Sunday review

It’s raining, pissing down. And the strains of yesterday and today’s weather have left the grass in front of the main stage something of a mud bath. But hey this is a festival! Or at least we think it is, until one of the organisers challenges my right to be there at all, and accuses yours truly of being “one of those kids who tried to jump in yesterday”. He soon realises his mistake but no apology is offered.

Musically, things get going with Tilly And The Wall. The concept of having a tap dancer instead of a drummer is interesting to say the least. But when you have 3 chicks as hot as that up front you can afford to economise on these things.

A short walk to the ABC tent and we find no less than this month’s “buzz” band – Brazilian's CSS. These Latin American’s sure can dance, and while their music is about as native to Brazil as polar bears, they’ve at least picked up the rhythm aspect. Bigger things lie in waiting no doubt, and they should really have been on the main stage. Also in the ABC tent, native Glaswegians Danananaykroyd, with 2 drummers, really do liven things up with their fast acting hard-hitting tunes.

If you hadn’t woken up by then it certainly wouldn’t be long, as Gang of Four took to the main stage at 6.25pm. Their set was nothing short of mesmerising. Sure they ain’t young anymore, but when you have songs like, “To hell with poverty”, “Damaged Goods” and “At home he acts like a tourist” under your belt, they could be old 90 year old ladies as far as I’m concerned. Highlight of the set was during “He’d send in the army”, when lead singer Jon King attacked a microwave with a baseball bat before throwing it into the pit.

Antony & The Johnsons were the closing act for the festival – a strange choice indeed – as you would maybe expect something a bit more rousing. They did draw a decent sized crowd, but there were also quite a large number of people heading for the exits. The fact the ABC tent had to be finished before Antony came on stage, restricting peoples options didn’t help.

This festival is only in its first year, but the obscurity of some of the acts didn’t do it any favours. It didn't seem full, especially on the first day, and games of bowls and croquet aren’t exactly going to get the youth involved, but maybe that’s what the organisers are trying to do?

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