Worcester Music Festival SelectaSound Presents…. The Old Rectifying House 19/8/11

The fourth Worcester Music Festival took place over a long weekend in August and once again the streets of my home city came alive with the sounds of music. Over the three day event, anyone and everyone who’s interested in performing, hosting or volunteering came together to help raise some money and awareness for a brilliant local charity, The Maggs centre, whilst also providing a platform for local and further afield bands and artists to showcase their wares.

Last year Rhythm & Booze put together an eclectic day of music at Drummonds, featuring local and out of town musicians, it was something of a rousing success but a little stressful and certainly manic trying to cram in so much whilst working, writing this site and looking after our (then) six month old son. So this year instad of rushing around like a loon I decided I’d rather take the chilled approach and go back to being a mere punter.

Me being me I poured over the guide for over a week deciding wear to spend my time, after all there was so much happening all at once across the city. Being a bit of a sucker for something new I eventually decided on a night of out of town bands and artists but together by one Kevin Jenkins (or SelectaSound if you prefer), the line-up read as something a little different from the typical one genre nights with an eclectic mix of soul, folk, hip-hop and orchestrl indie on offer.

The night opened with Christi Warner (accompanied on guitar and backing vocals by Kevin Jenkins) a singer-songwriter who blends warm soulful vocals with spoken word poetry and one of the widest smiles I’ve seen in what seems like forever. The combination of Christi’s stunning heartfelt vocals and Kevin’s acoustic guitar worked wonderfully well as they weaved a seductive spell with such numbers as Mother Africa, the infectious Radio Will Die and the social commentary of Golden Coin. As opening performances go Christi’s faultless set of heart felt soul was pretty damn faultless.

One Sixth Of Tommy followed and I have to admit I was more than a little intrigued to hear what the three-girls, one boy line-up had to offer having just recently performing at Glastonbury. The young Midlands based quartet were something of a revelation with a stunning set of acoustic indie pop and stripped down folk, the female trio traded gorgeous vocal harmonies whilst the token male member held down a delicate beat. Songs such as Butterflies and the recent single Pact showcased not only the pretty melodies and harmonies that the band sew together but also an impressive songwriting ability and a talent for providing big pop hooks that had me humming for days afterwards. One Sixth Of Tommy also delivered a stunning stripped version of Dreams by Fleetwood Mac that left my jaw on the floor in amazement. The band are just set to release their debut album on Helium Records and if it manages to capture the brilliance of the live performance it’s set to be a wonderful intimate affair of pretty songs and addictive hooks.

Case Closed are a live hip-hop act and when I say live hip-hop act I mean it, they use acoustic guitars, harmonies and indie pop hooks along with contagious rapid fire rhymes to create one of the most contagious takes on the hip-hop theme I’ve heard in a long time. Two MC’s battle and duet over some tasty acoustic licks, whilst the guitarist also provides harmonies to the further pepper and provide hooks to the already intoxicating sound. Case Closed have recently supported the likes of Example in recent times and with tracks such as Paranoia, Wait In Line and the infectious Woke Up This Morning it’s easy to see why, the trio deliver a stunning set of memorable rhymes, stunning harmonies and catchy licks that could see the band move onto bigger and better things in the not to distant future.

Leiceseter based The Daydream Club are another band who have band plying their trade on the festival scene with a recent performance at Rhythm & Booze Favourite Summer Sundae whilst also receiving plaudits for their recently release debut Overgrown from everyone from the BBC to Notion Magazine as well receiving praise from Tom Robinson (of 6 Music) for their gorgeous take on acoustic indie pop and hook-laden folk. The male/female duo delivered on their promise with a stunning intimate set with blissed out harmonies, textured indie pop and serene heart stopping, beautiful duets. Songs such as English Rain and the jazzy piano fronted The Affair almost had a cinematic quality, whilst Be With You Always showcased the aforementioned folk element to the band’s unique and captivating sound as the duo delivered a really egaging set that had me completely enthralled through out.

The nights entertainment was rounded off by a short sharp set by two of the normally six-piece The Young Runaways, the guitar/violin duo delivered an engaging set of rousing indie folk and (orchestral) pop that intrigued as well invigorated. I’d like to se the full band in action as on the evidence on show here the band have an impressive arsenal of catchy songs that with the power of a full band could really be something special. The male/female duo of guitar, vocals and violin finished the evening with a brilliant slowed down folky version of ska classic, Message To Rudy ending an eclectic night of majestic music, energetic hip-hop and bewitching pop in fine fashion.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9