Mathew Street festival

The bank holiday weekend featured a big shindig in Liverpool's calendar: the Mathew Street festival. Mathew Street being the location of the Cavern. And it really is spelt with one T, ok?
The festival was cancelled last year due to those omnipresent health and safety fears (read: fears that people would get drunk and climb onto scaffolding). But it returned this year with six outdoor stages, including the Brit Pop stage.
I imagined a few bands plugging through Beatles covers, but no, it enveloped the entire city centre. Call me a misanthrope, but it just looked like a big excuse to roam the streets while drinking cans of premium lager. Most of the bands were tribute acts, including Amy Wynehouse, Fake That and Kaiser Thiefs.
I saw some of local heroes Blue Ruby up on the new band stage, and they were no better or worse than the hundreds of other local heroes up and down the UK. Here's a picture of the available merchandise. I'm sure you'll agree it's tasteful and reasonably priced.

I know it's all a bit of japery and I sound miserable, but I live in the city centre. And free, outdoor events usually bring out the people who stagger around clutching Bargain Booze carrier bags, pissing on my doorstep and setting off fireworks.

Field Day

I went to Field Day on Saturday, but I haven't told you about it yet. I know, I know, I'm making a loser sign against my forehead as I'm typing.
It wasn't the post-apocalyptic wasteland the Drowned in Sound message boards had me fearing: I queued about 10 minutes for the toilets and the cans of Red Stripe were plentiful. But it was cold and raining all damn day. And full of braying East London types. You know the sort, who turn up just to be "seen" and apparently spend their days putting together outfits. It's difficult to hate on the scenesters though, because it's just a phase. They'll grow out of it.
Jeffrey Lewis and his cartoons were good, as were The Field. The main stage was too quiet during Laura Marling and Of Montreal, and there was an excellent brass band hidden amongst the trees. Overall? A nice day out.
My friends kindly let me stay with them in Bow afterwards, and filled me up with Pimms. So maybe East London isn't so bad.

Ain't going to Glasto

Months ago I decided that this year would not be a Glastonbury year for me. My first Glasto experience was last year, which I worked at. My main memories are of trogging around in the mud and staying awake all night to work. When the Monday rolled around I innocently thought I'd be safely home in Sheffield by early afternoon, not realising that Sheffield was flooded and inaccessible. There were a few anxious hours trapped in Chesterfield, watching the flood waters rise and listening to the sirens, car alarms and helicopters, wondering if the apocalypse was approaching. I need a lie-down just thinking about it.
But now Glastonbury 2008 is here, and I'm jealous. Very jealous. I want to be pitching my tent in Somerset while supping perry RIGHT NOW! I would even be happy to watch Jay-Z! Actually, I wouldn't. Glastonbury is one of the greatest shows on Earth, but it doesn't feel worth the effort of all that public transport, welly-induced blisters and financial outlay.
I'm still jealous. The coming weekend will be one of avoiding TV, radio and press coverage of Glasto 2008. Maybe I could recreate the festival experience by pitcing my tent in the park, build an unnecessarily big fire and tunelessly sing Oasis songs. Maybe not.

Weekending in a Velvet Underground song

Last weekend (so long ago, but I haven't had chance to write about it until now) I went to All Tomorrow's Parties curated by Explosions In The Sky at Minehead Butlins. This is not to be confused with All Tomorrow's Parties at Camber Sands, because that one was curated by Pitchfork. And is at a Pontins, which is like the weird cousin nobody likes to talk about of holiday camps. Butlins, however, is posh. It's true! Pubs, eateries, go-karts, a high-ropes course...
The line-up was like Metacritic's best of 2007 albums, including The Field (sample-heavy Swedish ambient techno!), Stars of the Lid (guitar-heavy ambient drones!), Battles (guitar-heavy tribal post-rock!) and Animal Collective (um, samples, guitars, drones, Beach Boys!).
Out of all the festivals I've been to, ATP is probably one of the best. It's all about the MUSIC. Well, more about the music than most festivals... and because you get to sleep in a chalet, you don't have the problem of accidentally camping next to a group of morons who stay awake all night boasting about how many drugs they can consume during an average night out in Barnsley. Er, drugs! Illegal! Well done!
Between all the over-priced Carlsberg and vodka & ginger beers, here are my highlights of ATP vs EITS...
...A Hawk And A Hacksaw were lovely, although a little lost on the Pavilion stage on Saturday afternoon. It's a bit too massive for their Balkan fiddle and accordion twiddlings.
...The Field were a perfect end to dance out the weekend between 1.30am and 2.30am on Sunday night. And I'm not just saying that because Pitchfork gave his album 9 out of 10. Strange that all weekend most people looked like post-rock fans, but as soon as the 4/4 beats and laptop appear they start shouting 'RAVE!!' and 'THIS IS JUST LIKE SKINS!!'.
...Battles played twice, and I never realised there was such demand. Sunday night was a mere 45 minute hit parade, but Saturday night's set was for the fans. Until 3am (bit late, isn't it?). But I realised that I love them, so I don't mind that it was long past my bedtime. Don't laugh, 3am is late for a gig.
No photos, sorry, as my camera didn't travel with me. :(