Tag Archives: Isle of Wight Festival

Jun 26 2011

Music – the power of three…

For the second time in two weeks I got wet watching live music. It was a sort of wet wet wet moment at the Isle of Wight festival. Then at Hard Rock Calling on Friday in Hyde Park it rained again. perhaps not as much as IOW!

Feel the rain!

On Friday it was the third time I had seen all three headlining bands – James, Kaiser Chiefs and The Killers. Apparently Prince Harry was there. 59,999 other people were…

James are a great live band to see – the first time I saw them they refused to play ‘Sit Down’, but the last two times they have done – and it is a great crowd pleaser. They are great live.

Kaiser Chiefs are a boys band – and the predictive Riot anthems are really good – if a little boisterous! They have a new album out where you choose ten tracks for 20 – and they played a few tracks…

But the stars of the show were The Killers. There’s no-nonsense about playing stuff you don’t know. They just play hit after hit after hit. They were absolutely brilliant – even if the rain was relentless. I have now seen them in London, Nottingham and in New York. On the spur of the moment I bought tickets for Madison Square Garden (even though we weren’t actually booked to go to the Big Apple!) They were fantastic….

My next live music is back in Nottingham – at Splendour - where Scissor Scissors, Blondie and Feeder play. For the first time in a while I will see someone who I haven’t seen before – Scissor Scissors. I have seen Blondie a few times and Feeder I have seen lots. Blondie gets a mixed review from me; I guess she didn’t quite live up to my 1979 memories of her! Feeder are just brilliant.

But I do know something – the sun will shine in Nottingham at Splendour. Guaranteed.

PS The set list for the Killers was…

Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll
Spaceman
Somebody Told Me
For Reasons Unknown
Smile Like You Mean It
Losing Touch
Bones
Spaceman Reprise
Bling (Confessions of a King)
Shadowplay
Human
Moon River
Read My Mind
Mr Brightside
All These Things I’ve Done
Encore:
This Is Your Life
Jenny Was a Friend of Mine
When You Were Young

Jun 19 2011

The Isle of Wight Festival 2011

I did blog earlier in the week about my 8th Festival. I figured I ought to add the bands I saw – and a few pictures…

I need to add the following to my list of Bands seen:

ABC – The look of Love and all that! – Surprisingly good.
Boy George – just slightly odd. The Karma was all over the place! But we smiled I guess.
Sharon Corr- very talented even if she plays the screetchy violin thing.
The Courteeners – Manchester’s finest. Debate?
Kaiser Chiefs – utterly brilliant even if their latest album is baffling. And I see them again next week…
Kings Of Leon – Superb again.
Joan Jett and The Blackhearts. A bad girl, but very good.
Lissie – Homely according to mate Jez.
Stornaway. Fishing Village stuff. Complete with Arran jumpers.
The Vaccines. Indie pop at its best.
Hurts. Odd, very odd.
Mike and The Mechanics – fantastic sing-along stuff and they played one of my favourite songs of all time – Follow You Follow Me.
Seasick Steve – interesting bloke with a scrapyard.
Maverick Sabre. Not good – time for Hog sandwich.
Iggy Pop – the man with a body that looks like an un-ironed shirt? I don’t wanna be his dog…
Pulp – Jarvis is back – and very good.
Tom Jones – brilliant.
The British Pink Floyd Show – not as good as the Aussie one, but still sound very realistic!
Nick Lowe – I love the sound of breaking glass. He’s older than I remember him being in 1978…
Plan B – not my cup of tea – I prefer Plan A
The Script – it was raining which took away some of the attraction!
Cast – better than I expected
Public Image Limited – Johhny Rotten grumpier than me!
Manic Street Preachers – fantastic end to the festival.

So another year over… it was wetter than any I have been to, but great music…

And the images of the show…

Mike Peters former Alarm front man gets down in the crowd!

Jarvis Cocker sings to us!

OK, it rained a little...

Johnny Rotten - grumpy old git

Jun 17 2011

Is smoking hip?

At the weekend at the Isle of Wight Festival I noticed a large number of people smoking. More so than I have noticed before. Most of the smoking going on was tobacco, but it wasn’t an exclusive club! Some other stuff was being lit.

I wondered if there was any evidence of what is happening in terms of smoking numbers and Cancer Research UK do publish some data. The chart below shows the position as they see it up to 2009.

You can see that in the youngest age group the prevalence of smoking is on the increase – as it is in the coffin dodgers (aas defined on The Apprentice this week!) at the other end. It is amazing to look at what was happening in the mid 1970′s though – when the rate was around 50%! It is reckoned now that on average 10% of the population smoke.

It is something I have never done; I see it as a waste of money and it probably contributed significantly to my fathers death. The health aspects are fairly well established – and they’re not good. According to Cancer Research UK, “Today, tobacco consumption is recognised as the UK’s single greatest cause of preventable illness and early death with around 107,000 people dying in 2007 from smoking-related diseases including cancers“

I realise that it is a habit and nicotine is addictive. It is a drug. People enjoy the relaxing nature of a cigarette and some see it as a control of weight. I am sure some of the youngsters we saw at the weekend see it as ‘cool’.

But the other aspect I really struggle with is the smell on clothes – my clothes! The smoke is pervasive and lingering.

You might say that I was an oldie at the Festival this time and so that is why I saw more smokers? Perhaps…

Jun 14 2011

The Kate Moss Hen Party….

Yes I was there. I met her a few years ago at the Isle of Wight Festival – and she was back. This time she had decided to hold her Hen Party at the Festival. I got back yesterday – and can confirm that I have now dried out. It rained. And then some.

Don't you love a summer evening at a UK Festival?

This was my 8th Festival – the first was when we saw Bowie back in 2004. It’s become a regular feature of my summer. The music is fantastic, the food average, the accommodation poor and the toilets dire. But altogether it is a great experience…

Highlight of the show was probably Kings Of Leon, but Tom Jones, Kaiser Chiefs, The Courteeners, Pulp and the Manic Street Preachers were great too. The two surprises were PiL (Johnny Rotten) and Mike & The Mechanics. Johnny was on good form – and was as angry as hell about the technical issues he was being served up. He walked off for 5 minutes until they sorted it all out! And Mike and his Mechanics played one of my favourite songs of all time – Genesis’ ‘Follow You, Follow Me‘ – and it was brilliant.

Boy George was ‘interesting’, We Are Scientists were off the wall and Seasick Steve appeared to have brought a scrapyard of instruments – fashioned from car hubcaps, planks of wood and the occasional nail and piece of string!

Collectively at the party some 304,000 pints of beer were drunk (at £3.90 a pint!) and 70,000 burgers were eaten. I had three pig sandwiches.

But 2011 will be remember for the rain – it relentlessly fell on Sunday for around 14 hours. The fields looked like a scene from a war film. We got wet.

As for Kate – we were a bit too busy to spend any time with her. Maybe next time?

I have been asked several times if we will go in 2012 – and the answer is yes – but we will take more all-weather gear!

Jun 5 2011

Gig rules….

I saw the Kings of Leon on Bank Holiday Monday at the Ricoh Stadium in Coventry – they were pretty good. This was a relief because I see them again a few days time at the Isle of Wight Festival.

KOL played for just shy of two hours. For most people over the age of 10 you would expect them to be able to manage to watch the efforts of a group who had come all the way from Tennessee for their brief stay?

The couple in front of us really struggled. Her name (according to his tattoo on his neck) was Thelma-Louise, his was Dale (according to the tattoo on her lower back). At least this was what I hoped – tattoo’s seem so final? Anyway, they both appeared to have bladder issues – each leaving their seats three or four times. This was punctuated by the need to replace the lost fluids – and each fetched bottled beer three or four times. And then they fetched food – pasties I think. Twice. This was before they both got up to dance some distance from their seats. When they returned they were deep in conversation about various family members. And then about the NNSD* staff in day-glow jackets removing various hoodlums.

I really did think that the poor guys up front with guitars had got in the way of their evening. They should have only paid half price too as they can have only seen half of the gig!

I realise that I must be getting old (no need to leave a comment about this…) but having paid £37.50 each for a ticket I like to feel that I have given the gig thing a proper go?

*No neck small dick

Mar 27 2011

A unique iphone charger for Festivals

As we move out of Winter into Spring, it is nearly Festival time! June each year means that I get to travel to the Isle of Wight for my annual trip to see a variety of Bands. 2011 will be my eigth year in succession.

My mate and I do this festival thing properly – tents and camping gas stoves. No five star hotels in sight. Uncomfortable air beds work if you drink enough beer in the day! A diet of hot dogs and pig sandwiches ensure basic survival! Toilets are ‘interesting’. The Champagne Bar (pictured) is a rare chance to sit down!

But the biggest problem is that my wonderful iphone won’t last four days in a field without some serious power jolt. I have a small solar panel to ensure my green credentials tick is in the box, but this only works for a while. It is necessary to turn everything off on the phone – wifi, bluetooth et al. But in the last few days someone has told me about a genius idea…Orange Power Wellies, which have been created in collaboration with renewable energy experts GotWind, use a unique ‘power generating sole’ that converts heat from your feet into an electrical current. This ‘welectricity’ can then be used to re-charge your mobile phone.

The only problem is that I am on Vodaphone?

Mar 6 2011

Bowie to tour in 2011

You may have noticed that I am quite a music fan; and at the top of the pile is David Bowie in my humble opinion. He has doen it all – hard rock, soft rock, punk, new wave, story-telling and everything between. He was the inventor of some of the most enduring characters in Rock – The Thin White Duke, Alladinsane, Ziggy Stardust et al.

I have seen him 14 times – including the last time he played in the UK (as a headline act) – which was at the Isle of Wight Festival in 2004. He was ill almost immediately afterwards and there have been suggestions ever since that he’ll never tour again.

As with most musicians of this stature there will always be rumours – and the one floating around the internet at the moment is that a new album is now in the bag and will be released on 1st May 2011. And as sure as night follows day, he will tour to promote the album…

Well, not quite – as I have a fear that these are all just rumours. I hope not, as I would travel anywhere (yes anywhere) to see him again. And I will pre-order the album if it exists. I have all of the others – all 23 studio albums and some of the extra live stuff too. It is estimated he has sold 136 million albums worldwide.

Bowie has produced some brilliant stuff over five decades. And I am convinced he could still make relevant music today. Young Americans remains my favourite track of all time.

I can only hope he dusts off the tour bus and hits the road… but I’m not holding my breath!

Jan 5 2011

The highlights of 2010

I’m not a great fan of looking back – but after my blog post yesterday I perhaps I ought, so for fun here’s my very own highlights of 2010…

The China Expo Guards!

1. Favourite Building – The UK Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo. Just utterly brilliant. Will remain with me for some time to come. The Expo was a great experience generally (as was the trip to Ningbo) and for once the UK didn’t embarrass us – which it could have easily done!

2. Favourite Album – Always a difficult one, but judging by the number of plays on itunes, it looks like The Coral’s Butterfly House. I have played it to death, and it is only in the last few weeks I have replaced it with The Promise from Springsteen.

3. Best Gig – A very tough one, as The Isle of Wight always features highly, but I think from re-living memories of the late 1970′s I think it may have been The Stranglers at Rock City. Just brilliant and music from my formative years. And followed very closely by Squeeze at The Nottingham Concert Hall.

4. Proudest Moment(s) – being asked by my little girl’s (now) fiance if he could marry my daughter Jade. I felt very proud – but old… I said yes! The Wedding is planned for August 2011. I am going to be broke. But also Jak, my youngest passing his test was a high point too. And Adam appearing in a film – hopefully hitting the silver screen in 2011 will be good!

