Latest News

10th February
26 new names for Belgium's Rock Werchter
including Mumford & Sons, Incubus, Gossip, The Kooks, Calvin Harris, & more
10th February
first names announced for LeeStock charity event
Wheatus, Babybird, Nigel Clark, and Mark Morriss
10th February
KT Tunstall for Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2012
final headlining act revealed
10th February
first acts for Cambridge Folk Festival
June Tabor & Oysterband, plus Lucy Ward
10th February
Hawkwind, Wilko Johnson, & Dub Pistols for Off The Tracks Festival
headliners announced for spring event
  rss | more news arrow
home » festivals » Beautiful Days » Beautiful Days 2005

Asian Dub Foundation

Beautiful Days 2005 review

Thursday 25th August 2005


Imagine this for a gig - you're playing at a festival, run by the Levellers, attended by ??000-odd people, who by and large, quite like the Levellers, and the best bit of all is, you're the band that's on ... directly before the Levellers! Quite a tall order don't you think, so the big question then is, could Asian Dub Foundation rise to the challenge?

Personally, I had my doubts. Whilst Community Music remains a truly sublime moment in musical history, ADF's last two outings; Enemy of the Enemy and Tank have felt a bit lacking, and overall they do seem to have struggled to maintain that streak of originality since losing founder member MC Deedar.

ADF take to the stage at 6.45, to a big crowd, that feels like a jury that's still out. They open with a blistering version of tank from the new album which makes oh so much more sense than it does on record. We're suddenly confronted by 8 guys moving like their lives depend on it - punching out a song that's so loud and tight that the crowd's transformed from apathy to insanity in seconds.

What follows is among the most incredible and best sets i've ever seen. ADF were so tight, so loud, and so good it literally beggared belief. Suddenly this band are original again, they seem to have regained the confidence, passion and belief that made them such a devastaing act a few years ago. When they play Taa Deem, the tribute to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan from Community Music the whole crowd seems to explode.

When we finally get to the end of the set after equally devastating versions of Naxalite, and Enemy of the Enemy, the questions seems to have changed from "Can ADF really be anything other than a time filler before the Levellers?" to, "How the hell are the Levellers going to follow that!"

review by Simon Butler


Bookmark and Share

the eFestivals Camping Store
Festival search Ticket search

search future festivals only   advanced search

Beautiful Days,
related articles:

2005 Line-ups & rumours

Forum

more on Beautiful Days 05

Beautiful Days home
News:
14th October 11
Beautfiul Days 2012 ticket on sale
Beautiful Days 12

26th September 11
Beautfiul Days 2012 ticket prices announced
Beautiful Days 12

10th August 11
Beautiful Days announce more acts
Beautiful Days 11

9th August 11
Hawkwind confirm themselves for Beautiful Days
Beautiful Days 11

1st June 11
Tim Minchin leads the laughs at Beautiful Days
Beautiful Days 11

Reviews:
Beautiful Days really is a gem of a festival
Beautiful Days 11

Escot Park opens early for Beautiful Days revellers
Beautiful Days 11

Beautiful Days begins and it's perfect for little ones
Beautiful Days 11

despite the rain the children's area was still buzzing at Beautiful Days
Beautiful Days 11

spots are everywhere on final day of Beautiful Days
Beautiful Days 11

Photos:
around the festival site (1)
Beautiful Days 11

around the festival site (2)
Beautiful Days 11

around the festival site (3)
Beautiful Days 11

around the festival site (4)
Beautiful Days 11

around the festival site (5)
Beautiful Days 11

Interviews:
Levellers\' Mark Chadwick interview
Beautiful Days 10

Levellers - Chaos Theory
Beautiful Days 07

The Levellers - Beautiful Days
Beautiful Days 03
Listed Events:
Beautiful Days 12

Beautiful Days 11

Beautiful Days 10

Beautiful Days 09

Beautiful Days 08


Jileon Ltd
Funky Wellington Boots, Wellies, Festival Camping
We offer a fantastic range of Ladies Funky Designer Wellington Boots to keep your feet nice and dry at the festivals. We offer a next day delivery service and you will not find these wellies cheaper anywhere else. Also Tents & Sleeping Bags
carbon neutral logoeFestivals is
carbon neutral
more »
WaterAid
eFestivals supports WaterAid, more »
sign up for the
festivals newsletter
more »
© Copyright 1998 - 2012 eFestivals.co.uk | disclaimer | site map