2012 MUSIC OVERVIEW: A REVIEW PART IV - LIVE MUSIC

Hey folks. Apologies for not being a tad more brief and being able to complete this overview/review all in one post way back in January. That would have been much neater and more appropriate. But then of course I would have no doubt missed out even more than I already did with those top albums that started it all off. And yes, I know we are now half way through March already (a whole quarter of the way through) but you know, technically if we take it to be the financial year, I am still in time. Cutting it thin I know. There's just so much to look back on and include! It actually makes me dizzy doing so. The year went so quickly and don't even get me started on the speed this one is going at. When thinking about Luke Ritchie's The Water's Edge being the first album I reviewed back in early March I'm like WTFing at this crazy time speed. Surely there must be some kind of 'Big Bad' The Doctor needs to come and sort out. Could it be The Rani did not perish during that Last Great Time War, and is now somehow siphoning off our time? I remember writing that review up just before going to Wales for a weekend break. While there I watched the awesome Norwegian film Troll Hunter. Not sure that needs to be expressed here but if you haven't seen it yet, you should do! I can't recall if it was last year I first saw Scott Pilgrim Vs The World, or if it was 2011. No matter, it is one of those films I can (and do) watch over and over. Again, if you've not seen it, give it a try. Oh dear. Digressing once more. And so early on too. There is no hope! 

Let's crack on before Christmas really does come to smack us in the face again. Do make yourself comfortable and put those feet up. Grab a nice cup of tea or coffee, a beer or glass of wine perhaps. Once again, the below are those that really stuck out as something special last year. However, that doesn't mean I hold any of the other gigs, bands or artists in any less esteem. I'm passionate about live music and enjoy pretty much each and every gig as something unique and individual. As with the albums, I will undoubtedly miss some and for this I apologise in advance.

GIGS

Editors - Birmingham - June

Their latest album has been a long time coming. Originally scheduled for release in October 2012, the departure of Chris Urbanowicz last April set this back and the date has since been revised to some time this year. This gig, one of only two UK dates in Birmingham, had all the same electrifying energy of previous shows. There is something deeply mesmerizing about Tom Smith! As band frontman he exudes such charisma, captivating all in attendance and holding us all in thrall. Oh yes, he maintains a trademark intensity that reverberates out from the stage in tidal waves. The set list included many fan favourites from the previous three albums as well as a few of the new tunes, like Sugar and Nothing. Even with Chris gone now, they sound strong and musically tight. Absolutely fucking* amazing! The band have not long returned from Nashville where they've been recording. Various festival announcements have been made including Reading and Leeds amongst many European ones. *expletive wholly necessary

Thanks to a work colleague who is a friend of the band, I did have the opportunity to attend a big charity gig they were a part of last December (along with The Courteeners, The Temper Trap & others). Sadly due to the timing, finances and work I was unable to make it. Curse my situation!! Come on someone, give me a job doing this please! Apologies. *composes self before continuing* Needless to say when they tour the new album later this year I will certainly be there. At least once, possibly twice, maybe even more. Thankfully the Editors are a band who have been consistent in producing something different with each album so far. It's always better, yes, but with the differences they adopt and utilize, what came before remains as powerful. If that makes sense? I'm really quite excited about this new album and it is definitely going to be one of the highlights of 2013, musically, I think. http://www.editorsofficial.com/

Luke Jackson - Rugby - October

This young man possesses such a power it belies his youth. I'm not afraid to admit I was quite moved by his sensational performance at this solo gig at Rugby Roots Club. I am very much a fan of Luke and believe this year his level of exposure is going to go stratospheric. Not wanting to miss out and given how much I thoroughly enjoyed this October gig I bagged my tickets for his recent local solo show at The Stables in Milton Keynes last month. Even though money is scarce these days and I will have to be even more selective about the gigs I attend this year, there was just no way I was missing out on this one!

I won't repeat my review here other than to point you in its direction >>here<<. It is quite a thorough one at that but I think the quality of what Luke offers music fans deserves a complete and full appraisal. I will say that if this is your kind of music, or even if it isn't what you may typically enjoy, if you go see Luke live you will come away feeling moved I assure you. That power he has possesses some magic that will have you wanting more and quick smart.

There are number of dates up on his website so if he's somewhere near you it makes sense for you to get to a show. It does not make sense to miss out on what will be a musical highlight of 2013 for you. There will of course be more dates going up as the year goes on. Meanwhile and to keep right up to date head to Luke's Facebook page and give it a like. He's regularly posting updates including many a new video. Oh and you can also read my review of the outstanding gig at The Stables >>here<<.

http://www.lukepauljackson.co.uk/

Shearwater - Brighton - March

I've been a fan of this US indie folk rock band ever since stumbling across them thanks to the name of a character in a book I was reading in 2008 (The Castle series by Steph Swainston). I bought their album Rook, which was out that year and I have been hooked ever since. For me, Rook will always be my personal favourite from them but 2012's Animal Joy has some top tunes on it too. Seeing them play live was a dream realised. They didn't do too many dates in the UK but this one in Brighton happened to coincide with me seeing a play about Anne Boleyn there. I snapped up tickets as soon as I saw it advertised and had music writing/coverage been my job I would have been in London for their return in November. Shearwater are underrated in my opinion but they have a loyal fan base spanning the globe. Live, they were superb even though there were a few big changes to the line-up. Didn't matter in the slightest however, as they played like they'd all been together forever. These guys are definitely on the list of bands you MUST try out! Leviathan, Bound shuffled on to my iPod shuffle on a walk home from work just recently. Sublime! http://shearwatermusic.com/

