Tag: Festival

Bluedot: Jodrell Bank [23-26.7.20] – Cancelled

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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]

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343a_Bluedot [200719]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

343h_Bluedot [200719]

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.

343i_Bluedot [200719]

343l_Bluedot [200719]

343j_Bluedot [200719]

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

291. Let’s Rock Leeds: Temple Newsam, Leeds [16.6.18]

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291a_Let’s Rock Leeds [160618]Artists: Adam Ant / The Boomtown Rats / ABC / Marc Almond / Nik Kershaw / The Real Thing / Aswad / Black Lace / Kim Appleby / Heather Small / Hazel Dean / Peter Coyle (Lotus Eaters) / Anabella Lwin (Bow Wow Wow) / Brother Beyond / Fuzzbox / Toyah / The Christians / Captain Sensible

Venue: Temple Newsam, Leeds

Date: 16.6.18

291b_Let’s Rock Leeds [160618]

I grew up in East Leeds during the 1970s and ’80s. It therefore seemed appropriate to return to Temple Newsam (a regular haunt during past school summer holidays) to see the musicians who influenced my music tastes.

Having previously seen Adam Ant perform Dirk Wears White Sox and Blueblack Hussar gigs, it was good to see him do a hits set in the headline slot.

Another highlight was seeing over-protective parents ushering their offspring from the event as The Boomtown Rats took to the stage with Bob Geldolf dropping a barrage of f-bombs. The social media backlash was laughable – what the f*ck did people honestly expect.

291c_Let’s Rock Leeds [160618]

291d_Let’s Rock Leeds [160618]

242. OnRoundhay: Roundhay Park, Leeds [17.9.16]

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242a_OnRoundhay [170916]Artists: James / Primal Scream / Wolf Alice

Venue: Roundhay Park, Leeds

Date: 17.9.16

With sponsorship from John Lewis and Puffin Books, and an emphasis on being family friendly, the inaugural OnRounday event had a somewhat middle-class feel, but proved to be a rather pleasant one-day festival.

It was nice to see so many kids enjoying their first experience of live music, from an excellent selection of bands. The family-friendly vibe (or possibly the expensive drinks) seemed to ensure that the event was devoid of the usual herds of drunken knobheads – always a plus-point!

OnRoundhay would be a welcome annual event, so long as they can match the high standards of its first year.

242b_OnRoundhay [170916]242c_OnRoundhay [170916]

055. The Reading Festival [23.8.91]

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055_Reading Festival [1991]

Artists: Iggy Pop / Sonic Youth / Pop Will Eat Itself / Dinosaur Junior / Chapterhouse / Silverfish / Babes in Toyland / Revolver / The Belltower

Venue: The Reading Festival [1991]

Date: 23.8.91

My first festival. With hindsight I regret not seeing Nirvana, who were relatively unknown at the time. We also had a Nirvana backstage pass, which we never used. A wasted opportunity!