Been to Beautiful Days festival, so potted highlights of the last three nights’ gigs. Spoiler: I seem to have watched lots of folk music.
Friday was dismally wet, probably the worst conditions I’ve ever had at a festival. The only act I saw on the main stage was Seth Lakeman. My joke walking over was that the weather would suit his music, ie grey, wet and tuneless but he was actually really good. Seen him before and been bored stiff but I enjoyed him here, probably down to his new band - the new electric guitar added some classic Fairport kind of vibes. I spent most of the time in the tent, where the highlights were This Is The Kit - Kate’s a really engaging frontwoman, and the music was great - and the amazing Songhoy Blues. So energetic and upbeat, the perfect end to the day.
The rest of the weekend was mostly hot and sunny, meaning that after Bristol hero Gaz Brookfield’s midday set I spent most of the afternoon falling down a “drinking and sitting on the grass” hole and then a “my friend’s kid has been in the craft area and made a wooden knife which he has promptly stabbed himself with so let’s hotfoot it over to the medical tent” hole, so I didn’t see much. Did rouse ourselves to watch half of Ash and then the lovely Kate Rusby towards the end of the evening who were both very enjoyable. Sunday kicked off at the unfairly early time of 11am with The Membranes & Choir - John Robb’s lot playing dark and powerful post-punk grooves with a twelve (ish) piece choir adding super dramatic vocals. They were brilliant, one of the highlights of the weekend. After them, The Bar Steward Sons Of Val Doonican are one of those acts who are great at a festival when you are on the outside of several ciders but best left alone under normal circumstances. Banco de Gaia was good in the dance tent, and then NOFX were appallingly pisspoor on the main stage. It all wrapped up with Levellers (it is their festival, after all). They were celebrating the 25th anniversary of their 1994 Glastonbury headline by playing that set again, which meant that they dredged up some songs I haven’t heard live for ages instead of their usual trick of regurgitating Levelling The Land plus the only four or five decent songs they’ve written in the last twenty years. I do get a bit cynical about their shameless nostalgia milking, but they are undeniably fun and we all had a great time with them.
Good festy, will go again.