Winter Mountain - Leamington Spa - March

Now, these guys were a real find! I usually tend to read up on the support acts for most shows I attend and check out a few of their tunes beforehand. Not so much to sing along, more to familiarize myself with the sound. I didn't get chance to do this for this Seth Lakeman gig in March so Winter Mountain were a true surprise on the night. Two such interesting and genuinely lovely guys who met while backpacking across the US in opposite directions. They both hopped on a train to Memphis (I think, if memory serves me correct), got talking and the rest is history. Their performance completely blew me away and this year should see them release their debut album on Cara Dillon's Charcoal Records. To whet your appetite you should grab their EP from iTunes by clicking >>here<<. If they happen to be billed to play near you, either as headline or support then make sure you go see them. You will thank me for telling you to do so afterwards.
http://www.wintermountain.co.uk/

Trevor Moss & Hannah Lou - Oxford (Tom McRae) - November

I could have seen this duo at Truck Festival in July had I not been my regular self regards organization. Organized chaos is the way I work, at times, and to be fair it has stood me in good stead. If it's not broke don't fix it. Well, perhaps a tweek here and there wouldn't hurt. I have a diary this year in which I'm being ultra (perhaps just under ultra if I'm honest) organized. Anyway, I'd booked my Tom McRae ticket as soon as he announced he was touring solo to promote Part 2 of his Alphabet of Hurricanes album, From The Lowlands. As always Tom was magnificent but I've reserved this mention for the support because they were phenomenal. Trevor and Hannah-Lou's vocals come together so effortlessly and produce sounds that are just exquisite. They toured endlessly last year as they geared up for and released their album, La Ferme De Fontenaille. A cracking album, four songs from which you can sample via The Proud Surrender EP below. Then get clicking and buying and then along to a gig if there's one nearby. In addition to supporting for Tom McRae, they did their own tour of social clubs and got to support the wonderful Beth Orton amongst so many other marvelous gigs. They are also on the bill for this year's Wood Festival so don't miss out on that one. More about this festival soon.

http://trevormossandhannahlou.com/

An Evening With Gilmore & Roberts

Katriona Gilmore & Jamie Roberts - Wellingborough - October

This was a special night indeed. What a venue too! Tables and chairs laid out making it feel like we were at an awards ceremony. It was as if the walls were made especially for taking in the music and feeding it out to the our ears via direct aural tunnels. Sublime! This would not have been possible but for the deftness of skill from this stunning duo. This tour was primarily to showcase new songs from their most recent release, third album The Innocent Left, but we were treated to a number of other top tunes from the previous two as well. Opening with Jamie's Scarecrow got the feet a-stomping right from the off. With that jig-inducing fiddle combined with the fierce guitar strum as the sad, sorrowful story of the subject's failure is played right into your mind. A booming start for the pictures painted via music and vocals were vivid enough as to be mistaken for hallucination. This brilliance was only extended further as the night went on and the tunes came rolling out from the stage. The second song was another deep character piece, this time from Katriona in the form of a famous military doctor history saw fit to remove. This is one of the beauties of this kind of music, and this kind of act. They write and play songs that entertain, that move but ones which also educate. I'd never heard of Doctor James before hearing this. I read up on her immediately after, such is the level of interest the song invoked within. 

Katriona and Jamie are everything I expected them to be. Two of the most pleasant and humble musicians I've had the pleasure to watch play. Their interaction with the audience never ceased throughout the entire evening. Whether this was via them detailing how and why they came to write certain songs, or when Kat tested us to see if we could guess what her original song Silverscreen was about (I'm not telling), they warm you to them instantly. There was a real sense of getting to know them on a deep personal level. The explanation behind the emotions that shaped some of the songs made them resonate all the more. For example, Letters was written from Kat's great-grandmother's point of view. She was a Dane who worked for the BBC World Service during World War Two. She had countless letters passing through her, all the time yearning for one from her son. Amazing as a recorded track, played live it not only transports you back through time but it pulls tightly on those heartstrings. Likewise, Traveling In Time was for her granddad following the memory loss resulting from the stroke he had. This was an open window right to her soul and one delivered with such grace it's hard not to let a tear or more escape. Particularly as it bought forth feelings about the elder people in my own life, past and present. It is a wonderful gift to immortalize them in songs such as these. Fleetwood Fair took us into an interval with its kick-ass chorus Kat tried to get us all to join in with. To give the audience their due, many did.

It's not exactly uncommon these days but from all I've seen, Jamie's lap tapping guitar skills are amongst the very best. These were demonstrated aptly with The Stealing Arm as it opened up the second half of the evening. This is based on a traditional song from circa 1800, rewritten and worked to a leg-jigging tune.

No Rest For The Wicked told of their not so rock and roll lifestyle of driving up and down the country while on tour. Yes they do love it and admit they'd have it no other way but how there certainly isn't any energy left to chuck TVs out of hotel room windows. And that's when they are lucky enough to have a hotel room instead of kipping on someone's floor or in the vehicle itself after an overpriced meal out of a service station. This was followed by one of my overall favourites, Shuffle and Deal. Everything about this song is sublime. Kat shared how far from being the gambling sort, she learned to play poker at a festival using gravel for chips. The character of the song is a little deeper in trouble than this. Jamie did a grand job standing in for Larkin Poe with his backing vocals. Although they were quite rightly masculine, he delivered them with the gentle grace befitting the song.

