Kevin's Watch

Hadn't heard of M Ward til your recommendation, sarge. Checking him out now on Youtube. Whether we go there will i think depend on energy levels (That'll be day 4) If we're knackered it'd be good chill out stuff, and another friend has recommended Bon Iver, who's playing just after. If we have some energy, it might have to be Tindersticks and Kilfenora Ceili Band, or if lots it'll be the dance village and Pete Tong, deadmau5, and 2Many DJs. And then again, I have a horrible suspicion that my mate who I'll be there with, wants so see Bruce Springsteen. I've dragged him to many more things than he has me, so I tend to feel obliged to go with him, when there's something he really wants to see.

Thanks for the other recommendations. Neil Young is a near cert (tho on at same time as Ray Davies and Animal Collective both of whom I was keen on), Specials don't clash so yes, Fairport are on at same time as specials so no, CSN yes, Spinal Tap a certainty, Nick Cave no I'm not fussed on him and Tunng+Tinariwen are on elsewhere, Tom Jones probable, Ech and the bunnymen is a tough one - I love them but on at same time as peatbog fairies, Roger Mcguinn I don't know but will go youtube him, and Robin Hitchcock I'm not so fussed on.

Must also check out gaslight anthem, eagles of death metal, and jason mraz.

Thanks again Sarge!

Edit oh wow roger mcguinn of the Byrds! didn't know that. god I hope they do some sort of supergroup thing with him neil young and CSN!

just say no to Bruce.

and damn it i have yet to see Hitchcock and you pass him by every year.

I am guessing the Tindersticks likely tour so pick Ward.

Neil beats out Davies - though I like both.

i am not a Cave fan but many are.

Home again, and mostly recovered! It was an odd year, not one of the best, mainly due to weather conditions - alternate heavy prolonged rain (and thus, mud) then baking (and I mean, baking) hot sunshine), which together meant that energy levels were at low ebbs through most of the 3 days of music. (oh yeah, and the almighty bender on Thursday probably didn't help, though much fun was had )

Wednesday started bad - ridiculous traffic meant that normal 2 or 3 hour bus journey there took 7.5 hours instead! Not good! But later, one of my best mates proposed to one of my other best mates and she said yes, which was a great start to the festival! We celebrated on Thursday, met lots of random people including my best friend from school, searched long and hard, found, and drank champagne, bribed the guy who runs the Mystic Swing to open it up early just for us to have a celebratory go, partook of various substances, explored new places, all in all had a great time. Then it started to rain. lots.

Friday woke up to mud mud everywhere. Decided to check out some smaller acts so off to Avalon tent for Baskery (6.5/10) then 3 Daft Monkeys (6/10). Over to Pyramid stage for Fleet Foxes - lovely chilled out sunny afternoon lie back and enjoy (7/10). Sun+mud+previous night so relaxed in shade for a few hours then was persuaded to see The Streets instead of The Specials. Not my thing at all (3/10). Then back to Pyramid stage for Neil Young. Wow! Not what I expected at all! he made some raw sounds with that guitar. He can mistreat them too! (7/10)

Saturday woke up to hot hot hot sun. Went to Rolf Harris, as did most people it seemed and as he was playing one of the smaller outdoor stages you simply couldn't move. He was good though, 'Two Little Boys' brought the first weekend tear-to-the -eye (though it may just have been suncream and sweat dripping) (7/10). Next stop was Pyramid stage (main one) for Spinal Tap. They were good. Disappointed they 'urbanised' Sex Farm Woman but other songs good, esp Big Bottoms. Were joined on stage by Jarvis Cocker on bass and someone else 'famous' who I can't remember (6.5/10). Then on to Dance West to see Japanese Popstars. They were great though I didn't have energy to appreciate properly (7.5/10). Crosby Stills and Nash next on pyramid again. Wasn't in the mood for them at all, though they were ok (6/10). Sun very very hot by now, changing liquid mud to sticky mud, making it very hard to get around. Found some shade for a while then as expected was 'persuaded' to go to Bruce Springsteen. Goddamn awful middle of the road rock crap (1/10). left early and had an early night. Seriously sunburnt and worn out.

Sunday was hot again. Took a long time to get the energy together to get going. Saw Priscilla Ahn at Queens Head stage . She was great - beautiful voice, amusing anecdotes (7.5/10). Wandered aimlessly for a while then to Pyramid for Madness. They were fantastic. Played all the big hits. 'It Must Be Love' was a classic 100000 people sing-along (8/10). Went to The Park stage next for Tunng and Tinariwen (on stage together)- the highlight of the weekend! They were just simply wonderful (10/10). Must buy some Tunng stuff. Back to Avalon for Seth Lakeman - ok (6/10) and then Peatbog Faeries who were a bit too 'same'y until their last number (my fave) 'Folk Police' (6/10).

