The first time I saw The Portico Quartet was at WOMAD a few years ago. They were amazing and made a really big impression. Of course, now they’re no longer the Portico Quartet, and they’re just Portico, which is fine. Their music is quite different now, but I still like it. However, for me I think it lacks the impact of the first time I saw them live at WOMAD. That was amazing.
Category: Festivals
This is mainly going to be music festivals, but it could be any kind of festival I suppose.
WOMAD memories 2: Nouvelle Vague
Another great memory from WOMAD days was of Nouvelle Vague. I went to see them in the Big Red Tent and thought they were amazingly good fun. I subsequently bought quite a lot of their tracks. I say their tracks, of course for the most part they are covers, but what excellent covers they are. Truly inspired.
I’d like to see them again, I think they had a good stage presence, but I need seem to see them on anywhere. I think I’d go if I had the chance.
WOMAD memories 1: Mitsoura
As I was thinking about WOMAD I started remembering some of the high points over the years and I thought I’d share them. One such high point was when WOMAD was back in Reading, before it moved to Charlton Park in Wiltshire. I remember seeing Mitsoura for the very first time there. They were amazing. Something truly new and completely different from anything I’d heard before.
I went to see them again after that and bought their only two albums. I was disappointed that they didn’t do more. It was a shame that they only made those two albums, but that’s how it is. Even so, I’m glad I know their music. Glad I had the chance to see them live a couple of times. That was all down to WOMAD.
Back at the Liberty Festival with SoundLab
So this is the second year I’ve been at the Liberty Festival with SoundLab. This year was a bit damp and wet, but fun nevertheless. We still had a lot of people come along and play and enjoy themselves, so it was a good day all in all. I’m glad that I was able to be a part of it.
Even though it was wet we had a steady stream of people wanting to try out new ways to make music, and experiment.
A day at WOMAD
I wasn’t able to spend the whole weekend at WOMAD this year, I was only able to go for the day this year. Which was ok. The weather was pretty awful on the Friday, so the Saturday was a good option in the end.
So as always here’s the obligatory photo of the flags. I think you have to take one as part of the terms and conditions of the ticket. I heard a few interesting things on Saturday. Possibly the most interesting was Hannah Peel, who I’ll be listening to some more of soon enough.
It was also good to see Hossam Ramsay doing a workshop at WOMAD this year. Quite a while ago I did a workshop where Hossam taught for a day, and that was excellent. I really enjoyed it.
So I’m glad I went. It was good to meet up with some old friends and see how the festival has come on in a year. I’ve been going for a long time now, not as long as some of my friends though, and it’s sort of become an annual tradition.
I like WOMAD, but this year it felt a little crowded. I’m not sure why. It was good to go for the day, this year that was enough for me.
Oxted Beer Festival 2015
A nice festival and bigger than last year, or so it seemed. At least it must have been a bit bigger as they actually ran out of beer at the Oxted festival on the Saturday night. I’m not sure that I’ve ever been to a beer festival where that’s happened before.
It was a good event. Music wasn’t bad, food had some interesting choices too. But if anyone offers you a sausage role called a ‘ring burner’, just say no. Take my advice.
No Beyond the Border this year sadly
This is a picture I took one of the first times I went to beyond the border and it always reminds me of that lovely story telling festival. It isn’t on this year, which is a shame, although I do realise that it is more sustainable for it to be every other year. It makes sense. But I do miss it.
Hopefully I’ll get along to it next year. It’s a long time to wait though.
Can’t believe that 2012 was the last time I went to GBBF!
Which must mean that 2015 is time to go again. I think that’s only right isn’t it?
Going to Denovali Festival
When I heard the Fennesz was playing I thought that I had to go along to see him again. It’s been a few years and I love his music. Getting to see everything else on the line up was a bonus really. Here’s the running order:
- Moon Zero
- Greg Haines
- Fennesz
- Jon Hassel + Ensemble
It was a nice venue on the whole, with the possible exception of people who appeared to think it was ok to just talk all the way through each performance. I just don’t get that at all. Anyway …
I’d never heard Moon Zero before. I thought he was ok. Nice big wall of sound kind of thing. I’ll probably look his stuff up on Spotify and see if I like the recorded versions.
Greg Haines was really good. Again I’d never heard his stuff, but I really did enjoy it and I’m now looking forward to hearing more of his music on Spotify.
Fennesz was great. Played a lot of pieces I love and of course was the main reason for me going in the first place.
I was also looking forward to hearing Jon Hassel but could only stay for a short part of his set sadly. Overall it was a good evening with some new things to listen to soon as well.
Edinburgh Fringe: Chaplin
Chaplin isn’t the easiest subject to take on in just over an hour, but this small production tried and I think that they did it quite well actually. They told his story very well even though there’s a lot to tell and it was a very complex story indeed. But overall I enjoyed the performance.
I am Ashley Elsdon 