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home » festivals » Beautiful Days » Beautiful Days 2004
Sunday reviewBeautiful Days 2004Thursday 26th August 2004 With the sun still out but a wind gathering most of the morning talk was concerning weather prediction, as we had to leave at the end of the night, we struck camp, packing it in the car before returning to the festival for more delights. Despite missing the first few acts we didn’t mind as we were treated to a Levellers' footie team playing the kids in a match, which had everything! Much fun, and really heartening to see them getting involved in the festie. In fact I have to say it was good to see so many of those on the bill enjoying the whole weekend with us rather than lolling in the backstage compound. Happy Life were lively and entertaining on the main stage and on the Big top stage War Machines of Love - formed by ex NMA guitarist Adrian Portas also well worth catching worked the aches of excess from our souls. We felt for Rose Kemp who clearly was in one of the worse states I’ve ever seen a musician take the stage in. She apologised profusely and managed to complete a shambolic set. Ah well it’s nice to know they’re human. King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys started off slowly before raising the tempo and our legs with some great rockabilly standards. Oh and Oi Va Voi were stupendous with their perfect festie music and like Neck the day before them , proved fiddles are clearly a great way to get folks dancing! As I'm sure were Drunk in Public playing to a rammed Big Top crowd although I couldn't be sure as it was too busy in there to get a look in! Then once again came the three big guns, Misty in Roots, New Model Army and The Stranglers just took us all with them, to finish the festie on a huge high and few of us cared about the rain drenching us. Misty and Roots where the real deal in reggae and played tight ground shaking roots and a few fantastic Bob Marley covers. And their horn section was just the coolest I've ever heard, almost angelic to accompany the gospel tinged moments. NMA really surprised me sending me into the stratosphere with old school style, reminiscent of Hawkwind and I realised why there were so many NMA T-shirts! But my daughter dragged me off to explore the site and find some wonderfully decorated tents, all the while their storming set drifting through the site. Now, having seen the Stranglers at Guilfest this year I was expecting more of the same performance, which I thought was a bit well, pedestrian. Boy, was I wrong, playing hugely impressive standards and more rocked up new tracks, they totally blew me away and I was drawn right to the front to mosh my socks off and lose my voice in the rain which lashed down through the stage lighting but appeared to vanish before hitting us! A mightily powerful set and worthy headliners! Sheltering in the Big Top a big crowd watched McDermotts Two Hours and Show of Hands and more dry floor space could be found at the Campsite Café. When I swung passed the music was being pumped out by local Exeter DJs, James and Lee and had us all unable to stop dancing. Later I hear it became a little too crowded for Hybrid after the Wickerman had been burnt. Burnt, rather too quickly I felt, as it had fallen over and I was shouting for it to get back up again. Oh and sorry to the cafe owner whose chair I'd said I'd return and never did! We then had to make the journey home, overcome with emotion and it was wrenching to leave. But we had sunkissed faces and a head full of memories to treasure and dare I say, it even surpassed last year! Next year we’ll stay the night and experience the Monday too and see you all there for the most Beautiful of Days! review by Scott Williams
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