Weekly > Reviews
Bingley Music Festival 2009 - Myrtle Park, Bingley
I’d literally moved house the day before, did I really need the stress and strain of travelling to Bingley to watch some live bands on top of everything i’d already gone through that week….oh yes, you bet I did!
You see my intention had been originally before the moving date came up, to go to all three days of the Bingley Music Festival at Myrtle Park. As it is I was only able to make it to the closing night, so missed out on performances on the other days from the likes of Doves, Sunshine Underground and The Undertones, but i’m glad I made the effort for this day.
My weary body was helped by the fact that they had things supremely well organised behind the scenes. Guest list was spot on, they had a nifty VIP area so getting a drink was easy and with free food and a goodie bag of gifts thrown in I was a very happy reviewer / photographer.
The photography part maybe isn’t as serious as some of the guys in the press pit and with their super long lense and pro set ups i’m not sure what they made of me with my digital camera going shoulder to shoulder with them at the front of the stage, not that I care either if you click the link to the right you’ll find the photo’s from that day and i’m pretty pleased with them!
So onto the music…the first act we caught was The Qemists, who gave an energetic and fun performance as they blended everything from rock to hip hop into their own ball of confusion. The Futureheads were up next and they were a band that I always enjoy live.
Today was no exception and they got the crowd going nicely with a selection of tracks from their three albums, with the highlights for me being Begining Of The Twist, Robot and Skip To The End, it still baffles me why these unassuming North East lads haven’t been more successful than a lot of other bands that emerged at the same time.
I have a lot of respect for Jon McClure from Reverend And The Makers and he pulls no punches today either as he challenges Calvin Harris for “slagging me off backstage to people, why not say it to my face”. Music wise i’m still on the fence about them, but today they are entertaining and full of life and the new material sounds good from their second album.
Calvin Harris bounces onto the stage and it’s clear quite a lot of club heads have come out to see him rather than any of the other acts, it bemuses me as I really don’t see what his appeal is. His set today quickly dulls me and it’s a relief personally when he announces he’s about to play his last song.
- Bingley Music Festival 2009
- Myrtle Park, Bingley (6th October 2009)
- Category: Live
- Reviewed by: Kev
- Published on: 25 Sep 2009
- Photography by: The Beat Surrender Facebook Page
- Comments: 0
- Beat Surrender Rating:
Weblinks
Add to favouritesThe headliners tonight are Editors and they more than live up to their billing. As the sun starts to go down on what has been a tremendously well run festival that i’ll definitely be returning to next year, Tom (pictured) and co come onstage and deliver a set “that kicks like a sleep twitch”.
Mixing a couple of new songs in with older tracks like Blood and Smokers Outside The Hospital Gates the crowd are putty in their hands. Despite the fact that i’ve seen Editors a few times before, I never realised just how intense Tom is when he performs until I am up close taking pictures, every sinew is strained as he twists the last drop of emotion out of each track.
It’s a fitting finale from a group who are about to release their third album, for a festival that is clearly going from strength to strength and yet still remains affordable as one of the cheapest summer music events on the calender, long may that success continue, you certainly have a couple of new fans in me and the better half.
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