Festivals you may not know

Went to Vantastical a few times, nice small festival but ran into issues recently and next year's will be the last one ever.

Off to Bearded Theory in short number of weeks. Ferry overnight on Thu, Belfast-Liverpool, then drive to Derbyshire. Very much looking forward to it. Really, the first festival I've gone to outside the island of Ireland, so be interested to see if this type of outing is worth it. Been to Hyde Park a couple of times - The Cure & Pearl Jam. Saw Sigur Ros in MSG, NY, one time. But no festivals. So, here goes!

Will report back!

Are you planning for next year? This year is sold out.

Yep, one time we were stopped going in as we had a can each open and the steward told us put it in our cups (they have a system there where you pay £1 for your cup and basically use that or swap out all weekend) and we went on our way into the arena. Bag full of cans as well.

If you don't mind me asking, how much did they cost?

So, just on the Liverpool-Belfast ferry back from the mudfest that was Bearded Theory 2024.

I know people complained about ATN last year (I was there) but this was another level.

It rained & was muddy when I arrived Friday morning. Saturday was saved by some sun. Of course, rained again, so mudfest back on Sunday.

So, what about the actual festival? Well, firstly, I felt positively young at the whole thing - I'm 54. And there was a lot of crustiness on show. Don't get me wrong, I've no beef with crusties. Just not for me. And great Levellers love (and merch, including t shirts, jackets, totes etc.). New Model Army played...of course!

The second thing was the great amounts of punk - they do like it up them, over there. Our very own scary Meryl Streek (are those creepy white contacts he wears?) played. And boy is he angry. But ya know what, TBH, I don't blame him.

Then, there were the angry girls. Lambrini Girls & Panic Shack were two proponents. Proper angry punk - and good it was, too. Sunday @ 12md brought Belfast's own Problem Patterns - angry punk girls. I look forward to seeing them at Stendhal in a few weeks. I wonder how the much more "refined" audience will find them, there?!

Bob Vylan. He's angry, too! But I liked his schtick.

Therapy? played later in the evening & were proper good.

Future Islands, eh?! What's that all about?

Great entertainment but crazy dude fronting the band! Mad dancing & he occasionally has this guttural roar/growl into the mic. Very entertaining!

Saturday was the best day, simply because a) the sun shone & b) the ground nearly firmed up!

Look - green(ish) ground!! This was a quagmire, 24h later. And note the crowd - older than me!!

Goat Girl were good - not half as angry as other ladies - and brought their flag.

I suppose Sleaford Mods had to be done!

Ditto Jane's Addiction. Perry Farrell comes across as very through other. Brain a little addled, perhaps? And more than a bit misogynistic...as were the Mods. Or am I just over interpreting?

Caught part od 808 State DJ set - wish I could have stayed.

Orbital turned in a great set before my bed time. Got my step count up! 😏

Sunday brought more good stuff. The previously mentioned Belfast punk girls were great. And the highlight of the weekend was English Teacher. Fronted by this diminutive young lady:

Wonderful vocals. Spine tingling & lump-in-the-throat, dust in my eye stuff. I know their Dublin gig got meh-ed on here somewhere, but this was gorgeous.

Les Savy Fav - WTF is the lead singer on?! In and out of the crowd like an eejet. Crept up behind some folks at a point!

Dry Cleaning are perhaps well named &, well, dry! But I do like them!

Then came the ultimate clash - Dinosaur Jr v The Orb at same time!! But, will see The Orb at Stendhal, so off to Dinosaur Jr through the mud. Great entertainment and efforts were made to overload the sound system.

Picked up a wee bit of Steve Davis on the decks.

Caught a bit of The Orb DJ set.

Picked up Stereo MCs - really like 'em. Finished off with part of the System 7 set.

All in all, good weekend.

The keywords are: - punk, crusties, angry girls, mud…..and I felt young!