Last year one of the major highlights of the local festival calender, for me at least, was Lakefest over in at Croft Farm in Tewkesbury. The festival proved to be a wonderful family affair with an impressive music program (Ocean Colour Scene, The Levellers, Duke Special, Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Roving Crows, etc) along with rides, face painting, zorbs and boat rides among many any other activities to keep the whole family entertained.
This years festival continued in the same rich vein with the aforementioned activities in place along as well as added silent disco and DJ lessons. Whilst the program of music reached further than ever before taking in a variety of genres as well as an intriguing combination of local and established acts, proving that the organisers have their fingers on the pulse.
Day One-Friday
The mainstage opened with the bouncy sunshine ska vibes of Sons Of Navarone, who provided the early revellers with collection of ska and reggae classics to get the feet moving. Following on, acoustic indie/folk act Bad Cardigan warmed up the crowd with a short yet infectious set before local favourites Young Kato (promoted from one of last years smaller stages) took to the stage like conquering heroes with their contagious set of high energy edgy indie rock, the six-piece welded hook-laden synths with serrated guitar and big sing-a-long choruses on the likes of Help Yourself, Light It Up and Sunshine. A diversion into the Floating Globe stage revealed the majestic harmony led No Good Nancy’s who delivered a wonderful set of soaring vocals and passionate covers of the likes of Natural Woman and You’re So Vain among others.
Back over in the main arena the crowds assembled for the high velocity ska punk sing-a-longs of Spunge. The band instantly took the festival by the scruff of the neck with a glorious bouncy set of long term favourites, the crowd responded to the likes of Jump On Demand, Ego, No Woman No Cry, Roots and of course Kicking Pigeons with high spirited dancing and hollering signaling the party had well and truly started. Over in the BBC Hereford Introducing tent Redditch was showcased heavily with the female fronted Byron Hare and indie four-piece Lost At Home both giving a good account for themselves, whilst multi instrumentalist and loop manipulator Ed Keane showcased his wares with a stunning sax/guitar/flute assisted instrumental that I think was entitled The Green Man.
Whilst people were reverberating to the sounds of 90’s dance act Snap and the legendary reggae/dub-man Lee Scratch Perry, I headed to a packed out Floating Globe stage for one of the highlights of the entire weekend in the shape of The Leylines, a violin/guitar wielding folk rock act that deliver hooks and contagious melodies aplenty during a thrilling set that even had the uninitiated singing along to the likes of Runaway and Run For Cover. The opening day was headlined by punk pioneers and festival mainstays The Buzzcocks who delivered an abrasive set of classics included, as you’d expect Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t Fall In Love With) and Orgasm Addict among others.
Day Two-Saturday
The first band to really grab the attention was a somewhat new look line-up of the Sarah Warren Band, that saw the big lunged blues/soul singer backed ably by the stunning guitar work of Melvin Hancox (Vincent Flatts Final Drive, etc), the band quickly drew in a large crowd with dazzling renditions of the likes of I’d Rather Go Blind, with Melvin’s guitar complimenting Sarah’s soul filled, powerful vocals effortlessly. The Jar Family followed on the mainstage with an intriguing and invigorating take on the folk theme, before Ade Edmondson & The Bad Shepherds took over with a mesmeric set of punk classics played on traditional folk instrumentation, mandolin and pipes combined to offer a completely original take on classics such as I fought The Law, Anarchy In The UK, Going Underground, Our House and Ace of Spades among others. if you’ve ever wondered what a new age folk take on a Sex Pistols or Clash classic would sound like, I highly recommend check Ade and the boys out at the venue near you!!!
From there it was a quick dash down the field to the BBC tent where Tyler Massey’s set of compelling folk was drawing to an end before Worcester’s serrated indie new wavers Skewwhiff delivered a jagged set lifted from their recent debut album, including such highlights as Gizmo and It Girl. Back across on the mainstage legendary ska man and original Rude Boy, Neville Staple and band produced a wonderful funky fun and lifting set drawing on his days with The Specials as well as his just released solo album, concluding with a mass crowd sing-a-long to Ghost Town following on from the likes of Message To You Rudy and Enjoy Yourself.
Saturday had the perfect one-two knockout punch with the final two bands on the mainstage. First up the Lightning Seeds weaved a magical set of pure indie pop nirvana with something of a greatest hits set. Grown men were seen arm in arm as the band delivered classic after classic. The tent filled with voices unified (mine included), gleefully singing- a-long to the likes of Never Change, Life Of Riley, Lucky You and Pure as if there life’s depended on providing harmony for Ian Broudie’s mob. With the crowd already at fever pitch and the numerous Brit-Pop T-shirts seen dotted around the festival the scene was set for returning 90’s heroes Shed Seven, the band could hardly disappoint drawing on their 94-99 heydays and top selling four albums the crowd rejoiced to the sounds of Disco Down, Chasing Rainbows and of course Going For Gold. Rick Witter seemed in good voice whilst every opening riff seemed to be welcomed with open arms, once again proving that Brit-pop thrills still speaks volumes to a generation of music lovers.
Day Three
The rains drew in, the parking field became something of a hazardous bog during the morning and first part of the afternoon, but thanks to the staff and organisers the party raged against the elements and by the time acoustic troubadour Gaz Brookfield showcased his wares the seasons at midday the clouds began to lift, whether that was down to the nature of Gaz’s memorable set of hooks and guitar-work can’t be proven but I’m sure it helped. Sundays are generally a little mellower and time for reflection, only no one told The Whipjacks who still manage to rouse the weary early afternoon crowd with a fun packed set of celtic infused pirate punk shanties with thumping double bass, guitars battered and the odd bit of accordion thrown in for good measure.
By four o’clock the sun was beating down the crowd gained that all important second burst of energy and the fun filled, gloriously over the top Dr And The Medics took to the stage for a set of rock classics and pure entertainment. The only comparison you can make to a Doctor And The Medics show is that of a high energy circus, with the good doctor as ringmaster and his fellow band members as the various different acts. Imagine a riotous blend of molten riffs, hollered vocals, big hair, gothic capes, cloaks and ice maiden backing vocalists thrown together to deliver the likes of Love Shack, Kids Of America and the grand finale of Spirit In The Sky and Whole Lotta Rosie to a captivated and wonderfully receptive audience.
There are few bands that could follow the spectacle of Dr And The Medics, but one such band that can fill that criteria are Lakefest house band The Roving Crows, a band that are fast becoming the must see band on the folk/rock circuit with their unique blend of celtic fusion. The band open with the blazing violin introduction of White Petticoats before the band join in to deliver a glorious set including long term favourites Long Time Dead, Love Is The Finest Thing and God On Demand among others, with each song the audience responded with outbreaks of dancing, singing and raptious applause as strummed acoustics, fiery violin and bursts of trumpet blended to provide a stunning Sunday soundtrack.
The Fun Lovin’ Criminals were charged with bringing the festival to a close on a high and the funky hip-hop/blues/rock racketeers did just that with a collection of amped up classics. The band opened their set with Up On The Hill and from there on Huey and the boys had the crowd eating out of their hands, Loco (Gotta Be Crazy), King Of New York, Smoke Em were all dispatched by a band on top form, eager to display their instrumental chops to the appreciative masses, with Huey’s guitar-work and the harmonica of Fast particularly worthy of note. The FLC left the crowd baying for more by finishing up with the effervescent Scooby Snacks and the funk ridden ode to soul, Barry White bringing the end to another vintage year for Lakefest.
Words By Will Munn
Photos By Graham Munn
