Month: July 2004

bookmark_borderT in the Park #10

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Sunday on the Main Stage

Final day of the festival, and here’s the artists appearing on the main stage (reverse order of appearance):

  • Goldie Lookin Chain – never heard of them, so are they worth a gander?
  • Scissor Sisters – No questions here. I WILL be catching them (Mike would never forgive me!)
  • Franz Ferdinand – Probably one of the big draws of the day, why are they on so early?
  • The Thrills – nice album but not sure how it will transfer live, not too fussed if I miss them.
  • PJ Harvey – OOPS not bought her new album yet! First lady of rock, live? You bet! (Anyone for a repeat of THAT Glasto pic?)
  • Kings of Leon – one of my albums of last year, not sure how they will be live.
  • Pixies – Errr… I know I should but .. well I’m not actually that bothered.
  • The Strokes – Headlining. Really? Two good albums, a good sound but again I’ll probably be at the NME stage for Massive Attack.

So Sunday on the main stage consists of Scissor Sisters, Franz Ferdinand, PJ Harvey and maybe the Kings of Leon. As I already feared, Sunday is the day where I WILL have to miss an act I’d like to see.. there’s just too many!

Of course WHO I catch depends on the running order, as I’m pretty sure that the Main Stage and NME Stage try and stagger starting times. This may mean catching half of an act here and there but it’s better than nothing. Later on I’ll post the bands I’ll definitely be trying to catch. Who knows, I might even blog from the event itself!

(Anyone know of a PDA version of Blogger? There used to be one but it’s gone now…)

bookmark_borderI'm a winner!

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I visit Scotblog every couple of days or so and, on a whim, I entered their recent competition which asked: “What was the name of the island in Compton MacKenzie’s classic novel Whisky Galore!?”

Martin from Scotblog just emailed me to let me know I was one of the four winners!! Not sure which book I’ll get but hey, it’s always nice to win something. Nice one Scotblog!

Ohh, and in case you are wondering, the answer is that in the film they called the island Todday (it was filmed on Barra), and in the book the story was set on the Isle of Eriskay. It’s been a long time since I read that book (at school I think), I was surprised I remembered.

bookmark_borderOther news?

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What? You mean you are getting bored with all this music and T in the Park stuff?

So, what have I been up to? Well this month is a nightmare for us, so many birthdays! Niece Megan (Happy Birthday!!), nephew Mark next week, our mate Ian last week, work colleague Kirsten (Happy Birthday!!), and then we’ve got another work colleague leaving (Claire), another getting married (congrats Irfan!). Of course most of these collide – Kirsten/Megan, meaning I’ll miss dinner and drinks tonight for Kirsten (unless we can catch up with them later, although it’s generally NOT a good idea) – Mark/Claire, another night out that I’ll try and tag along to later on…

Then the in-laws arrive on the 21st to stay with us for a few days so we’re busy making sure the garden and house are ‘up to standard’ (the garden isn’t thanks to all this flipping rain!) as you do when parents visit. They are over from Spain for six weeks or so to escape the heat, so there will be BBQ’s and dinners and stuff to do whilst they are over.

Ohh and I really need to get my tax return in before September (don’t laugh, it’ll creep up) and need to investigate the mortgage as I’m sure the fixed rate period ends in August.

Aside from that, I’m currently reading Sir David Attenborough’s autobiography, and very interesting it is too, more on that later (if I remember).

Ohh and my parents just left for a week in Portugal, so I’d better remember to phone my Gran tomorrow night.

bookmark_borderT in the Park #9

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Saturday on the Main Stage

On to the BIG names then, the ones who score chart hits and have the “true muso’s” frowning at them. So, in reverse order of appearance:

