience with hit single ‘Never Fade Away’. I hope they won’t.
Evening now, and a DJ set from Humanizer has the Glow Dance Tent thumping. Back at the Chai Wallahs stage, a special mention goes to Dizraeli and The Small Gods for their decidedly different hip hop folk. The instrumental ‘Istanbul Express’ transports the (admittedly few) fans assembled to an overland journey in a far away place, and it’s nice to hear the story unfurl.
The masses appear from nowhere for 'Heavy' headliner Dizzee Rascal. Despite signs asking we 'leaf them be', limber fans clamber into trees, vying for a better view. Fresh from his Opening Ceremony showing, Dizzee tells us to "be safe out there”, and I fancy he is talking to those trees. Energetic, the pair (who is that guy with Dizzee all the time?) bounce through 'Road Rage' to new track 'Bassline', a preview from the forthcoming album due out in November. "Make some f*cking noise!" Dizzee commands, and we do.
“He's just a rascal, Dizzee Rascal" chime the crowd, this by far the most attended timeslot of the day. How many artists boast their own them song? After a relatively tame showing in Benicassim, Dizzee is on form, charging through a catalogue of chart toppers including 'Dirtee Disco' and 'You’ve Got The Dirtee Love'. There’s a theme here…In a weekend chiefly devoted to celebrating a shared nonchalance about the start of London's Olympics, Pepper makes a special appearance, joining Dizzee for Olympic collaboration 'Scream'. This particular performance is being filmed, with the promise "You're gonna be famous and sh*t!"
'Dance Wiv Me' is an obvious favourite, but it’s 'Holiday' for the finish and a glitter gun to boot. Dizzee dubs this an Instagram moment, the crowd welcoming his approval with yet more applause.
An aptly named Happy Slap Boutique is the spot to be by the early hours of Sunday morning, as the resident Happy Slap DJs spin their distinctive breed of Balkan, electro and swing to a heaving marquee. Here as elsewhere at the festival, twinkling fairylights serve to offset anything too hardcore, continuing the carnival theme.
Kendal Calling 2012 | Sunday
New Yorkers We Are Scientists set the standard for audience rapport on the main stage, delivering their upbeat breed of indie rock with a sophisticated sense of humour. Bassist Chris Cain fires off cheeky comedic quips, thanking one girl in a wedding dress “for taking this show seriously.” I roll my eyes when my fellow festivalian muses aloud “I wonder if they are scientists…”, but stop as it dawns that they might be.
The boys match the euphoria of a sunny Sunday afternoon, firing off intelligent tracks like ‘I Don’t Bite’, ‘Rules Don’t Stop’, and the one that made them, ‘Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt’. Needing no introduction, the immediate and urgent beat has much of the crowd up on shoulders, and a collective cheer erupts when one (shall we say, heavy-set) man successfully manages to stand atop a friend.
The theme for the weekend’s fancy dress component is fairytales and comic books. Some people have put incredible effort into their look, but it’s apparent that anything goes, like the wedding dress girl (unless she was Friday’s festival bride) or the countless wolves and bunny rabbits dressed in smart tweed suits. James haven’t dressed up when they take to the main stage, but it’s clear the packed-out field award them superhero status. Scheduled for nearly two hours, I tire quickly of the singalong affair, and although they sound in fine form I sneak away, prefering to discover something new.
Under the big top now, and the Calling Out stage is abuzz with talk ahead of Los Angeles act Vintage Trouble. Gracing Kendal Calling for a second year, this four man ‘juke music’ group ooze soulful style. Indeed, the collars, vests, hats, ties, even hairdos aid a welcome departure from the present day.
Belting out songs like ‘Still And Always Will’ and a sexy ‘Nancy Lee’ is gifted front man Ty Taylor. With a mighty voice and fun stage presence, he dips and spins his standing mic, working up a sweat. Mid-set he asks the audience to turn away from the stage – he wants to see us dancing with each other. “Is anybody horny in here?” he shouts, and the tent cries yes.
‘Nobody Told Me’ is a complete change of pace, and Taylor touchingly explains the song is for people in times of struggle. For a band only formed in 2010, these guys are convincing performers. When a pair of underwear is flung on-stage, you imagine this kind of thing is typical, but Taylor announces it’s the first g-string they’ve had. “You go down in history” he smiles, before launching into a tamborine-charged ‘Run Outta You’.
As things wind down (or up, depending who you are) on a massive weekend, Yes Sir Boss play to a handful of revellers on the Chai Wallahs stage, the rest of the festival evidently still singing along to James. An unlikely meld of brass and metal, the group play as if to a full house and those few appreciative fans go mad on the dancefloor.