Then there were the instrumentals such as Over Snake Pass and Seven Left For Dead. As enjoyable as these tracks are on the album, that enjoyment is quadrupled when seeing them performed live. They really launch themselves into these pieces. Don't get me wrong, the vocals on the others never hide the high quality of their musicianship, both individual or combined, it's just eye-opening to see them play this way.

Their reworking of the traditional False Knight On The Road bought the evening to a hallucinatory close. I don't know how they manage it but while your eyes are never off them as they play and sing, at the same time the images of the girl besting the antagonist are striking. The whole story is played out in full view. Without actual visuals and thanks simply to the skills and abilities of Gilmore & Roberts. It was Jamie's original song Louis Was A Boxer, based on a customer in the Subway sandwich shop he worked in while at university, that provided the encore. At the end Kat thanked everyone for coming out on a very cold Saturday night and urged us all to get our friends and relatives out to support live music  in the future. I went to a lot of gigs throughout 2012 but this was one of the finest, without a doubt. It was my first time seeing this pair but I can assure you it was the first of so very many to come.

They are about to embark upon a Spring Tour so check out the dates at their website and get yourselves along. You won't regret it! They'll also be featuring at some festivals throughout the summer no doubt, before setting out on an Autumn Tour when I hope to catch them again, if not before. http://www.gilmoreroberts.co.uk/

Willy Mason

There were many more gigs from last year of course and you should know me by now - I would love to give them all some space here. I must at the very least give a brief mention about the Willy Mason gig at The Musician in Leicester back in May. If I had the arts of powerful sorcery at my disposal (I'm still on moving a pencil a centimetre off the table), I would have physically relocated this pub down to Northampton, long ago. Or perhaps merely punched out a spatial portal enabling me to step through to it as and when required. These are just little details. But, yes, Willy Mason, what a performance!! Mystical, magical, marvellous music! It was like being transported so effortlessly to the deep south without breaking a sweat. If only every Monday night contained such entertainment. He is mesmerizing live and I urge all who are fans, or even just those who may only listen to him in passing and enjoy his tunes, to get to a show as soon as you can. It was also at this gig I saw the enigmatic Jinnwoo who opened as first support and is definitely someone you should check out!

FESTIVALS

Sadly, I was unable to make it to Beautiful Days last year but I sure made up for that by attending not one, but two other small independent festivals. I always considered Beautiful Days to be a relatively small affair. In comparison to Truck and Bakewell however, Beautiful Days is colossal. The small size of these other two is by no means a bad thing. It serves to make you feel even more directly connected to the musicians and bands you get to see. You can (and should) read my full two part review of Truck and then get to their website to bag your tickets to this year's event. They are flying out. More on that festival soon too.

Bakewell Music Festival was smaller still with an added bonus of stages being under a roof. Good job too as with the 'traditional' wash out of a summer we had last year, there were a number of downpours in between the bursts of sunshine and heat. Here, I saw Seth Lakeman for the second time of the year, always an outstanding first class performance. Other bands/artists that stood out for their quality were Jake Morley, with his lap-tapping guitar and poignant lyrics; Neon Railroad with their rockier sound and some great original songs; Sam Draisey, who performed a few covers with a real flair of originality and who's entire set was outstanding; Ryan Lauder with one of the strongest performances of the weekend. Special mentions for the headliners, Flight Brigadegyp, Gypsy Fire and of course Mr Seth Lakeman, who all made the Saturday night one of heightened merriment. I must give a nod to String Driven Thing's song Hey Jack too because as an Ode to the great Jack Kerouac, it really struck deep with me. Then, as the electrics blew and there was niether amp nor lights, country/soul band Phantom Limb closed the festival in true acoustic and unplugged style. They came down off the stage, hauling their instruments behind them and set up in the middle of the marquee. The remaining audience gathered round for what was a splendid intimate set.

It is back on the Truck for the 'they're so damn good they knock you over sets'. Little did I know at the time but this was one of The Last Republic's final gigs as a band as they disbanded not long after. This was a very sad fact and one I'm still crying over. They were just such a fantastic band playing inspiring and truthful music. Their set at Truck was one of my top highlights! Boat To Row build up such a huge momentum with their multi-instrumental juggernaut and had me knocked over by the force as well as so elated I was almost on the ceiling of that tent. I was looking forward to The Dreaming Spires and enjoyed them so much I went for the repeat acoustic performance in the Merch tent the following day. It was like sardines in a can in that tent but totally worth it. Conor O'Brien and his Villagers captivated me with tunes from debut album Becoming A Jackal and a few from their now released follow up Awayland. Tim Minchin could easily have closed the night with his side-splitting (as in literally and being in need of sowing up afterwards) comedy genius songs including the banned on TV Woody Allen Jesus. 

Due to previous negative press I'd read, I will admit I hadn't been expecting anything too amazing from Saturday night headliners and festival closers The Temper Trap. I was most pleasantly surprised with what we got to see and while they were not the best band overall, they were very close, closing the proceedings in perfect style. The most phenomenal, outstanding and sensational act of the whole event has to be Scottish rock band Frightened Rabbit! It was great to get more intimate with their music on the second stage but they should probably have been on the main stage with the crowd they drew and how much they had the audience in the palm of their hands. The band have recently released their latest album, Pedestrian Verse, which you can buy from their website - http://www.frightenedrabbit.com/.

So, that's about a wrap (not a rap, oh dear, imagining myself rapping is rather amusing - perhaps one day....for charity) for the live overview but like I say all the gigs I went to were pretty amazing. Not to neglect Don Broco outperforming We The Kings, as great as they were. What I could hear over the screaming girls that is.

