overview

Last year I decided I wanted to try a different festival each year and after fulfilling that twice in the summer of 2007 I found I still wanted more. I discovered this festival listed on eFestivals actually as people prepared for the build up to summer. This was way back in January and I figured why not give it a go?

My fear of flying however soon had this on the brakes as I had to fly Glasgow to London and from there on to Lisbon. All those flights to get to one destination! How would I cope?! Well, Luton airport has fabulous donuts, tempting and would help ease my pain. So off we went.

We stayed just outside Lisbon in a place called Oeiras, opting for a hotel rather than the camping option of other festival goers who stayed in the centre of the city itself. It was magic. Buffet breakfast, a bed, good beer, and a nice shower in the morning! The area was quiet but with the train station 2 minutes away it was ideal. The train itself only having to go a few stops and there we are, outside Alges where the festival takes place. And the journey along goes parallel to the River Tagus and offers great views of Lisbon and a good sneak view of the festival site.



We had been sightseeing for a few days before the fun started at Alive and I worried we may burn out before the festival! I worried more when waiting to exchange my ticket for a wristband. We had to queue to get in, get searched, and then queue for the wristband. None of this I mind, however, there was very little organisation at the exchange point and no orderly queues. We had to fight our way in and out of the crowds to go back the way we came and into the site. This delay made us miss the start of Vampire Weekend. Gutted, but we ran over to the Metro Stage, finding our way easily as there is only the main stage and Metro stage under a huge canvas, to catch the end.

We see a fair amount of the band and they sound great. I decided I had enough time to rush to the ladies (portaloos beside the stage, but there are amazing proper toilets mid site also!) before they left. No queues, excellent, clean, excellent, toilet paper, excellent, it was only the first day though. But it bode well. Until I heard the beginning of 'Oxford Comma' ring out. Damn. I had missed the start and was now in risk of missing the end! Thankfully with the toilets so easily accessible I made it over to see most of the song and they left to great applause.

MGMT were the next band up and also under the shade of the Metro. They blew me away. What a great way to be spending time, a beer in hand, 'Time To Pretend' blasting out and just outside the sun slowly lowering in the sky. The Portuguese audience love it and 'Electric Feel' ends an electric set after which I felt a deserved beer and a sample of some festival scran was in order. However as I wander from Metro through the food area I notice a KFC stall, how corporate, but how hungry! They were tastier than home versions and I couldn't stop eating them all throughout the fest!



CSS were a late cancellation and as disappointing as it was I must say the move gave me the opportunity to watch someone I most likely would have missed, Peaches. Her lyrics dirty and her electro punk sound had the place bouncing around. With Champagne bottle in hand she provided an energetic performance and it was with slight trepidation I moved to the Main Stage to see The Hives. Mistake number 1 of the festival! Lead singer Pelle Almqvist grates on me. His self love might be an act, or he may actually believe the audience were there solely to see them. Either way, I am instantly put off by his constant self praise and challenges to any who disagree, picking on one guy in the crowd and challenging him to a fight! Crazy.

But not quite as crazy as Rage Against The Machine. I stood at the back, and the view was just as great, but just a little less rowdy! We jumped, we screamed, we whistled until finally we had tired ourselves out and headed for the train. Lisbon does things well and laid on late trains in both directions along the River so all partiers could get home with ease. Police patrol the area and you feel more than safe, I did not see any trouble at any point during the whole time there. What a nice and welcome change.

Friday brought us Bob Dylan and I could not wait. We arrived at the festival early and stumbled upon a whole other little area we had missed the day before. A nice small stage situated near the entrance with music emanating and a fair crowd whooping and cheering along. It was a dance troupe performing on a watered stage, splashing around and doing all kinds of acrobatic stunts. Lucent Dossier hail from Los Angeles and on this occasion had a burlesque feel to the show. We were mesmerised at their dancing and singing and what a fabulous surprise when they hosed us down from the stage as we sweltered under the Lisbon sun.



We watched a little of John Butler Trio before Dylan came on and wandered around the area at the main stage looking at all the mass advertising stands and abundance of beer stands (which made me happy!). We then bumped into a few fellow Scots, a few English and plenty Spanish, each one enjoying the surroundings and relaxing quality of this festival. The sun sets behind the Main Stage and you can look out around you to see the River Tagus as the site runs along side it. It is such a beautiful setting and we were loving it.

That and Bob Dylan? Awesome. He has such presence on stage, and although quiet between songs, he has this captivating quality that makes you stand to attention and feel, quite simply, in awe at the man you are watching. I had heard varied reviews of recent live shows, but this one was special, whether it was the setting, the crowd, or the man, this show was great and 'Like A Rolling Stone' went down a storm with Brits and Portuguese alike.

Within Temptation then arrived on stage after Dylan with lead singer Sharon Den Adel almost enchanting in front of their Gothic stage. They put on a fabulous show and I must say were my highlight of the night. An unexpected one admittedly, since I have only heard tit bits of the band despite them going for over 10 years. They brought our night to a close although the Metro stage has DJ's still appearing at 2am every night.

I almost felt sad when Saturday came around and it was the finale of Alive. This had become my home for the past few days and what a great home it was. I do find I become attached to areas and this was no exception! The small stall area, the music, the sun, the sea and the beer stands, where a nice Portuguese barman taught me how to ask for my beers. They say practice makes perfect and I practised a lot over the 3 days.

Neil Young was our main attraction this evening and I could hardly wait to see the Godfather of Grunge! His enthusiasm and energy onstage belies his age and he rocks as hard as the audience. We toast him along with a couple of hardcore Portuguese fans and raise our cerveja's in the air in honour!



The harmonica makes its appearance and I find the little hairs on the back of my neck standing on edge slightly as he astounds with his abilities and folk-esque sound. 'Rockin In The Free World' made us do exactly that. Rock. He was amazing. How glad I was to have the opportunity to see Mr Young live and it was clear to everyone he was glad to be there doing it for us.

We rush from Neil's set to find Gossip's set roaring at the Metro. Beth Ditto is as wild as ever and her outfits never disappoint in their absurdity. It always works though! We waited patiently, beer in hand, for what would be their rowdy end song and eventually 'Standing In The Way Of Control' felt as if it would lift the canvas right off the roof. Beth then had members of the audience join her on stage as they partied the end of their set away. If I thought I would begin to wilt by this point, then I should not have worried.



Ben Harper And The Innocent Criminals were last on the Main Stage and we made our way there, by a donut stand. It was here I tried the most amazing doughy chocolate thing ever. A dough log type thing filled with nutella tasting chocolate. Heaven! This festival was magnificent. We danced around to Ben, ate the fab donut, drank the great Sagres beer and marvelled at the time we had during this fest.

To be honest I lose the end of the night there. I blame the heat, or the giddy aftermath of said donut and beer(plural!) but we did manage to dance like crazy jazz hand fools at the Metro, miss the last train, get a taxi and make it home to bed. We didn't manage to get up in time for our airport transfer however. But it was all worth it.

I am already on the look out for places to stay next year. This was only the second ever Alive festival and I hope to be lucky enough to enjoy a good few more. I can see this going from strength to strength and with such an eclectic mix on their line ups, great friendly staff and fans and a wonderful setting it deserves it. They know what they are doing, and boy do they do it well! Roll on 2009 and Lisbon welcoming us once more!

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