Kendal Calling 2012 | to wrap
Somewhere between the official line-up and set times, acts like Alpines and Little Comet got lost. Or maybe I was lost – it’s that kind of festival! From the most chilled and intimate sideshows, to fun fair amusements, giant scrabble and a real ale party, there’s a little bit of Kendal for every mood (and a heap more if you’re the ‘I’m-at-a-festival-feeling-avant-garde-now’ type). I never made it to Kendal Calling’s so-called ‘Garden of Eden’. I suspect I was already there.
The rain may not have held out for the Olympic Opening Ceremony and concert but the sun definitely made an appearance for the first of the free Olympic concerts in Hyde Park.
The headlining acts scheduled to perform were Welsh singing legend Sir Tom Jones and English singer-songwriter, Newton Falkner. Unfortunately, due to illness, Sir Tom bowed out last minute, so Pop-Idol winner Will Young, stepped in. Appearances from rising pop-star Conor Maynard, and smaller and up and coming acts treated thousands of spectators to performances as well.
Not only was the music top quality but it was freely available to the public, and contributed to a fantastic family day out. Hyde Park was full of food stands ranging from burgers, noodles, to crepes. In keeping with the Olympics theme, there were stands available for the public to see if they had the nerve, stamina and determination to take part in the BT London Lives’ very own ‘mini Olympics’ with attractions varying from Volleyball, Badminton to a Triathlon! If sport isn’t your thing, there was also a Cadbury stand, where you could see famous London landmarks being carved from chocolate; a BT Tower were you could preview and play the brand new official London 2012 Xbox game and 3 HUGE screens, that displayed the Olympic events live throughout the day. Even Gold Olympic medallists, Torville and Dean made an appearance!
The park housed 3 stages full of music. The bandstand stage showcased performers like John Wean, who performed while audience could chill, sip iced cold drinks, and enjoy the sunshine too. The BT Vision stage was home for performers Conor Maynard, Ade Adepitan and Liz Johnson. The main stage featured Will Young and Newton Falkner. One tip though, if you are thinking of going along over the coming days take a picnic blanket, as seating is very limited and the ground is covered in wood chip, not conducive to comfortable sitting!
To kick start the music on the main stage, Neil Fox introduced humble hippy, Newton Falkner. He gave a totally captivating performance and amazed his audience with his ability to play guitar and ‘drum it’ at the same time. He has a talent for making a large open-air audience off thousands feel like a small intimate venue and enthralling his audience with his ‘one-man band’ show. His charisma shone through, when he played the theme song from Ice Age and Matilda, guaranteeing that this song could make ‘anyone smile’. His set included all his well known hits including, ‘Write it on your skin’, ‘Dream Catch Me’ and ‘Clouds’, which he got everyone from the audience to sing a long to. He also performed a number of covers including an impressive version of ‘Teardrop’ by Massive Attack and Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, which the audience chose over Stevie Wonder’s ‘Superstitious’.
A few hours later Newton Faulkner was followed by Will Young, who was a more than adequate stand-in for Sir Tom Jones. Any disappointment some members of the audience may have felt, I’m sure were short-lived, as Will Young staged a very entertaining show. He treated his audience to all his greatest hits that everyone could sing along to including, ‘Changes’, ‘Who am I’, ‘Light my Fire’, ‘Your Game’, ‘Leave Right Now’ and ‘Jealousy’. Accompanied by a band and backing singers, Young took to the stage like a real showman and delivered an energetic and exciting performance. During his set, he teased the audience that he had a costume underneath his attire which he would reveal by the end of the show. Throughout his performance he gradually stripped off, sending the audience crazy and filling Hyde Park full of the screams and cheers to reveal his costume, a vintage style running outfit, to keep with the Olympics and the theme of his video ‘Jealousy’, which he closed his set with. All I can say is, Will Young is a dark horse and certainly took me by surprise, in terms of live performance.
To sum up, I would recommend the BT London Live festival days to anyone looking for a fantastic fun day out to help them get into the Olympic Spirit. Not only is there plenty to do, but all the live music is FREE, and some of the biggest music acts around are performing at BT London Live throughout the Olympic period. What more could you ask for?
Deep in the heart of the valleys of Herefordshire lies a small farm, a farm belonging to a man they call Noz. But this is no ordinary farm. For one weekend only it transforms into a musical wonderland and becomes Nozstock: The Hidden Valley.
This family-run event is the product of what originated as a small summer barbecue amongst friends. 12 years later and Noz’s farm now invites 5000 members of the public for a music and arts extravaganza.
With the car parking field adjacent to the camping field, and the camping field adjacent to the main arena, that dreaded process of getting luggage from car to campsite could not be easier at Nozstock. Tent sufficiently pitched, it was finally time to crack open our first cider of the weekend and explore the hidden valley of Nozstock.
Greeted by an assortment of fancy-dress outfits, we couldn’t help but smile at the laid back atmosphere of this family run festival. The words eccentric, colourful and quirky immediately sprang to mind upon our exploration of the site, which boasted all sorts of comical signage and hippie artwork.
