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home » festivals » Beautiful Days » Beautiful Days 2005
SaturdayBeautiful Days 2005 reviewWednesday 24th August 2005 After a very cold clear night, the tents rapidly heated up to boiling as we awoke to bright sunshine and the second day of the fantastic festival. Once again the campsite was awash with colour as the flags fluttered in the sunshine and many people had decorated their own tents and gazebos to add to the spectacle. We sat fortifying ourselves after the excesses of the night before with breakfast and ‘Tiny Tea Tent’ coffee until the first acts opened up at noon. Discussing whether Chas 'n' Dave and Bellowhead the main acts in the Big Top had matched the performances of Dreadzone and Michael Franti. By then the heat was intense and so we opted to chill out in the big top and listen to soothing acoustic music rather than the heavy beats of the opening acts on the main stage which seemed a bit too loud and noisy for the mother of all hangovers, though The Needles and No Comply sounded entertaining enough. The kids’ area was already a flurry of activity as we walked passed on the way to the Big Top it was great to see so many kids (and adults too) getting involved. Virginia Macnaughton, Romney Getty and Dan Donnelly all provided fantastic tunes with merely their guitars for company. Virginia’s songwriting is faultless and the music was perfect for soothing heads. I’d seen Romney before where I’d caught half of the Canadian’s set, she has an impressive voice and some fantastic tunes. Although her constant reminders that it was her brother with her on stage with his bluesy guitar did have us wondering why she kept making the point. Fantastic none the less and Goin’ To Texas is a must have tune. Dan Donnelly was the highlight of the three tho. Despite saying he was the worse for wear after the night before, he conjured up backbeats using a mic, the body of his guitar and loops for each song before playing his acoustic over the top and singing. A great performer who had the crowd in his hand and his song David Gray had the whole tent in stitches. I’d seen Seth Lakeman already this year so thought I’d return to the main stage for a bit of Oceansize. It was probably a mistake, to be honest, although their last few tracks were far more accessible than the first few numbers. Following them however was Celloman and the Urban Soul Orchestra who blended musical styles from reggae and eastern rhythms to jazz and created a fusion, which swung from ambient to dance perfect for dancing in the sun to or sitting and watching the myriad of jugglers, clowns, performers, costumed stilt walkers, air hostesses complete with planes, mermaids and many more. It was at this point that a soon to be married eFestivals couple were treated to a romantic meal at the main arena, much to the amusement of onlookers and worryingly a sing-a-long of ‘Gold’ too. With the wonderful weather creating a relaxed festival vibe we headed back to the Big Top to see Scotland’s very own Peatbog Faeries, deciding shortly after their energetic start that all bands should have a bagpipe player. Their driving dance inducing beats build up to whip the crowds into a frenzy. Everyone left the tent with huge grins after witnessing one of the highlights of the weekend. As I walked away I noticed how clean the site was hardly any litter anywhere. Though there was still no recycling! Next up comes a tough choice with major clashes. We have to decide between The Oysterband, Flogging Molly or the daily performance of Freeborn John. We elected to see Rev Hammer's musical story of John Lilburne, the first radical and unsung hero of the English Civil War. Freeborn John was performed by Rev Hammer, New Model Army, Levellers, Maddy Prior, Romney Getty, Rory McLeod and Phil Johnstone. It was fantastic! (as we were told later were Flogging Molly, ah well) with classic songs England's New Chains and Burford Stomp with Drunken Cavalier and Vox Populi. All tremendously performed to a large crowd sat before the Freeborn Stage and even including a mini battle from the English Civil War Society. With it’s own tiny bar and authentic looking tents it was a great show and hats off to The Levellers and Co. for introducing a little English history and giving us the opportunity to see it at the festival too. Another dilemma for us afterwards with The Wonderstuff head to head with Steeleye Span and Hybrid. We opted for The Stuffies who played a preficient set we all danced about to and despite not playing Dizzy they play everything else in fact I’d forgotten how prolific they had been. Impromptu Tron dancers and fire displays are additional entertainment. Beatz & Bobz tonight provide the late night entertainment in the form of Rennie Pilgrem and the TCR Allstars and Soul of Man. review by Scott Williams
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