Until next time folks, Peace to you all.

Oooh...off to see Stornoway on Saturday, oh yes!

JUMP STRAIGHT TO THE OTHER PARTS OF MY 2012 OVERVIEW/REVIEW:

PART I   >>here<<
PART II  >>here<<
PART III >>here<<

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TRUCK STOP 2: Truck Festival: A Review Part II

After such a great day on the Friday, packed to the hilt with quality music acts - oh and two lots of chips (they were only £1.50 after all) - I was eager to get back down to the festival stage areas for more on Saturday. The sun was shining. The sky was more or less cloudless except for one stray fluffy cloud that hung above the campsite. This has since become known as the Truck cloud. There were probably angels sitting atop it waiting for the acts to play. Seriously!

The food available across the two days was organised by local Rotary Clubs with all proceeds being ploughed into charities. It was fairly priced so far as festivals go but most was still on the expensive side. This is just part and parcel of such events however, so one must expect it. It was much nicer that most of the money was going to charities and that everything was kept so local. At times the queues were a little on the lengthy side so next time organisers could perhaps either have more outlets or have a band or two on standby to entertain people waiting in the queues. That would be a cool idea.

With plenty on offer to keep children occupied, Truck encourages and enables families to enjoy a festival without too much of the worry. There were procedures in place to help with any potential missing kids scenarios and with the event being so relatively small there was little chance of such an occurrence turning into something too distressing. The host of things to keep them entertained included face painting, circus skills at the Ladybird tent and the Oxford Playhouse’s theatre production, Bath Time.

While campfires are always expressly forbidden due to health and safety reasons (the fragile state of drunken youth, primarily I guess), walking back to the tent after the final performance on the main stage there was a festival controlled camp fire near the second stage. This involved a gloriously burning fire in the middle of a circle of hay bales on which many folk sat, drinking, talking, laughing and even signing. It was quite beautiful to witness.

And let’s not forget the merchandise tent sessions. A number of bands on the bill performed little acoustic sessions inside the merch tent itself. I went and watched The Dreaming Spires again but I was also fortunate to catch a little of Emmy The Great although that doesn’t excuse the fact I missed their main set. This was a fabulous extra in my opinion. The tent itself was packed with quality indie music to buy. It was so hard for me not to spend what money I didn’t have and buy the lot. I really was tempted.

SATURDAY 21ST JULY

HIGHLIGHTS

The Last Republic

This band were one of my top highlights of the day aside only from the phenomenal set from Frightened Rabbit who closed the same stage. Having not seen this five piece Welsh band live since their early afternoon appearance at Beautiful Days festival in 2010, I was an eager beaver for more. They really didn’t disappoint either and with new song Out of Reach, band lead Jonnie demonstrated the magnificence that is the full capacity of his vocal range. This song goes so far, it is way beyond reach so there’s a subtle irony to that title. With its gentle unassuming start up, it builds gradually to a point where the vocals scale mountainous heights. I had heard a preview of it a few weeks prior but my God are these guys good live. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up; even they were enthralled by the performance. The throttle is opened up too with a little bit of fast and furious guitar playing accompanied by some banging drums. I’m not stating the obvious when I write banging drums either. Those drums were smokin’ hot.

What is good to see from the new material is that while the band retain a core signature sound, it is clear they have a lot more to offer than what came with sensational debut, Parade. They have adopted different styles and made use of some different sounds. The songs are always catchy without verging anywhere near pop, which is important. As performers they make the stage their own when they’re on it and all without too much of a ‘show’ as such. The resulting performance was a strong one leaving a powerful resonance long after the event. My only gripe is that thirty minutes just isn’t enough. I could have watched them for hours to be honest.

I shouldn’t have been surprised by the cover of Depeche Mode’s, Enjoy the Silence being included in the set as Jonnie is always discussing his many influences. It was astounding and a welcome number. At the beginning of the set there weren’t that many people in attendance so I felt like rounding them up making sure they were aware how great the band are that they were missing out on. However, there was no need. People could hear for themselves and flocked to the tent to enjoy them. It was near packed out by the closing song.

Not only are these guys The Last Republic, they are The Best Republic. They have recently been recording new songs which were earmarked for release later this year. However, with a change in management it is not certain when the new material will get its release. This fan hopes it is sooner rather than later. As fans of true independent and great music I urge you all to support The Last Republic. Go buy their debut album Parade if you don’t have it because it is a smash. Also feel free to badger any radio station or show demanding they play these guys. Let’s get them more recognition like they deserve.

This Town Needs Guns

Billed as festival regulars, this home-grown Oxford band packed out the 2^nd stage in true sardine in a can style. The crowd were visibly bursting with anticipation. I’m sure I even felt electrical discharges prior to the start of the set, the atmosphere was so charged. Pretty much most acts throughout the weekend provided something that good writers are told they need to do in order to construct a good story. By which I mean each moved the weekend along, musically. Nothing was really the same and it was refreshing This Town Needs Guns maintained the trend with their infectious indie rock sound.

It is not as easy a job as it looks to keep such a demanding local crowd satisfied when expectations run so high but these guys managed to do just that. Given there are just three members it is to their credit they sound like a bigger, fuller band up on the stage. Vocals are raw but in the crisp kind of way and with a true quality breaking through. Their musicianship was demonstrated to the fullest and the tent went wild when out stepped former frontman Stu Smith. Smith joined to sing an old song and a new adding a suitable finish to a well received and quality set of live tunes.

