Biggles - review by : Ian Marchant

Glastonbury Festival 1999

Friday 25th to Sunday 27th June 1999
Worthy Farm, Pilton, nr Glastonbury, Somerset, England
£83

Croissant-Neuf Stage, Sunday 27th June

You know how it gets at Glastonbury. You sit about smoking and drinking in cafes, or visiting and jamming with friends, and what with one thing and another, somehow you just can't be bothered to actually go and see bands. This year, over four days, I saw just three: Al Green, Patti Smith, - and Biggles Wartime Band.

An astute critic at The Guardians "Essential Guide to Glastonbury" had picked out Biggles as one of the best acts to be seen on the smaller stages, so I made my way up to the Croissant-Neuf tent in the Green Fields for a delightful hour of fun. Biggles are a comedy skiffle jug band, and are quite simply one of the most entertaining acts around. Their version of "Jollity Farm" signposts where they are coming from: We are in Bonzo's / Spike Jones country, and what a pleasure it is to be back there. The line up of sousaphone, banjo, washboard (ably handled by Father Green, or Pere Verte, as he is known in Louisiana), guitar, fiddle, trombones, kazoos, swannee whistles and zob stick, swings along to great effect, keeping the audience both laughing and dancing, which is no mean achievement.

Their Whaling Song has to be heard to be believed. Their version of the Laughing Policeman hit just the right note for the Glastonbury crowd, their Cajun numbere redefined "Franglais", and the punk classic "I like my Aunty May" sent the audience packed into the big top into pongoing frenzy. Between numbers, the jokes and the banter meant that Biggles would be at home on the stand-up circuit if ever they tired of music, which I hope they never do.

It's a long time since I've seen a whole audience beaming with pleasure while a band does it's thing. The Biggles Wartime Band turned out to be the best way to spend a Sunday afternoon that I've found in ages. Oh, and Al Green and Patti Smith were quite good too.