Glastonbury, make some noise!
Wednesday, June 27th, 2007So I’ve come back from Glastonbury with a rotten cold and some battered waterproofs. I saw some great bands though, so here’s my myspace rerun of the festival:
Friday:
www.myspace.com/voodootrombonequartet
They don’t all play trombones and there are more than four of them. They are great though, and put on a fantastic show. I left early to see another act and apparently missed the burlesque performers dancing on the bar. Damn!
www.myspace.com/alicemclaughlin
A fantastic singer songwriter who I first saw years ago at the big chill festival and who I try to see as often as I can without looking like a stalker.
www.myspace.com/amywinehouse
Only caught some of the act, but she didn’t seem particularly enthused about performing. Great voice though.
www.peewee-ellis.com/
James Brown’s saxophonist playing with a very funky band, as you would expect.
www.myspace.com/gusgus
Caught a couple of songs by these guys as I wandered past the jazz world stage. Seemed more Dance than Jazz to me, but the singer’s outfit was pretty jazzy.
www.myspace.com/chumbawambamusic
Just caught the last song of their set by accident. It wasn’t “I get knocked down”
www.myspace.com/oivavoi
I managed to convince a load of people to come down and see this band despite never being able to describe what they sound like. Just have a listen, they’re great. And Alice Mclaughlin sings with them.
www.myspace.com/arcadefire
Didn’t actually go down to see them, but you could hear their set from the tent. I was resting up for bjork. Anyway, arcade fire sound pretty good from half a mile away.
www.myspace.com/bjork
Yay! The whole reason I wanted to go to glastonbury in the first place! I love bjork, but I’ve never seen her live before. I wasn’t blown away by the gig to start with, but that’s only because she sounded so faithful to the albums. Once she threw in a load more beats for “Army of Me” the whole thing kicked off! Great to be down in the crowd when the lazers lit up the sky. Yeah, she’s worth all the mud.
Saturday:
www.myspace.com/thepipettes
Three girls who dance around in spotted dresses and sing pop. An up-tempo start to the day.
www.myspace.com/voodootrombonequartet
Them again - caught the whole set this time, but no burlesque performers showed up. Damn!
Went for a few beers in the Bimble Inn tipi and heard a great female singer. Didn’t catch her name, but I liked her version of “Dancing in the dark”.
www.myspace.com/chkchkchk
They’re called “!!!” which is just asking for trouble when you’re searching for them on the internet. Only heard a few of their songs while I was convincing everyone else to come to the secret madness gig!
www.myspace.com/dynamo39srhythmaces
They do the best rock and roll cover of “Ace of Spades” you’re likely to hear!
www.myspace.com/madnessofficial
The highlight of the day! the official program only listed “Special guest: Ska heroes” but it was announced earlier on that Madness would be playing in the, frankly rather tiny, Lost Vagueness ballroom. Everyone crammed in and once Suggs hit the stage it was bouncing all the way! Madness!
www.myspace.com/puppinisisters
The group I had actually been going to see before I knew Madness were playing. Another girl group, but this time one that sings songs in a ’40s boogie woogie style. ace!
www.myspace.com/fatboyslim
Another secret gig! I’d never seen him live before and to be honest I wasn’t too fussed about sticking around, but he was brilliant. Had all his friends up on the stage, and occasionally ballerinas and hulahoop girls as well. For some reason he also got changed into a bumblee bee costume while he was spinning choons… a fun time for everyone!
Sunday:
www.myspace.com/mahalaraibanda
The mud was starting to be a drag by now so it was the afternoon by the time me and my mate Chris dragged ourselves down to the Jazz world stage looking for something to eat. Caught these guys playing while we ate baked potatoes. They sounded like the star wars cantina band, which is a good thing!
www.myspace.com/paulinescanlon1
Chilling out in the small world solar power tent and enjoying a coffee we caught an acoustic set by pauline scanlon and a guy on guitar. Traditional Irish folk songs that sounded fantastic. No, really!
www.myspace.com/dynamo39srhythmaces
just caught the end of their set again after miscalculating how long it would take me to trudge to their stage.
I would have seen Bill Bailey in the cabaret tent, but 10,000 other people beat me to it.
Flush from my success at finding out about the Madness gig I headed over to the park to see who the next unknown special guest was. I was bitterly disappointed to find out I’d been duped into going to see Pete Doherty. He sounded pretty bad, and didn’t improve in the time it took me to buy dinner and leave.
www.myspace.com/mikamyspace
Another set I only heard from my tent, but it sounded like everyone was having a great time.
www.myspace.com/thegoteam
Fantastic set that got everyone dancing in the mud! The lead singer was on fire, shaking her arse like a demon. Not entirely sure why she kept apologising for them only being a small band though.
www.myspace.com/kttunstall
The rain had really started by now, and it was a bit miserable being stuck outside the acoustic tent because of the huge crowd. With lots of coming and going I did eventually end up inside in the dry though, and thought KT was really good.
www.myspace.com/octoberacoustic
Playing out in the rain on the smallest stage off in the corner of the site I caught this singer songwriter who I thought was pretty good. The flyer I was given got reduced to pulp by all the rain seeping into my pocket…
www.myspace.com/corinnebaileyrae
Wandered past the jazz stage again and stopped for a few minutes to listen. She’s from Leeds you know! Eventually the rain forced me away, but she has an amazing voice.
www.myspace.com/paprikabalkanicus
More gypsy music - playing in a small tent they got everyone to join in. I even bought the CD.
www.myspace.com/alicemclaughlin
Go out on a high! Another gig by Alice, although she seemed a bit knackered to be honest. Still great to hear her sing live though. Honestly, I’m not a stalker…
just remembered! I saw this guy somewhere too - he played two guitars at once! I thought he was pretty good:
