an enjoyable Big Chill comes to a sunny conclusion
The Big Chill @ Eastnor Castle 2009 review
Thursday 13th August 2009
Sunday dawned just as hot as Saturday before it, and we were soon seeking shade in the main arena, watching The White Tree feat. Ludovico Einaudi, and Robert & Ronald Lippok on the Open Air Stage. Prior to the festival I was familiar with a grand total of none of those names, but their blissful and soaring sonic sound-scapes were the perfect soundtrack to ease me into the day gently after a cider-fuelled evening.
It was The Big Chill, it was Sunday lunchtime, and it was very hot and sunny. That could mean only one thing - Norman Jay on the Open Air Stage! Like New Years Eve and all other such over-hyped mandatory Fun Times, I keep expecting that one year I will not have a good time at Norman Jay's annual Big Chill appearance, but in 5 years Norman Jay has never failed to have me up on my feet and dancing like a loon. Playing his eclectic mix of sun-drenched beats ranging from hip hop to house, pop to drum & bass, the field was in full-on party mode as the sun shone above us.
Wanting to catch Noel Fielding on The Coop stage, and with the cautionary tale of our fruitless attempt to see Bill Bailey the year before still fresh in my mind (eg. Go early or you won't get near it), we reluctantly left the Open Air Stage to walk to the other end of the site. We never should have bothered. Getting into the tent was not a problem, because as soon as we got there it became obvious that people were departing in droves. It seemed there was no 'set' to see here, just Fielding stood on a stage talking random rubbish, occasionally inviting audience members onstage for no discernible reason, and singing the odd 'Crimp' from his Mighty Boosh TV series. Fielding did at least have the good grace to seem embarrassed by his self-confessed 'shambles' of a set, but I was not the only one disappointed. He was billed to be on stage for an hour, and in the end he left in about 20 minutes, having barely told a joke.
After some surprisingly tasty nachos, we trekked back to the Open Air Stage for roots reggae legend Max Romeo, formerly of The Upsetters. Even those who have never heard Romeo's name will know at least one of his songs, the Prodigy-sampled 'I Chase The Devil', borrowed for their 1992 'Out of Space' single, and I was surprised to find I knew more of the set than I thought I would. Dancing at the front of the stage as the warm dubby grooves surrounded the beaming crowd, it struck me that this could be the best Sunday I have ever had, and this set was a big part of it. This was music to put a smile on your face, and best served in the sunshine, making today about perfect so far.
Unfortunately, now being an old codger of 28 these days, it was at this point that I had to leave The Big Chill, as I couldn't get the Monday off work from my real job, more's the pity. It's an old cliché in festival land that The Big Chill is the event of choice for reformed clubbers who would once have been awake all night raving, but now prefer something a little less hectic, and easier to recover from without taking a week off work. There is truth in this cliché, without a doubt, but do not let that dissuade you from the fact that this is a fantastic music event that attracts nice, friendly, fun people to listen to interesting and varied music from around the world.
Sure, there are bigger festivals, and festivals more focussed on each of the myriad genres The Big Chill covers, but every year I become just a little more convinced that this festival is the one for me, regardless of the disparaging stereotypes associated with it. There is great food from around the world, relatively clean toilets (although not nearly enough of them this year, BC – tut tut! And why only one block of urinals?), warm showers, comfy seats, and shady spots. Add to that some good friends, a few drinks and some nice weather, and I think that's called a pretty perfect weekend.
review by Lynsey Haire photos by Martin Woodhead / Phil Bull
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