Torrential rain meant Monday morning march to bus (6.30am) was through serious mud. made the bus with 2 minutes to spare. Phew!

Neil Young video
www.bbc.co.uk/glastonbury/2009/artists/neilyoung/

Fleet Foxes video
www.bbc.co.uk/glastonbury/2009/artists/ ... .shtml#emp

Spinal Tap video
www.bbc.co.uk/glastonbury/2009/artists/ ... .shtml#emp

will add more as bbc sort them out online

Rolf Harris on wobble board


Pyramid stage for Bruce (that's about the front quarter of field!)


Aerial shot of site

Great summary Stonemaybe! It's strange, I woke up this morning with "Two Little Boys" in my head - I haven't listened to it for 20 odd years. And then you mention it.

One of these years, I'll head to Glastonbury for the solstice and meet up with Stone...

*sigh*

About 6 weeks to the next festival, Electric Picnic in Ireland. Lineup is looking fantastic, with Brian Wilson, Dinosaur Jr, Alabama 3, Orbital, Echo and the Bunnymen, Madness, Tunng, Whitest Boy Alive, 2 Many DJs, Billy Bragg, Fleet Foxes, Rodrigo y Gabriela the bands that I KNOW will be fantastic. Lots of other bands I'm not up to speed on - if anyone has any recommendations, please post!

2 MANY DJS, A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS, ABC, ALABAMA 3, AMADOU & MARIAM, BAABA MAAL, BASEMENT JAXX, BAT FOR LASHES, BELL ORCHESTRE, BELL X1, BILLY BRAGG, BLINDFOLD, BLITZEN TRAPPER, BOY 8 BIT, BRIAN WILSON, BURAKA SOM SISTEMA, CAP PAS CAP, CHIC, CHRIS CUNNINGHAM LIVE, DAMIEN DEMPSEY, DAN DEACON ENSEMBLE, DINOSAUR JR, DIPLO, DUBLIN GOSPEL CHOIR, DUCKWORTH LEWIS METHOD, ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN, EFTERKLANG, EROL ALKAN, ESG, EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY, FAKE BLOOD, FIONN REGAN, FIRST AID KIT, FLAMING LIPS, FLEET FOXES, FLORENCE & THE MACHINE, FOUR TET, HALFSET, HEARTBREAK, HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE, IMELDA MAY, JAPE, JAZZANOVA (LIVE), JEFFREY LEWIS, JULIE FEENEY, KID CREOLE & THE COCONUTS, KLAXONS, LAURA IZIBOR, LISA HANNIGAN, LOW ANTHEM, LUCENT DOSSIER EXPERIENCE, LYKKE LI, MADNESS, MAGAZINE, MAGNOLIA ELECTRIC CO, MAJOR LAZER (SOUND SYSTEM), MARINA & THE DIAMONDS, MGMT, MICACHU, MICHAEL NYMAN ORCHESTRA, MICK FLANNERY, MODERAT, MUNDY, NEKO CASE. NIGHTMARES ON WAX SOUNDYSTEM, NÔZE, OKKERVIL RIVER, ONE DAY INTERNATIONAL, ORBITAL, PETER BRODERICK, QUANTIC & HIS COMBO BARBARO, RICHMOND FONTAINE, RODRIGO Y GABRIELA, ROOTS MANUVA, ROYKSOPP, SEASICK STEVE, SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO (LIVE), SKREAM & BENGA, SPECIAL DISCO VERSION DJ set
(JAMES MURPHY & PAT MAHONEY), STEE DOWNES, THE ACORN, THE BIG PINK, THE FIELD, THE LOST BROTHERS , THE SUGARHILL GANG, THE TEMPER TRAP, THE WAILERS, THE WALKMEN, TUNNG, TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB, WAVE MACHINES, VILLAGERS, WHITEST BOY ALIVE, ZERO 7.

Splendour in the Grass was on just last weekend at Byron Bay on Australia's east coast.

Apparently, the Flaming Lips put on an excellent show (I wasn't there - so heard second hand from my friends without kids and other commitments!)

That's about it for recommendations from me!

Apparently I'll be going to a three day Phish festival for Halloween this year.

I have no idea what to expect, and am a little frightened.

When Phish played here, the market was very reminiscent of the traveling markets of Deadheads. The vibe was very mellow. You should have a good time, Wadds.

One year ago, after Electric Picnic, I wrote

But I don't think I have ever packed so much sheer fun into a weekend in my life!

...Until last weekend!

Dinosaur Jr have been one of my favourite bands since - well, for over half my life anyway, and they're one of the few band who I have never managed to see live, that I really wanted to. So anticipation levels were at an all-time high, and they were brilliant. Just pure WOW! Other than them, the rest of the bands I saw Friday were so-so (Zero 7, MGMT, and Orbital) or pure rubbish (ABC). But lots of fun was had anyway.