65 Days of Static

65 Days of Static proved vocals or lyrics are not always a necessity when it comes to making great music. While I did enjoy their set complete with an ever so slightly restrained ‘smash it up and be as loud as possible’ attitude, I couldn’t help feel like the stage just wasn’t big enough for their egos. Not that there was any negativity with this but it just seemed a bit misplaced. If anything they relished the attention they received from a very pleased and growing audience and in the most positive way possible, by showing their gratitude. They just didn’t really do it for me. I couldn’t fail to be impressed with the drummer however as watching him bash away in so animalistic a manner was like watching the legendary John Bonham from Led Zeppelin. I wouldn’t make such a comparison lightly either. I’m aware I was in the minority in not being more impressed but like I mentioned, it is not that I didn’t enjoy the set. They also definitely win points for having the grandest entrance of the festival with a gradual build up of calamitous sounds before being introduced in true epic style.

Lucy Rose

Outstanding! It wasn’t anywhere near obvious that she and the band had only just arrived back from performing at a festival in Latvia. Oh, and after playing in Norway the day before. Their exhaustion never seeped in to affect the performance one iota. On top form with her pristine vocals we got to sample more of the tunes that will undoubtedly feature on the forthcoming debut album (due out 24^th September).

I was a little clueless as to who she was, the first time I saw her play live. Following her input and assistance with Bombay Bicycle Club, she joined them for the majority of their set at Birmingham O2 Academy when I saw them in October 2011. ‘Who is this wench?’ was my initial thought but only because I was genuinely intrigued. An acoustic set in support of Noah and the Whale in Wolverhampton followed in March (at which my patience with the loudly babbling audience wore a bit thin, admittedly – just shush and respect the amazing support act please) before she headed out on her own smaller headline tour. She’s also back on tour from October to support the album. No rest for this English Rose.

Her songs have a subtlety to them. They have an ability to climb inside your head and refuse to disappear. You’ll find yourself humming along to them afterwards while doing just about anything in your daily routine. Lines, for me is the one that I can’t seem to release and as one of her new tunes it was great to hear it live. While the influences of her associations with Bombay Bicycle Club are evident, she nevertheless maintains her own distinct sound. In a recent interview Lucy admitted she finds it hard to describe her music because for her each song is so different. While there are a few in the set that have the same flavour, I’d say this is an accurate summation. From my experience of inadvertently seeing her three times now, there is variety you don’t always get when seeing the same artist so much over so short a time. Each gig has been completely different. Just comparing Lines to say, the more delicately stripped back and pure acoustic Shiver, demonstrates her versatility very well. There’s no doubt I will be seeing Lucy again at some point over the next year.

The Low Anthem

I was saddened this Americana indie-folk band weren’t better received by the crowd. The drunken hecklers wanting interaction really should have gone elsewhere, in my opinion. Not all bands are those kind of ‘in your face’ performers. Why is there this need for such attention when it should surely be focussed on the musical performance and those up on the stage? Perhaps it was a staging issue but even so I don’t think that should be under scrutiny. Admittedly they were a stark contrast to 65 Days of Static but even so I believe such a huge difference in musical styles is what makes festivals so appealing. I saw The Low Anthem for the first time at Beautiful Days last year where they closed the Friday night on the Big Top stage. They provided a really nice intimate live musical experience, continuing in true unplugged style even after the curfew kicked in and the electrics went off.

At Truck, the band delivered an impressive set of their trademark gentle folk tunes. Some were wrapped in so many musical layers there was a risk of having to spend the following few days unwrapping them one by one. Not that I’m complaining about such a thing. Bring on those multiple layers. Throughout This God Damn House, lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Ben Knox Miller demonstrated the adroitness of his musicianship by playing a saw. Yes you read that right. An ordinary - DIY B&Q style what your dad would use to cut up planks of wood on a Sunday afternoon - saw. This captivated me last year and mesmerised me further this time around. It is so original and wonderful to watch. The saw as an instrument also makes an appearance throughout the song, Matter of Time. Ben has some stunning if at times very haunting vocals too with a range almost as large as the number of instruments that feature throughout the set.

Jocie Adams on clarinet is always a welcome addition although I find her messing about with the dulcimer at times somewhat distracting. I must add it is worth it for the sounds it brings to the overall tunes, so she is forgiven. Her backing vocals and harmonies were spot on serving to build on the atmosphere created by the various instruments and Ben’s vocals. The sheer range of instruments utilised marks the array of talent involved but the songs tend to remain on the deeply melancholic side. Perhaps another reason 19:30 on the main stage wasn’t the best slot for them. People wanted more bouncy jovial music but that’s nothing against The Low Anthem because I’m already a fan and loved the set. Perhaps they were a bit too low-key but sometimes that’s what is needed in between bigger, heavier bands. It doesn’t mean the quality is anything less. I must admit I thought the set the year before at Beautiful Days had more of an atmosphere but I think this is chiefly due to my annoyance at those drunk hecklers this year. The final two songs upped the bar somewhat with the Tom Waits cover of Down There By The Train leaving its mark long after they’d finished.

More Missed Opportunities

I take full and complete responsibility for perhaps drinking a little too much after the Mystery Jets finale the previous night which means I was not in too pretty a state come Saturday morning. Therefore I missed out on some cracking early acts that I should quite rightly be put on some kind of trial for crimes against music. Amongst those I’d been planning to catch at least a glimpse of were Very Nice Harry, Co-Pilgrim, ToLiesel, Flights of Helios and Trevor Moss and Hannah-Lou. The latter two would have been time clashes but seeing at least one of them would have been great. Instead I must extend my thanks to festival organisers for making such a comfortable sofa available outside the bar near the second stage. There I sat nursing my delicate state which helped speed up my recovery so I could get on with enjoying the music. I’m afraid there are no excuses for me missing out on Emmy The Great and for which I should be duly slapped.

While not a huge fan of King Charles, as a dedicated music fan I appreciate the talent he possesses. What I do like is how he manages to mask what his actual sound is. He rarely, if ever nails it down so it always feels so original. This is no doubt how he attracts so wide an audience. His set was less a missed opportunity, more of there just wasn’t enough room at the inn with his having packed out that second stage tent. Although as I’m not particularly a huge fan of the King, I didn’t feel like I missed out too much.

Clash of the Bands – Mark II

I like what I’d read and heard about My First Tooth but as their set clashed with The Last Republic I’m afraid there was no contest. Tall Ships are another outfit I’d have loved to have experienced (and no doubt will at some point) but they overlapped with both Lucy Rose, who’s performance I was enjoying and The Low Anthem, who as a fan I didn’t want to miss.

It must be emphasised that with the way the performance schedule was worked out there was little in the way of clashes like there often is with the bigger festivals. The odd ones occur of course but credit must go to the schedulers for trying to let truckers experience pretty much everything on offer.

HEADLINERS

British Sea Power

Unfortunately I didn’t get to the main stage in time for the start of their set and so sadly I missed out on Atom and We Are Sound. What I did experience was damn fine tunery, however. With what have become their trademark green trees and bushes adorning the stage, this Brighton-based indie rock band rocked out their numbers with an ear-splitting brilliance.   

With Mongk II, the band exhibit their penchant for vast sweeping sounds that together with that onstage greenery, conjured up a cascade of vivid imagery fused together with the changing colours of the flashing lights. The lyrics advise, ‘You gotta lose yourself, gotta lose yourself to it…Be in mind, don’t be in touch with it..’ and with the mind altering nature of the music it isn’t difficult to follow that instruction.  No Lucifer proves their ability to hold back a little when the song requires it. Starting off with an exquisite guitar and violin intro, it would have been nice to hear a little more of that as a festival jamming special, perhaps. It nevertheless opened up nicely before the rest of the band and the vocals kicked off in traditional British Sea Power style.

In addition to No Lucifer, Waving Flags was another song most likely to be recognised by the masses and it was performed with enough gusto to make me feel out of breath by its end. If we’d have all had flags they’d certainly have been being enthusiastically waved. The precision in terms of how they intersperse the horns and violin amongst the heavy guitar riffs and thunderous drums must be noted because it is faultless. This is the second time I’ve seen the band at a festival and while they never really knock my socks off, I can’t fault the show they put on. It was epic with just the right dose of refinement in the right places. They do get extra points for the lyrical poetry of pretty much all their songs because it is praiseworthy in and of itself.

Frightened Rabbit

Frightened Rabbit were nothing short of phenomenal. In fact they were a planet sized bouncing ball of all the synonyms for the word, in all known languages, including all fictional ones. Playing a number of top songs from their back catalogue as well as one or two from their latest yet to be released album they well and truly lit the sparks inside every single one of the crowd, fuelling the festival fires within. People joined in singing aloud to the likes of The Loneliness and the Scream and Old Old Fashioned. They added their thunderous claps and ‘whoooah ooooaahs’ while dancing in time with the music. The latter concluded with a near chant from the truckers, encouraged by band lead turned conductor Scott Hutchison. The former climbed to such a deafening climax the roof of that tent was not safe by a long shot. Scott worked pure magic on the audience, at one point I was half expecting rabbits to appear out of thin air around the band on stage. With the cacophonous noise of such an excitable crowd these would most definitely have been petrified rabbits. 

The tent was jam-packed for this final performance on the second stage that quite frankly could have sufficiently closed the festival itself. I felt a little sorry for the many people who were unable to get inside. Although it was clear they were able to enjoy the band just as much without, under an open sky full of stars to boot. With people crammed shoulder to shoulder, the hearty Scottish spirit the rabbits exude passed from one to another like heat passing through tightly packed atoms. In a flash the whole tent was alight and little rousing from the band was required as everyone joined in of their own accord. In fact so many people sang along to Modern Leper and Swim Until You Can’t See Land, it’s a good job no band was performing on the main stage at the same time. The decibels would have drowned them out for sure.

They really got into the souls of people, waking them in to life. There was no time for rest. It was on with dancing, on with singing and on with frolicking festival merriment. Scott built up a wonderful camaraderie between himself and the crowd, working in his band members here and there along the way. While The Twist was a chance to calm things down a little after so much rocking and rolling, the emotion injected into the song together with its adorable harmonies required just as much attention. The crowd’s reaction as it ended matched this. Frightened Rabbit was by far THE best performance of the entire weekend and something miraculous would be needed to top it.

The Temper Trap

I thought The Temper Trap closed the festival perfectly in spite of a few misconceptions I’d had about them before I arrived. These were due to other people’s opinions I’d read prior to the festival and I’d like to volley them back given the impressive performance I was faced with. Even so, there are still a couple of reviews of the band at the festival stating how they failed to sparkle. From where I was standing – which thanks to the turn out was pretty far back – those people must have either had earplugs in or were being distracted by something else. Perhaps they were too intoxicated by this time and so unable to recall the actual atmosphere. It was buzzing. Yes I maintain my preference was for Frightened Rabbit and even though Temper Trap did not outperform them, I can in no way take away from them, what was a more than adequate finish.

