Well, we fast tracked it back into Brighton last night to catch the Charlotte Church gig at the Green Door Store so that we could report events directly to you, dear reader. Well I can report that the gig was great, featuring some ambitious, adventurous - experimental even - genre defying material. Charlotte sang, as you might imagine, like something out of this world. In a good way. She was also (shock, horror!) charming, complimentary about the venue and Brighton generally. Now, the important facts...she didn't bother to brush her hair, dye her roots nor over worry about dressing facilities, advising that 'she would change in the toilet'. Google the tabloids for pictures and fashion commentary! As someone reportedly worth £25m and, presumably, someone who could buy her way onto any TV show, venue and/or other publicity outlet possible, I couldn't help but warm to her down-to-earth, 'do it for real' indie attitude. Of course, cynics will say it's all an act, a cunning plan, but I don't see it that way. Maybe she is merely trying to normalise her life as a 26 year old Cardiff girl - as difficult as that may be - particularly after such an abnormal (in some ways, anyway) childhood? Either way more power to her and doubters beware. Anyway, in the words of The Terminator, she vill be back!
After the wettest summer of earth, I'm now ordering the man upstairs to provide unprecedented good weather for the whole of August and September. We demand some kind of summer, right? For one thing the festival experience has been something of a wash out this year so I for one am aiming for a big party at 'Blues On The Farm' Festival near Chichester on 7th-9th September. International acts such as Average White Bands Freddy V, and Paul Jones Blues Band line up alongside other top class acts from the world of blues, roots and more in a something-for-everyone family friendly celebration, established 21 years and with a cast iron reputation and awards a plenty. www.bluesonthefarm.co.uk; some day and weekend tickets still available.
Also on the BiGiAM radar:-
- Laura Vane and The Vipertones - a debut mini UK tour from this Anglo-Dutch outfit included a gig at Laura's home town venue of The Komedia. What a fine, fine show it was...a representative (if not actual) clip of said show is here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCwt0yecp9c
- The demise of Rounder Records, a Brighton treasure and institution, after 46 years of business is a very sad sign of the times. In more ways than one indeed.
- on that point, check out the excellent editorial in this months Source magazine which puts further perspective on the situation and the plight of the independent (in this case, retailer)
- Yellowfish Director Ross McCracken (and friend Josie Dade) is really off on his charity bike ride, all 1500 miles of it, from London to Gibraltar this month so, please, last plea to you all to support the cause http://www.yfhfoundation.com
- Final word from (fine) guitar player with the Motives, Matt Taylor. 'I once gave a bass lesson to a guy who had just bought a bass so in the first leson I taught him how to play A, D and E. He never came back for the second lesson as he got a gig'. Matt claims it's a true story - i'll let you judge.
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