Saturday was just a stunning day for music - I'm rapidly running out of superlatives here! Started off with Marina and The Diamonds. I guarantee they will be huge next year. Then Billy Bragg for the umpteenth time, then Whitest Boy Alive (much much livelier than I expected), then Brian Wilson for a big singalong (he finished with my fave Fun Fun Fun ), then for the biggest and nicest surprise of the weekend, a band called Explosions in The Sky. Never even heard of them before but they blew me away. 2ManyDJs were the disappointment of the day, but I was planning on only seeing a bit of them anyway, as Tunng (my fave band from glastonbury this year) were playing. They were great too (and the only proper sternum-vibrator of the weekend).

Sunday started with Echo and The Bunnymen, who I found out today played despite their keyboard player dying in a motorbike accident earlier in the week. Amazing. They did Lips Like Sugar last and dragged it out for a wonderful ten minutes or so. Then Alabama 3 who were great as always, Passion Pit (forgettable), Amadou and Mariam (great African beats), and Flaming Lips to finish. Flaming Lips put on a great show, but their music didn't grab me.

At least eight bands over the weekend scored a perfect 10 out of 10. Don't think I can say that about any other festival I've ever been to, and I go to lots!

Alabama 3 'Woke Up This Morning'
www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8-Sxuy-lA8

Dinosaur Jr 'The Wagon'
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0d9iXQZ5MA

Anyone heard of 'All Tomorrows Parties'? As far as I knew, it was a big music festival outside New York. This year I noticed My Bloody Valentine were playing. I remember cooing at the lineup but knowing I couldn't go.

I've just found out that in a week's time, ATP are doing a festival here in the UK, not too far away, where all the bands who play are being chosen by MBV and the lineup is to die for! Obviously, it being winter, it's not your typical festival, it's been hosted in a Butlins holiday camp!!!! Everyone stays in chalets instead of tents, the gigs are indoor.

It's sold out, and even if I could get tickets, I'm working. I'm gutted.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

There's lots of music things being auctioned off on ebay to raise funds for Haiti relief, among them a proper hot shower in the farmhouse at this year's Glastonbury festival. I was interested, then saw the bidding..



How much for a shower?????

Going to The Big Day Out at the end of Jan 2010.

Line up here

StevieG wrote:Going to The Big Day Out at the end of Jan 2010.

Line up here

Primal Scream are normally a sure bet for a great show - don't miss them!

Crystal Castles put on a great show too!

So, the Big Day Out is on Sunday. I'm starting to think about the schedule.

Timetable is here

This is what I've come up with so far, but if you have any suggestions, it would be gratefully accepted!

11:00 – 11:45am The Vines
11:30 – 12:10pm The Naked & Famous
11:45 - 12:30pm Little Red
12:30 – 1:15pm Children Collide

1:15 – 3:50pm Lunch/Bar/Rest

3:50 – 5:30pm Not sure yet, a few options:

3:50 – 4:40pm Deftones
4:15 – 5:00pm Angus & Julia Stone
4:30 - 5:15pm Crystal Castles
4:40 – 5:30pm Birds of Tokyo

5:30 – 6:00pm Dinner/Bar/Rest

6:00 – 7:00pm Bloody Beetroots? (or straight to Iggy who starts at 6:30)
7:00 – 7:30pm Iggy & the Stooges (get good position for Tool)
7:30 – 8:30pm Primal Scream
8:45 – 10:00 Tool

Well, it sounds like Tool is a priority for you, but if I was in your place, I'd be there for Grinderman. Otherwise, it sounds like you'd be seeing what I'd be seeing, although I might pop in on the Rammstein show just to see how obnoxious it might be.

I'd love to see Grinderman, and am disappointed they're on the same time as Tool. My friend is also keen to see Jim Jones Revue, which is at 1, I don't know much about them.

We're considering going over for the start of Rammstein - it's supposed to be an amazing start to the show.

The forecast for Sunday is 40C (104F) so it's going to be tiring day!

Give us some details, Stevie!

SOUNDWAVE 2011 - Melbourne 04 March.

Iron Maiden - Queens of the Stone Age - Slayer - Slash - One Day As A Lion - Primus - Thirty Seconds to Mars - Stone Sour - Bullet for my Valentine - Murderdolls - Rob Zombie - Millencollin - Pennywise - Bring me the Horizon - Anberlin - Dimmu borgir - Sevendust - the Bronx - Third Eye Blind - Monster Magnet - The Amity Affliction - MXPX - 36 Crazyfists - Melvins - Saxon - The Ataris - All That Remains - This Town Needs Guns

Anyone got any suggestions?

See Iron Maiden