The 9 stages that form the main arena included 3 main stages, 3 dance areas, 1 comedy tent, 1 theatre tent and a crafts area. Despite being a relatively small festival, there really is something for everyone. Entertainment is provided for the youngsters in the Little Wonderland area, as well as the numerous workshops and theatre shows that occur throughout the weekend. Kids can even challenge each other to a sock-wrestling match in the Enchanted Glade area!
Head on over to the opposite side of the site and find quite a different scene. A converted bull pen forms a 2-stage dance area and a short walk down the “psycho-path” will lead you to the Cubicles – a psychedelic rave stage that hosts tribe of frog. These areas run day and night, so those who are hardcore enough can spend the entire weekend flying high in a rave daze.
Onto the mainstages in the central area, and for Friday’s line-up it appeared that a brass instrument was a compulsory requirement. Ska band after ska band took to the Orchard stage as the crowd danced into the sunny July afternoon. A surprising highlight was ‘By The Rivers’, an unheard of group of teenagers who blasted out some hip-shaking tunes.
As evening fell and the crowd became increasingly merry, more and more joined the party at the mainstage. The penultimate act of the evening, Imperial Leisure, joined in the fancy dress fun of Nozstock and took to the stage sporting animal onesies – although with this years theme being myths and legends they didn’t quite fulfill the brief, but it was a solid effort nonetheless.
Dreadzone were Friday’s headline act and they certainly drew the crowds to the mainstage. Time seems to have taken a slight toll on the band, who stayed sitting down for the entire performance, but thankfully this had little, if any, impact on their performance. They blasted out classics such as ‘Life, Love and Unity’ and ‘Zion Youth’ and hyped up the crowd for the long night of dancing that lay ahead.
Midnight struck and it was time to get hardcore. Zinc took to the Garden stage as ravers threw out some impressive shapes. Down in the trees at the Cubicles stage the UV lights and hanging butterflies created an incredible psychedelic atmosphere that would leave even the sober members of the crowd in a slight headspin.
Things kicked off again at around midday on Saturday as people slowly dragged themselves out of their hungover state. Toilets were still surprisingly fresh and clean – a feature of Nozstock that certainly deserves some considerable praise. Situated in an undercover section where the toilets line a cosy area of sofas, the toilet experience at this festival is almost a pleasant one!
Saturday was another warm sunny day, so most chose to bask in the sun and listen to the music throughout the afternoon. Brassroots encouraged audience interaction and managed to bring the crowd to their feet. The introducer of each act also provided great entertainment throughout the weekend by sporting a painted pink boiler suit and filling in gaps by reciting comical monologues.
Saturday’s highlight, and arguably the overall highlight of the weekend, was The Correspondents. With a reputation for being a great live act, the pair certainly lived up to their status. The eccentric Mr. Bruce sported his usual bizarre attire and threw out some moves that only he could get away with. Expressing nothing but praise for the festival, the band seemed to be enjoying themselves almost as much as the crowd, which helped to enhance what was already a fantastic performance. Their set concluded with a stage dive from Mr Bruce, which left the crowd chanting “one more song” as they exited the stage.
Following this was a surprisingly impressive fireworks display and a bonfire over in the crafts area. The usual “oohs and ahhs” were expressed as the crowd enjoyed what was a pleasant gap-filler between acts on the mainstage.
The Futureheads then brought the Orchard stage to a close, which, although was a decent performance, almost brought a slight downer on the very geed up festival crowd. It was Saturday night and people were ready to party to Andy C – who was to perform an hour later – rather than listen to acapella Futureheads tracks. Through no fault of their own it was a slightly disappointing set, which unfortunately was the result of poor planning on the part of the festival organisers.
Sunday began with a couple of short rain showers, but by midday the skies had cleared and the sun was once again shining over Nozstock. Depsite being the final day of the festival, the energy was still very much alive in most people.
Biscuithead & The Biscuit Badgers were a hit in the afternoon. As their name suggests, the group were completely bizarre, with some members dressed as badgers and others as god-knows what! Their collection of comical songs expressing their love for David Attenbourough, triangles and biochemistry (to name but a few) certainly brought a smile to many faces.
Later in the day, as the weather continually improved to become another scorcher, Jake Bugg was a popular choice at the mainstage. The young acoustic singer was a perfect choice for a Sunday afternoon as the crowd listened intently to his country songs. Unfortunately, the following act, Son of Dave, was cancelled due to his late arrival – but the British train service were apparently the ones to blame for his no-show.
Closing the festival were the Proclaimers, who, at first seemed an unusual choice for the festival, but provided a cheerful sing-along performance. The duo brought Nozstock to its close and rounded off what had been a fantastic weekend in the hidden valley.