5. Best Corporate Event – Our Little Britain 2010 yacht race. You might recall we came second (to last) but we have a great time. There is no better place than the Isle of Wight to race yachts. Great fun and great company.

6. Best Gadget – Another tough one – and choice between my Apple ipad and the Panasonic GF1 camera with 20mm lens. Both deserve a mention and I’m not sure I can pick. If I was forced … no, I can’t choose!

7. Funniest TV – without a doubt The Inbetweeners. Brilliantly written and superbly executed. Cringeworthy throughout which makes it very funny.

8. Funniest Live show – Eddie “never put a sock in a toaster” Izzard. Full stop. Funny @ full bore.

Nov 18 2010

Gorillaz in the wild!

Well, in Birmingham – same thing I suspect.

Gorillaz at Birmingham NIA last night

On a very wet and windy Wednesday night we headed off the Birmingham and the NIA. We timed our arrival badly – we caught the whole of the support – De La Soul. Hip Hop to make your ears bleed. I think they played a few ‘songs’ but wasn’t sure. It wasn’t a great start. The 30 minute set felt like a week.

But then Gorillaz took to the stage. They are a fascinating gang – including A Syrian Orchestra, a Brass section, The Demon Strings and, of course Damon Albarn (of Blur fame), Paul Simonon and Mick Jones (formerly in The Clash). Its an impressive gang – which also has numerous guests – including Bobby Womack, De La Soul (!) and Little Dragon. The USA leg of the tour managed appearances from Lou Reed and Snoop Dog!

The show is quite mesmerising – with some amazing cartoons from Jamie Hewlett. It really is the most eclectic music in one show I have ever heard. I do struggle with the rap (which I regard as being a spelling error). But the tracks from the new album Plastic Beach were brilliant. They played some tracks from their first album – but this was about the new work.

Albarn was on good form and clearly loves the collaborative working with artists across the piste. Who would have imagined you could blend Syrian music with rap and heavy rock. Albarn dances around the stage between piano, guitar and vocals. You have the impression he just loves the environment.

So, other then the (c)rap, I thought it was great. I would recommend it. The underlying Plastic Beach theme and beat does stick. It is haunting in parts and just loud in others. But I loved it.

The tour bus must have been quite big! It’s off to Europe next then Australia and New Zealand.

So – Squeeze next on Friday, then Faithless in early December…. and I got my Isle of Wight festival 2011 tickets yesterday….

Sep 20 2010

Service Industries – part two

A couple of weeks ago I blogged about service Industries and a bad experience I had. You can read the blog here.

The Union Public House Cowes

This weekend I experienced two levels of service – at different ends of the scale!

You might have read that I took part in the Little Britain Regatta in Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Firstly our professional skipper of Hot Stuff and his mate were brilliant. They were enthusiastic, knowledgeable and became friends. It is a difficult trick to pull off – being immersed with a group of people you don’t know and having to ‘manage’ their expectations and keep them motivated. Hookie and Max pulled it off brilliantly. Perhaps because they are passionate about what they do – but also because they have some life skills and have some life experience.

But then I also saw the other end of the spectrum.

We took the very fast ferry service to Cowes operated by Red Funnel (who I entrust to get me to the Festival in June each year). This time we left the car in their expensive car par (£55 for four days) and bought tickets from a machine. I was struggling with my colleagues tickets / receipts and my bags when we approached the ferry to board. The ticket collector was sarcastic in telling me I needed to read the ticket to ensure I gave him the correct one!

Then the Union pub in Cowes boasts having the latest Licence in town. It also has a great position. And a very unhappy Landlord! I haven’t a clue how much we spent in this great little pub – perhaps £300-400. Not once did he smile. Or acknowledge us. I think the only words he spoke were to confirm the price of a round! He looked desperately unhappy. Perhaps his goldfish had died?

I do wonder sometimes why people get involved in the service industry if they don’t like people. It doesn’t take long for customers to work this out and stop returning. It also costs nothing to smile?