Bluedot: Jodrell Bank [23-26.7.20] – Cancelled

23/07/202002/02/2023 ~ colgriff ~ Leave a comment

Artist: Various

Venue: Bluedot [2020], Jodrell Bank Observatory, Cheshire

Date: 23-26.7.20 [Cancelled]

Having thoroughly enjoyed a day at the prevoius year’s Bluedot festival, we booked tickets for the full 2020 event . . . little did we know what was to come that year. As the entire live music scene (and much else in life) was halted by a global pandemic, the festival was postponed for a year.

Assured of a similar line-up when things got back to normal, we held-on to our tickets but 12 months later COVID chaos still reigned. Spikes in virus levels, the need for quarantine ‘bubbles’ and near-impossible international travel scuppered any plans for large gatherings with international line-ups. As tickets rolled-over for a second year, we decided to cut our losses and cash them in.

After an enforced 2 year hiatus, Bluedot triumphantly returned with a very similar line-up in 2022. Sadly on this occasion we missed-out and Björk remains on my ‘must see’ list.

343. Bluedot: Jodrell Bank Observatory [20.7.19]

20/07/201916/08/2022 ~ colgriff ~ Leave a comment

Artists: Kraftwerk / 808 State / Jarvis Cocker introducing JARV IS / Tim O’Brien / Sunda Arc / Easy Star All-Stars

Venue: Bluedot [2019], Jodrell Bank Observatory, Cheshire

Date: 20.7.19

A dream gig and one to tick off the bucket list, as Kraftwerk played in the impressive presence of Jodrell Bank’s Lovell telescope at Bluedot Festival 2019.

As far as festivals go, this was a fairly intimate gathering, blending music and science to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission and first moon landing.

Jarvis Cocker premiered his new JARV IS project. Kraftwerk were as precise as expected with 3D visuals and crystal-clear sound for a career spanning set. 808 State finished things with a late night set in the dance tent.

Kraftwerk Setlist: Numbers / Computer World / It’s More Fun to Compute / Home Computer / Computer Love / The Man-Machine / Spacelab / The Model / Autobahn / Geiger Counter / Radioactivity / Tour de France / Prologue / Étape 1 / Chrono / Étape 2 / Trans-Europe Express / Metal on Metal / Abzug / The Robots / Boing Boom Tschak / Techno Pop / Musique Non Stop

294. Gary Numan: The Picturedrome, Holmfirth [18.7.18]

18/07/201818/11/2019 ~ colgriff ~ Leave a comment

294a_Gary Numan [180718] Artist: Gary Numan

Support: Nightmare Air

Venue: The Picturedrome, Holmfirth

Date: 18.7.18

294b_Gary Numan [180718] 294c_Midnight Air [180718]

Having waited a gig-goer’s lifetime to see Gary Numan, I got to do so three times within 12 months – thanks to his ‘Savage’ resurgence. Always a spectacular set from the ever-evolving showman – but this intimate warm-up show for the forthcoming Bluedot Festival was by far the best.

294d_Gary Numan [180718]

Setlist: Pressure / Halo / The Fall / Metal / Ghost Nation / Bed of Thorns / Me! I Disconnect from You / Pray for the Pain You Serve / Here in the Black / My Name is Ruin / Down in the Park / Cars / Love Hurt Bleed / My Jesus / When the World Comes Apart // A Prayer for the Unborn / Are ‘Friends’ Electric?