++GIG REVIEW++
It's the end of the festival and Richard Davis reflects on the various ordeals survived and gives thanks for music makers like Ladyhawke.
Somehow, we’ve made it through to the fifth day. We’ve survived a Viking invasion (well, Norwegians, letting themselves into our cabin and helping themselves to our booze); we’ve survived heaps of Norwegian metal bands (complete with burning oil and panstick makeup); we’ve survived PANIC AT THE DISCO, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and FLOGGING MOLLY; we’ve survived the CANCELLATIONS (M.I.A., SANTOGOLD and, of course, BABYSHAMBLES); hell, we’ve even survived THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE.
"If it wasn’t for the likes of the bands we’ve gone on about all week in these reports, we wouldn’t have survived at all. "
We’ve been able to do this with the help of some bleeding marvellous music. Music like that made by heavenly New Zealander, LADYHAWKE. This lady draws on sources little heard in a long time – and what was once the sole preserve of bands like FLEETWOOD MAC, THE BANGLES and ELO. Blimey! How can this sound good? You might well ask this, and it would be a valid question. Against all the odds, she manages it, putting a fresh take on things. We’ll explain further in our full review – in next month’s issue of ARTROCKER MAGAZINE.
If it wasn’t for the likes of the bands we’ve gone on about all week in these reports, we wouldn’t have survived at all. We would have ended up as quivering heaps of jelly-like things, rather than the excitable and music-obsessed chaps we are. Yep, Hove has pulled it off again (Artrocker was here last year, albeit briefly).
And the last night ends with a well-chosen act: GOLDFRAPP. Well-chosen, because her brand of Nordic electro-pop is just the ticket here; and well-chosen also because she plays in the AMFISCENEN, a proper Roman amphitheatre, that is a contender for BEST OUTDOOR VENUE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.
Next year, the organisers will be cutting this excellent fest to four days, not five. This seems sensible, and more manageable. Not that there were any problems this year, in the land of scarily beautiful surroundings and scarily good live bands.
Full festival review in the August issue of Artrocker magazine www.artrockermagazine.com
++ Dave ++
Artrocker rating: 5
The newest sounds as heard in the Artrocker Office and our Resonance FM podcast.
++ full details ++
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