I’ll admit while I had heard of the band, I’d not listened to them much. Further, I can’t say I was blown away by either of the albums I’d given a passing glance to. This festival set totally got me wanting to hear more from them though. Maybe they are more of a live playing bunch of guys, which is no bad thing. Not everyone can translate perfectly across all mediums. Still, they’re doing pretty well for themselves and from this night it is easy to see why. Why I write contrary to what I’ve read is that the crowd were getting involved and on a much larger scale than for Mystery Jets the night before. The overall sense of community had built up over the two days and these guys seemed to be able to take this in and give it back out in tidal waves. These washed over the crowd infecting everyone with the need to move to their tantalizing tunes.

Trembling Hands was my particular favourite, with Dougy Mandagi proving hands down he has to be one of the best band vocalists out there at the moment. His voice had me engrossed. Mouth open in awe type engrossed, seriously. He was phenomenal. The power behind it makes it feel like it has a life of its own. In fact, when I came back down to earth I was half expecting him to split in two with his vocals taking on their own human form right next to him. Not quite sure how that would work without hallucinogens but the power he displayed was some damn good stuff! Soldier On was a nice gentler addition with the music coming through perfectly in spite of Dougy’s still deafening vocals. Deafening in so the right kind of way, you understand and just wonderful how it is never too much. Even better is when after four minutes in, the song cranks it up several gears after a brief silence to deliver a kick ass final act before ending even more gentle than it started. 

There was no overly showy aspect but given the quality there didn’t need to be. The music and performance spoke for themselves. Personally, I’m not one for these theatrical shows as excuses for gigs because it should be about the musical performance, not the theatre. Ending with easily the biggest crowd pleaser and fan favourite Sweet Disposition got people singing along loudly (alongside the obligatory festival shouting – some drunken, some not so) and there was a great deal of moshing going on too. This was after an inspiring if lengthy but very welcome musical intro. It really felt like an ending but a damn good and worthy one.

Well done Truck! This was my first and I will say it again it most definitely will not be my last. Next year hopefully I can make it as part of my Band of Badgers Presents the Campervan festival extravaganza. Even if not I will be there with my tent ready for some great music once more. I recommend this festival to anyone looking for an easily accessible, smaller event but one which still draws a top class line up.

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HAVE YOU MET LERA LYNN? IF NOT, YOU REALLY SHOULD!

ARTIST: LERA LYNN

ALBUM: HAVE YOU MET LERA LYNN?

LABEL: SLOW RECORDS

TRACKS: 10

WEBSITE: http://www.leralynn.com

RELEASED: MARCH 2011

If you haven’t met Lera Lynn beforehand, you will feel like you have done so by the end of this sensational debut record. With nine of her own superbly crafted songs and a Leonard Cohen cover, she demonstrates a raw talent by the ocean load. The end product is anything but raw sounding of course, being finished with a delicate yet intricate style and wrapped up in comfortable grace by her stunning, if at times haunting, vocals. Haunting at all the right times, I might add, complete with twists and turns that will have your heart rising and sinking as she pulls the door to your emotions right off its hinges.

From the very first track, the remarkable ability of this young singer-songwriter from Athens, Georgia bursts from the speakers in a powerful torrent to bowl you over. Prepare to be held down on your back as the flow continues washing over you until Lera is satisfied you are suitably acquainted. Even though it portends grim things to come in terms of the lyrical melancholy, the fact Whiskey is so autobiographical does more to move you than to make you wish for something less dark. Indeed, through this darkness there is the dazzling light of experiencing an artist who breathes so much passion into murky depths they end up smelling like roses in full bloom anyway.

The chorus to Happy Ever After belies the fact the gloomy mood continues as it threatens to latch itself on to your tongue and have you singing along before you know it. She achieves this again flawlessly with the outstanding Gasoline. A song which gradually builds up a flammable atmosphere before culminating in a final verse that rains fire all over the failed relationship it’s evidently about. With a subject matter that has been so flogged to death leaving little that would even constitute remains, it is a pure delight when someone like Lera Lynn comes along and delivers it from such a cheapened place.

If Bobby, Baby doesn’t break your heart then it must be made of stone and you should seek urgent medical attention before it festers! With its distinct country twang and traditional folk sound this is the one to prize the tears from the driest of eyes. There’s a touch of Alison Krauss to the breathtaking vocals as Lera shares a tragic and deeply personal moment so openly. Good Hearted Man is pure country born and bred that will get your shoulders as well as your legs moving whether you want it to or not. A contemplation of the dark and brooding journey being only For The Ride marks the penultimate track before ending more positively, in relative terms anyway, with You And Me Alone.

While it is clear Lera embraces Country as her main genre, she has managed to produce something much more multidimensional here. Maybe that is why the music is travelling so far, as it rightly deserves to. There is such an eclectic mix of sounds from the Blues evident in Whiskey and Fire and Undertow to the Folk Roots of Happy Ever After and Gasoline which also manages a hint of Jazz.  While Alternative Country dominates it is in no way overbearing thus making this a wonderful addition to the Transatlantic Americana tradition. Perhaps there isn’t anything strikingly different here but with such personal poetry and the sheer exuberant passion she packs into each track, it has a very distinct feel to it. I find myself already eager to get to know Lera Lyn even more.

There are also two FREE songs available from Lera. In the first instance check out the website but they are available via the Slow Records soundcloud page too. Just a listen to her wonderfully original rendition of the Johnny Cash classic Ring of Fire should entice your fingers to click for such a great freebie. New original song Don't Make Me Wait is also a gem.

