B-Rate Footballer takes on Glastonbury…
A belated Glastonbury diary from Funkdub regular Ade Akinbiyi, giving his insights and awards…
DAY 1
“I thought you packed the wellies”
More by luck than judgement (and the fact I’m now pushing more mid life than teenage) we decided to camp in the quieter site behind the cinema.
Luckily this was on a hill and apparently water runs downwards.
So after surviving the bolts of lightening we waded our way to the John Peel stage - the only stage that hadn’t been hit by lightening and still had live music.
Sadly the music was a bit ropey (this applies to Nine Black Alps and the Infidels). Most disappointing were Maximo Park, who are receiving a bit of good press at the moment. If you take away the side parting and the jam style image the music is pretty mundane.
“The Others – keeping it real”
With the weather easing to monsoon we made it across to see The Others followed by Mr Kate Moss’s band The Babyshambles.
I like punk music and I like The Sultans of Ping FC (remember Where’s me jumper?), and I thought The Others were excellent punk at its best with a lead singer who seems to genuinely love his music and fans, (take note Keane, Kaiser Chiefs etc).
So next followed tabloid pin up Pete Doherty. I am a big Pete fan and his set of purely non Libertines music was excellent - with a range of quality new material. I had initially thought the stage would be too big for him and he did begin to lose the crowd a bit until his rousing Kilimanjiro topped off with crowd surf…
Next up a visit to the main glasto stage - the pyramid stage. The artist - the Doves, and what a fine set of Manchester lads these are. The highlight being black and white town. Pretty dam fine outfit!
As the evening set in and the mud began to dry - it was time for a chill out and American singer songwriter Willy Mason was just the man. It was nice to be in a crowd who purely wanted to see Willy Mason and his set was beautiful and full of quality Dylanesque music.
“Ade Akinbiyi’s entourage”
The final act of day one to be viewed by Ade Akinbiyi’s entourage were the British Sea Power. Apart form the electrical Storm these turned out to be the biggest disappointment of day 1. They over indulged and catchy tunes turned into rambling ones!
Day 1 Awards:
Man of the Match award:
The Others
Surprise Package:
Willy Mason
Paul Danan Celebrity love Island award:
British Sea Power/electrical storm
————————————————–
DAY 2
Started in a relaxed manner with a trip to the dance village (now not cut off by Lake Glasto). A group called Tetchi eased us into the day with their Lemon Jelly style music and friendly manner - excellent indeed.
After a couple of hours chilling out we were in need of some comedy, so we went to see Goldie Lookin Chain. Still not sure if a piss take band should get main stage billing but they did make me laugh.
The highlight being announcing that Bob Marley would be here at 4.00pm to help eradicate world poverty. They followed the Kaiser Chiefs who put on a pretty good show. I like the album and the set was good BUT after the great “there’s going to be riot” I am so disappointed that they are more Menswear than punk.
Then Bob Geldof (not Marley) arrived and we all held hands (well it beat watching Athlete!).
“Where did you put the inflatable”
We wandered off to watch The Futureheads who were ok - got the feeling that everybody were just waiting for the Hounds of Love.
Although we desperately wanted to see Interpol the weather meant journeys to different stages took a long time. As New Order fans we made our way back to the Pyramid stage - sadly we caught Keane’s fat public school boys set, but it was worth it as New Order blew us away knocking out all the classics, topping off with World in Motion with Keith Allen and a pantomime horse guesting instead of John Barnes (anybody who has seen Barnes on Channel 5 will realise this is a fair swap!). Love will tear us apart was particularly good, and for you “proper” New Order fans Love Vigalantes has to be the pick of the set.
To avoid seeing Coldplay we made our way to the Union sponsored leftfield tent to catch The Others (again!) and the BabyShambles (again!). Second time around on a smaller stage (and after the consumption of more alcohol), Pete Doherty was excellent - the highlight being a cover of the Clash’s White Riot dedicated to Mick Jones who was 50 that day (doesn’t that make you feel old!).
Day 2 Awards:
Man of the Match award:
New Order
Surprise Package:
Tetchi
Paul Danan Celebrity love Island award:
Keane (no guitars!)
————————————————–
DAY 3
The sun is out!
“How much dope have we had?”
First up Martha Wainright (perhaps building her reputation on the back of Ruthus!) followed by Brendan Benson’s power pop. Still there are worse ways to spend a sunday morning. We had planned to take in the Thirteen Senses - but they were awful - so we decided to spend the rest of the afternoon in the greenfields, lost vagueness and in the circus tent. People watching was the order of the day and a hoolahooping tight rope walker definitely stole the show.
After a day chilling we needed a bit of protest singing and who better to do this than Steve Earle and Billy Bragg in the leftfield tent!
Bragg especially was amazing knocking classic after classic with Phil Jupitus helping through a version of Sexuality, renamed Beastuality. A tent full of socialists mixed with Billy Bragg you left feeling you could change the world!
We needed to return to a more relaxed state - The La’s helped us do that. They were slightly disappointing but the drummer (apparently Lee Mathers gardener!), played the set stood up!
Now for any indie kids dream - Ian Brown knocking out Stone Roses classics. I think Brown has a back catalogue that stands the test of time on its own but mix this in with Roses’s classics such as Sally Cinnamon, I wanna be Adored, Made of Stone, She Bangs the Drums, Waterfall etc you can see why he blew me away.
His arrogant fronting of the stage (if not a time looking a bit of a scally!) adds to the entertainment. It really makes you realise that if the Roses ever reform it will be Mr Squire who has to eat humble pie and not Mr Brown…
The night was topped off by Alan Mcghee (OASIS manager) spinning some tunes to the early hours.
Day 3 Awards:
Man of the Match award:
Ian Brown
Surprise Package:
Man on tight rope
Paul Danan Celebrity love Island award:
Having to drive home after 3 hours kip / Thirteensenses.