  • Big Brovaz – I was intrigued by their first couple of singles but seem little more than a novelty act at the moment.
  • The Beta Band – Every part of me says I should love this band but I just can’t. I don’t know why, please don’t hate me.
  • Black Eyed Peas – One single later and they ‘went global’. Hopefully they’ll do some stuff from their back catalogue but I doubt it. Could be good live though.
  • Pink – I liked her Missundastood album but haven’t heard her latest. Not sure about her abilities to sing live though, probably one to skip.
  • Faithless – Yes Yes YES. Say what you like about them, they have enough anthemic tracks to carry off a festival performance. Looking forward to seeing them live.
  • Starsailor – First album was good, second album was the same as the first. Probably one to avoid.
  • The Charlatans – last minute arrivals doing a greatest hits set. That’ll be short then. Not a fan, will happily miss them.
  • The Darkness – whilst no replacement for his highness of Bowie, I actually think they might be alright. If you take them as a tongue-in-cheek act then they could be fun. I’ll probably be watching Muse though.

So it looks like the main stage will feature only lightly for me on the Saturday. Faithless being the only MUST SEE band for me.

bookmark_borderT in the Park – so far

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As promised here is a ‘quick’ recap of your feedback so far. The bands are listed in no particular order, with the acts I’ll be trying the hardest to catch in bold.

  • Ben Kweller – recommended by Gillian and Robyn
  • Thea Gilmore – tentatively recommended by David
  • Michael Franti – Gillian says “MUST see” and Mike confirms that he “should be excellent”
  • Spearhead – Another “MUST see” according to Gillian
  • Electric Six – “put on a great show” said Adrian
  • Mull Historical Society – recommended by Diamond Geezer, “must see” said Graybo, “Nice boys, good tunes” said Mike
  • Orbital – “oh God, yes, YES” climaxed Mike
  • Amy Winehouse – Mike suspects “that it might all come together on stage”
  • Alfie – recommended by Graybo, “definitely worth a punt” according to Mike
  • Glitterati – tentatively recommended by Adrian “They’re not bad”
  • Felix Da Housecat – recommended by Graybo, “could be terrific” said Mike
  • Basement Jaxx – recommended by ME and Mike
  • Carl Craig – Mike says to “expect plenty of musicality, variety and depth”
  • Tiga – “should be fun” said Mike
  • Mylo – “Hell yeah” said Mike
  • Chemical Brothers – “has to be done” says Mike and Rob “definitely wouldn’t miss” them
  • Groove Armada – are an “excellent live act” according to Mike and Rob agrees they “would probably be a lot of fun”
  • The Zutons – “Are really good” says Gillian
  • British Sea Power – like me, Mike has “heard good things from friends I trust”
  • Goldfrapp – “are pretty good live” according to Lyle, with Mike stating they are “definitely be one of my Must Sees”
  • Massive Attack – Lyle ponders “what can I say?” (in a MUST SEE kinda way), Mike remembers that “they were great when I saw them”
  • The Killers – Paulpod reckons I should “take the time to see them”
  • StellaStarr – again Paulpod reckons I should “take the time to see them”
  • The Rapture – are “brilliant live… have loads of energy” says Gillian

PHEW.

On Thursday and Friday I’ll be switching it around and giving you MY take on the acts appearing on the main stage, of course your comments are always welcomed, and hopefully by Saturday I’ll have managed to have invented a time travelling machine which will allow me to get to see all these great acts!

As a side note, special thanks to Mike (I’m not linking to him AGAIN). Your extensive comments are very much appreciated, and I’m formulating a proper way to thank you…

bookmark_borderT in the Park #8

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Sunday on the NME Stage

Again, this is a bit more familiar territory for me, but I’d still love to hear your comments (and you only have to suffer this for another three days).

  • Massive Attack – no question really, MUST SEE.
  • NERD – Not sure about their second album, might be good live though?
  • Badly Drawn Boy – could live without seeing him, but good songs.
  • Goldfrapp – another band I’ve heard a few tracks of but not sure how they’d be live.
  • The Rapture – No thanks.
  • The Killers – Always makes me think of “Live Killers” by Queen. But are they any good?
  • Stellastar – Yet another “next big thing” band, allegedly.
  • Razorlight – Heard good things of them.
  • The Cribs – As in punk rocks The Cribs?

I’ll post a quick recap of your suggestions later on today.