The only criticism of the festival was the occasional poor planning of acts on the two mainstages. Artists often performed at the same time, which left long 45-minute gaps between each set, and consequently left little else to see during this time. Luckily, however, the fantastic weather meant that this drawback was extremely minor.
Nozstock has previously been described as Glastonbury in its golden days, a summary which seems perfectly accurate for this little family-run festival (although my non-existence during these golden days may question the reliability of such a conclusion!). The lack of commercialisation is the very charm of the festival, along with its emphasis on local talent and green initiatives. Nozstock boasts a real laid-back vibe and is essentially the epitome of what a music festival originally set out to be.
After a massive Friday night, we were a little lack of sleep but ready to go for what we expected to be another huge day at Global Gathering. Today sees Chase & Status headline the main arena with Nero, Sub Focus, Ferry Corsten, Above & Beyond, Roni Size and more on the lineup.
Parking up the car park is already much busier than yesterday and the atmosphere is already building. The Japanese Popstars take to the main stage to belt out a perfect sun blistering set by getting all those still reeling from last night off the grounds and onto their feet. Luckily there is one nice security guard walking around with a bottle of suncream as this is some of the best weather we have seen all year!
Dj Fresh brought his Fresh / Live show to Global this year, and I was highly impressed. Running through his hits Hot Right Now, The Power and Louder he had the crowd bopping heads and jumping through for the good part of an hour as the sun continued to pour over the Long Marsden Airfield crowd.
Festival regular Labrinth, complete in a bright yellow jacket to match the weather, was the biggest crowd puller of the afternoon! A rendition of NWA's Express Yourself was only the begining of what ended up being one of the performances of the day!
Over in the Hospitality arena, Roni Size performed his Full Cycle Retro Set to Global Gathering. With security stopping people into the tent for reasons unknown, the outer rims were brimming as they tried to catch a glimpse of the Bristol D&B legend.
Mean while over in the Metropolis arena, BBC's Radio 1 Mistajam managed to get one side of the arena moshing whilst the other was as Mistajam made clear, 'strictly for bouncing'
Main stage headliners Chase & Status along with MC Rage brought their live show to the masses at Global Gathering to close out this years festival. MC Rage commands the stage by hyping up the crowd to jump and throw their hands in the air, with Saul (Chase) coming out to play guitar on a few select tracks. As a flair sparks up in the crowd over the clear but cold sky, Chase & Status showcase crowd favourite hits Blind Faith, Time and more.
Trance legends Above & Beyond took control after a stonking set from newcomer Mat Zo over in the Godskitchen arena. Above & Beyond's trance 2.0 sound as they call it hits the crowd right from the outset. The tent seemed to pack up with alot of A&B fans in attendance throwing up heart shaped hand gestures to Tony and Jono at every moment.
After a long day in the airstrip fields, we leave Global Gathering with a number of great moments that we witnessed over the weekend. All in all, Global brought another massive and diverse electronic lineup to the 55,000 festivals goers in attendance and we look forward to seeing what 2013 will bring!
With an estimated 55,000 in attendance at this years Global Gathering in Shakespears hometown of Stratford-Upon-Avon, this electronic music festival continues to grow year after year and shows no signs of slowing down.
With Tinie Tempah and Chase & Status headlining the main arena through the weekend, Global brings a mixture of electronic genres all together in the Long Marsden Airfield.
As we travelled up from London, we were pretty excited to head to main arena to see Afrojack take to the decks. The dutch DJ / Producer's popularity has grown immenstley over the past couple of years and he is on most of the biggest festival line-ups all over the world. His energy behind the decks transcend to the crowd as he puts his hands up in the air and air strums a imaginary keyboards throughout his set.
Tinie Tempah is always a massive drawcard no matter where he is, and at Global Gathering it was no different! The crowds flocked to see the London rapper bounce his way through tracks from his debut album Disc-Overy. Complete with fireworks and smoke cannons, tracks like Invincible, Wonderman and Earthquake are just some of the massive hits he has the crowd singing along to. With his new album Demonstration in the pipeline, Tinie tested some of his new work with the crowd which fully lapped it up.
Over in the UKF Bass Culture tent, the popularity of this brand is no surprising as they hosted the biggest tent at this years Global. With Knife Party, Andy C and headliner Skrillex all on the bill, this tent was rammed from front to back and side to side for the majority of the day. Skrillex brought his full blown spaceship production to Global and his bass banging tracks closed the arena in spectacular fashion.
ASOT head honcho Armin van Buuren had some of the biggest names in dance music playing in his ASOT arena. Markus Schulz had the crowd throwing their hands in the air before the man himself Armin Van Buuren sent the crowd on a epic euphoric journey to close out the arena.
Saturday will see Chase & Status headline the main arena, along with Above & Beyond, Ferry Corsten, Nero,Sub Focus and more playing across the other arenas.
