Aside from the folk and rock of Fairport, I did V festival last week. Actually this time last week I'll probably have been watching Aloe Blacc - who impressed me on a few levels. Firstly, for a new performer to have a variety of very good songs is great. He worked the crowd well, we were all dancing, and the jazz element to his music was fantastic.
That's one of the reasons why Olly Murs went down so well! Get some trumpet's involved and everybody starts moving - down with the trumpets ;) My favourite performance from the weekend I think. I only went for the Saturday so I didn't see some of the fabulous Sunday acts, but for me, the energy for Olly Murs' performance was superb. And Rizzle Kicks came on stage!!! Down with the down with the!
Summer festivals are awesome when it's sunny. Sadly, the Essex sun couldn't hold out and a ridiculous downpour soaked us all.
Sticking with the music, I thought I was going to die during Example. The energy of his performance was outrageous! If you've seen any of the highlights you'll know what I'm on about. The whole crowd jumping and bouncing was fantastic - really fun show.
However, the best act of the afternoon really took me back a few years. Back in my tender youth, the first two albums I remember buying are Bon Jovi - Have A Nice Day and Razorlight - Up All Night. I remember them both being ridiculously expensive, we're talking £14 for a CD - get. out. of. town.
But seeing Razorlight, one of my all time loves, was surprisingly special - I didn't even expect them to cause me to be all sentimental! I was adamant that I wanted to see them, purely to join in on an America sing-a-long. I think another draw was having seen Example, Tinie Tempah and Dizzee Rascal still to perform, a true indie rock back in amongst the bass lines was really refreshing.And Johnny Borrell's voice was just amazing. He has such clarity when he's live - like a more emotional album track. Wire to Wire may well have trumped Kingston Town
