Post by markwj on Sept 3, 2008 12:04:00 GMT
Llanfest
Llanfairfechan
30/8/08
Nearly the end of the “summer” and after my earlier Euro expedition a festival much closer to home. Up to two weeks previous I had actually been a Llanfair resident and all circumstances considered my two years there were good. The place had a friendly community spirit and this mini festival carried that through too, it served a s a charity fund raiser too.
To build a thirst for later I spent the afternoon going from Llanfair to the top of Foel Fras and back, though I started thinking I might need hip replacement (or a hip flask) on the way up, as I was a bit out of shape, not having much fine weather opportunities to get out and about these past months. As I descended so did the sun in beautiful colour, and by the time I reached Yr Orsedd I could hear the vague sounds of party starting up from the farm above the village where the event was based, so hurried my barely controlled flight into terrain. Took my car there as I was unsure of how the evening would pan out and whether I’d see it through and how drink may influence these decisions. Rhian Mostyn the singer lives here and in the “small world of North Wales” I knew her through her Skinflick and Duncan Black connections as well as her husband Gareth as I was of local farming stock myself once upon a time (before I was sold off to make glue). Free camping was provided though and you could see that things were well organised.
A mere £5 to get in and there were already hundreds of people there all ages, families, councillors who I figured I may have to avoid in case they hassled me about day job issues…and a fair few people from over the mountain in Pen who I hadn’t seen for a while so it was good to catch up. After grabbing a local (fresh from the field?) lamb burger entered the huge cowshed where the stage had been set up, a world apart from the tiny cowshed that was Blacklisted’s rehearsal room a long time ago. John Kobe was proving the usually excellent and massive PA, but admitted it wasn’t the best place for sound but once people started to gather up front it seemed fine.
Might have missed the first band, the next was Hogiau’r Bonc, a mini male voice choir that was something different for me, a bit of culture. It was definitely a Welsh festival, again interesting for me as I rarely have insights into the Welsh music scene, hadn’t heard any of these bands before, don’t think grindcore sits well with the choral tradition. That said there was provision of a good diversity of beats in the intervals from the renowned DJ Sleifar
Next there was Something Personal from Llanrug. Described as rock it was of sorts, but a bit too tame for my liking but still of a decent standard. They had an unfortunate technical hitch that kind of interrupted their flow before they’d really got going, but a couple of their later songs had some strong rhythm sections that showed promise for this young band
Emyr Gibson and Band (pic above) were pretty much what I would view as conventional/traditional for a Welsh band. A strong singer, excellent harmonies with the girl providing backing but the music was really just backing for this, to me there wasn’t much life to itself. By themselves i wouldn't give them the time of day or actively avoid but in this context i am tolerant. Guess it comes down to my preference for a band as a collective as opposed to just session musicians but I don’t know the band to level any criticism. It serves to entertain after all.
The tipping point of “should I stay or should I go” had passed in a blur of tipping beer down my neck, obtained from the bar behind bars in the shed, and the place was still a hubbub. There was as much animated socialising outside in the humid evening as in the venue, a real social feel that at times even the music couldn’t compete with.
Rhian Mostyn (pic above) did her best to do that though, as she was next up and again her voice is the strength and what has given her a respected profile in Welsh music, but there was also a bit more interest to the music that went with it, a touch of experiment in there and more of a feel of the band being one. She certainly was at home at her home on the stage and is a very engaging performer, obviously having a lot of fun and inspiring it for others too. I believe she finished with “Circus Atari” off her new “Syrcas” album release
Introduced as “about to become one of the biggest bands in Wales” Get Out Clause (pic above) were certainly a revelation for the night. A three piece, they played charged, angular, rapidly shifting songs. Not quite punky, more abrasive alternative, bristling with energy. All the musicians were skilled, and the singer/guitarist had a sense of dangerous charisma. Excellent, and I didn’t realise how loud they were either till I noticed being somewhat deafened after. Again.
Finally, Bryn Fon and Band. Apparently he used to act in C’mon Midfield, so "celebrity" attraction added into the pull on the crowd, but I couldn’t say I remembered him It closed off the evening in a similar generally entertaining fashion to what had gone earlier, though the level of professionalism did seem to merit him headlining. I also had vague recollections of their almost being a more prog rock element to some of their songs but by then the vodka had sneaked up on me, as it does. So after all was wound up I returned to the dubious comfort of sleeping in my car. All in all a good experience and I’ll be tempted to come back over the hills if it’s on next year too.