If you're in the UK and off to the renowned Cambridge Folk Festival this coming weekend (I'll admit I'm very jealous of those of you that are) make sure you do not miss out on Lera's performance on Sunday because all the promise she delivers via her recordings and the sessions videos (two of which are included above) means she no doubt possesses the power to render her audience into a magnificent melted mess of musical goo with her outstanding live set. If you haven't yet got tickets then what are you waiting for? Some have sold out but there are still variations available including the last remaining weekend tickets. Check out the final press release below and do the right thing. Enjoy what bit of summer we've been blessed with a top quality festival in the historical city of Cambridge. The Line up is top notch!

26, 27, 28, 29 JULY 2012
CHERRY HINTON HALL GROUNDS

BOOK NOW FOR REMAINING FRIDAY AND WEEKEND TICKETS

SATURDAY AND SUNDAYTICKETS SOLD OUT

All Sunday tickets are now sold out for the Cambridge Folk Festival. Saturday tickets are also sold out. Friday tickets are still available, as are a few final weekend tickets.

Friday is just £41 and features some exceptional music including highly anticipated veteran American country folk singer-songwriter John Prine; Irish singer-songwriter James Vincent McMorrow; English folk legends June Tabor & Oysterband; acclaimed US singer-songwriter Gretchen Peters; incredible Irish rhythms and tunes from storming Festival favourites Four Men & A Dog; Treacherous Orchestra, the thrilling folk big band, taking Scottish dance music to a new dimension; Raghu Dixit, whose unique blend of Indian and Western music coupled with a stunning voice have made him such a hit in this country; Louisiana’s finest contemporary Cajun dance band Pine Leaf Boys; English folk singer-songwriter Steve Tilston, recipient of this year’s BBC Folk Award for Best Original Song; a kids’ ceilidh with Steamchicken and an array of stars in the making, including Jake Bugg, all appearing in the gorgeous setting of The Den – last year’s brand new emerging talent stage which proved a huge Festival hit. Plus the opening ceremony of the Olympics on a screen in the main Festival bar!

Full line-up below. Online booking and information, including details of who’s on which day: www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk. Phone booking: 01223 357851

Tickets: Full Festival £120; Friday £41

Camping: (Full Festival tickets only, per 2-3 berth tent) Cherry Hinton £52, Coldhams Common £36 (second site).

Online bookings subject to booking fee.

Cambridge Folk Festival is organised and promoted by Cambridge City Council.

Facebook: facebook.com/cambridgefolkfestival; Twitter: twitter.com/CamFolkFest #CFF12

For further information contact: Claire Horton, Richard Wootton Publicity claire@rwpublicity.com    020 8545 9299

FULL LINE-UP:

Clannad  Joan Armatrading The Proclaimers  John Prine

 Loreena McKennitt  James Vincent McMorrow  Nanci Griffith

June Tabor & Oysterband  Roy Harper  Angelique Kidjo  Keb Mo Band

Billy Bragg celebrates Woody Guthrie’s 100^th Birthday   

The Unthanks with Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band   

Seth Lakeman  Nic Jones  Lau  Gretchen Peters  Ruthie Foster 

Karine Polwart  Four Men & A Dog  Dry the River 

Benjamin Francis Leftwich  Treacherous Orchestra  Raghu Dixit 

Pine Leaf Boys  The Unwanted  Jim Moray’s Silent Ceilidh 

Tim Edey & Brendan Power  Anaïs Mitchell  Kan  JuJu

Lazy Lester & Friends  Steve Tilston  The Mighty Doonans  The Destroyers

Spiro  Brian McNeill  Megson  Phantom Limb

 Fay Hield & The Hurricane Party  The Staves  

Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson Band  ahab  Naomi Bedford

Habadekuk  Blackbeard’s Tea Party  Steamchicken  Lera Lynn

Ioscaid  Paul Cookson  Polly Paulusma

CLUB TENT SHOWCASES:

Lucy Ward  O’Hooley & Tidow  The Young’uns

Rachel Sermanni (acoustic)  Pilgrims’ Way

THE DEN (EMERGING TALENT STAGE):

Adam Beattie & Brooke Sharkey  Annie Dressner  Cath & Phil Tyler  Charlene Soraia  Chasing Owls  Dan Wilde David Gibb & Elly Lucas  Dear Winesburg  Eska  Gerard & the Watchmen  Fred’s House  

House of Hats  Jake Bugg  Jay Leighton  Karima Francis  

Keston Cobblers’ Club  King Charles (acoustic)  Klak Tik  Lee Mitchell  Liz Green  Lucy Kitt  Magic Lantern  Max Baillie & Sura Susso  

Moulettes  Nick Mulvey  Robin Gillan  Seamus Cater & Viljam Nybacka Solarference  The Beguilers  The Half Sisters  The Miserable Rich  Three Cane Whale  Tom Copson

And finally:

Another current freebie on offer at the moment is the first track from the outstanding latest album from McDermott's 2 Hours' lead man, the hugely talented Nick Burbridge. For Gathered, released in March this year, Nick teamed up with Tim Cotterell to produce something of star quality. Grab yourself Last Train Home and if it speaks to you like it should (if it doesn't then please do open your ears, it helps) head to his >>website<< and make a very worthy purchase. I played Song of Sisyphus on a recent podcast and while that is perhaps my top favourite, the album is packed with superbly intellectual and thought-provoking songs (something one comes to expect from Nick and he never disappoints).

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