Brontide – © Joni Andrews
Brontide are one of the few bands I know that can make instrumental music truly magical to set live and to listen to, featuring members of Russian Circles and the drummer from La Roux, their collective tastes are obviously broad. Like Nedry, use of loops featured heavily to create complex harmonies and juxtaposing melody lines all intelligently put together to make a great sound. Only stopping once for their allotted time to say thanks to the crowd (and even then, that was only the guitarist) the working of all their songs together into one continuous sound and to also be able to rework some of their songs almost on the spot shows the talent this band have. This was a great way to open the New Music Stage today.
Judy Beat and The Becketts are someone whose description is ’50′s covers and songs about ‘Quantum Leap’ is going guarantee a good turn out! With a tin pub packed out to what we find out to be their first set, the nerves showed but they soon settled in to playing, this being a range of instruments including an electronic lap steel anda bow saw! This was probably the most intriguing set of the weekend and with some great playing ability made it an amazing experience, watch out for these!
One of the many Scottish band we have seen The Xcerts keep up with the good standard. The hard working trio who have been relentlessly touring the past couple of years with support slots for Twin Atlantic, Fightstar and Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly and now are finally starting to get the recognition they deserve. Despite this only being a short set I am definitely intrigued to hear what they produce next.
Mainly instrumental, noisy with plenty of electronics and Dance music influences, Three Trapped Tigers make for a different sound. Garnishing a smallish crowd at the New Music Stage was probably a bit disappointing as by now the place should been getting close to packed out. Sound wise the speaker system lacked the ability to really create the huge sound that really is needed for this band to shine as well as they can. The boys played well but it’s a shame that things out of their control let their set not be as good as what it could have been.
Johnny Foreigner – © Jason Broadhurst
A relatively unknown Johnny Foreigner find themselves surprisingly on the mainstage and with two of them sporting tees for bands who have played Tramlines this weekend in Tellison and Los Campesinos! many would think why aren’t they on the New Music Stage as maybe that’s where their fanbase is more suited to. Despite this they more than cope with the occasion and deliver a impressive performance for a new audience.
The crowd has really grown in numbers for the next band, The Futureheads which is quite a surprise as i didn’t think they still had the ability to draw much of a crowd anymore. As they progress through their set i was pleasantly surprised to have heard more than the one track which is what i expected. They are definitely one of those bands that shouldn’t be judged by their cover they are clearly a band who do have the songs to work the crowd and keep everyone involved entertained for a set.
The popularity of Ash has dipped in recent years following the departure of guitarist Charlotte Hatherley and a few lacklustre albums but they have always been known as great live performers. With the addition of Bloc Party’s lead guitarist, Russell Lissack, Ash they seemed to have found there feet again as a band. Set opener ‘Girl From Mars’ brings back many memories of many a day sat in listening to them. With the crowd loving what they are hearing and rightly so with old school songs ‘Oh Yeah’ and ‘Kung Fu’ being played, Tim Wheeler looks every inch the experienced frontman. With this being their second show today they could easily have taken their foot of the gas put they power through with a blend of new, old and a couple of covers thrown in for good measure before finishing on ‘Burn Baby Burn’.
Words and photos: Jason Broadhurst & Joni Andrews