Llanfairfechan
30/8/08
Nearly the end of the “summer” and after my earlier Euro expedition a festival much closer to home. Up to two weeks previous I had actually been a Llanfair resident and all circumstances considered my two years there were good. The place had a friendly community spirit and this mini festival carried that through too, it served a s a charity fund raiser too.
To build a thirst for later I spent the afternoon going from Llanfair to the top of Foel Fras and back, though I started thinking I might need hip replacement (or a hip flask) on the way up, as I was a bit out of shape, not having much fine weather opportunities to get out and about these past months. As I descended so did the sun in beautiful colour, and by the time I reached Yr Orsedd I could hear the vague sounds of party starting up from the farm above the village where the event was based, so hurried my barely controlled flight into terrain. Took my car there as I was unsure of how the evening would pan out and whether I’d see it through and how drink may influence these decisions. Rhian Mostyn the singer lives here and in the “small world of North Wales” I knew her through her Skinflick and Duncan Black connections as well as her husband Gareth as I was of local farming stock myself once upon a time (before I was sold off to make glue). Free camping was provided though and you could see that things were well organised.
A mere £5 to get in and there were already hundreds of people there all ages, families, councillors who I figured I may have to avoid in case they hassled me about day job issues…and a fair few people from over the mountain in Pen who I hadn’t seen for a while so it was good to catch up. After grabbing a local (fresh from the field?) lamb burger entered the huge cowshed where the stage had been set up, a world apart from the tiny cowshed that was Blacklisted’s rehearsal room a long time ago. John Kobe was proving the usually excellent and massive PA, but admitted it wasn’t the best place for sound but once people started to gather up front it seemed fine.
Might have missed the first band, the next was Hogiau’r Bonc, a mini male voice choir that was something different for me, a bit of culture. It was definitely a Welsh festival, again interesting for me as I rarely have insights into the Welsh music scene, hadn’t heard any of these bands before, don’t think grindcore sits well with the choral tradition. That said there was provision of a good diversity of beats in the intervals from the renowned DJ Sleifar
Next there was Something Personal from Llanrug. Described as rock it was of sorts, but a bit too tame for my liking but still of a decent standard. They had an unfortunate technical hitch that kind of interrupted their flow before they’d really got going, but a couple of their later songs had some strong rhythm sections that showed promise for this young band
Emyr Gibson and Band (pic above) were pretty much what I would view as conventional/traditional for a Welsh band. A strong singer, excellent harmonies with the girl providing backing but the music was really just backing for this, to me there wasn’t much life to itself. By themselves i wouldn't give them the time of day or actively avoid but in this context i am tolerant. Guess it comes down to my preference for a band as a collective as opposed to just session musicians but I don’t know the band to level any criticism. It serves to entertain after all.
The tipping point of “should I stay or should I go” had passed in a blur of tipping beer down my neck, obtained from the bar behind bars in the shed, and the place was still a hubbub. There was as much animated socialising outside in the humid evening as in the venue, a real social feel that at times even the music couldn’t compete with.
Rhian Mostyn (pic above) did her best to do that though, as she was next up and again her voice is the strength and what has given her a respected profile in Welsh music, but there was also a bit more interest to the music that went with it, a touch of experiment in there and more of a feel of the band being one. She certainly was at home at her home on the stage and is a very engaging performer, obviously having a lot of fun and inspiring it for others too. I believe she finished with “Circus Atari” off her new “Syrcas” album release
Introduced as “about to become one of the biggest bands in Wales” Get Out Clause (pic above) were certainly a revelation for the night. A three piece, they played charged, angular, rapidly shifting songs. Not quite punky, more abrasive alternative, bristling with energy. All the musicians were skilled, and the singer/guitarist had a sense of dangerous charisma. Excellent, and I didn’t realise how loud they were either till I noticed being somewhat deafened after. Again.
Finally, Bryn Fon and Band. Apparently he used to act in C’mon Midfield, so "celebrity" attraction added into the pull on the crowd, but I couldn’t say I remembered him It closed off the evening in a similar generally entertaining fashion to what had gone earlier, though the level of professionalism did seem to merit him headlining. I also had vague recollections of their almost being a more prog rock element to some of their songs but by then the vodka had sneaked up on me, as it does. So after all was wound up I returned to the dubious comfort of sleeping in my car. All in all a good experience and I’ll be tempted to come back over the hills if it’s on next year too.