Charismatic, captivating and cool, when it comes to Andy Crofts, there’s no end of superlatives that should be afforded to the talented musician.
He is the founding member of the psychedelic indie rock band The Moons and is also the bass player for Paul Weller and runs Colorama Records.
However, it’s not just in music where his talents lie. He’s also an accomplished artist and photographer too and has published a book of compelling prints of Paul Weller whilst on tour.
Music is his first passion, however, and he’s currently in the midst of a UK-wide acoustic tour, further to a sold-out appearance at The 100 Club in London.
His gig at Heartbreakers was opened by the amiable Jim Chorley, a folk singer who performed a laidback and heartfelt set.
He was followed by the fantastic ‘Teenage Waitress‘ AKA Daniel Ash who released his debut album ‘Love & Chemicals’ two years ago to critical acclaim. He has received support from the likes of Paul Weller, Robert Carlyle and more and was also hand-picked by Tim Burgess to take part in his famed ‘Tim’s Twitter Listening Parties’.
He performed tracks both from this album and his forthcoming (yet to be named) follow up which included ‘Too Much Of A Good Thing’, ‘The Big Smoke’, ‘Little Pieces’ as well as fantastic renditions of two of my personal favourites ‘You Ain’t Got It Bad’ and ‘The Mess You Made Me Make’ which talks of being in conflict with the voice in your head and the ramifications that this can have.
Endearing and ebullient in equal measure, Daniel is a fantastic performer and an excellent songwriter. Expect big things from him in 2023!
As the bass player for Paul Weller, Andy Crofts is no stranger to the stage, but this acoustic, stripped-back set was an absolute triumph.
A consummate professional, Andy’s set was an intimate and inspirational affair that showcased his accomplished guitar playing and musicianship as well as his impressive songwriting.
Whilst the majority of his set was acoustic renditions of his songs from The Moons, he did perform his latest solo single ‘Westway’ – a beautiful love song.
Andy also performed tracks from the most recent album by The Moons, the brilliant ‘Pocket Melodies’. Fans were treated to beautiful versions of ‘Sleep’, the charming ‘Maybe I’m The Perfect Man’ and the Kinks-esque ‘The Old Brigade’ which he explained was a nod to his childhood growing up in Northampton.
He archly dissects a myriad of themes throughout his songwriting, but thematically predominantly focuses on subjects like love, loss, and isolation as well as bringing into play his perceptions of life in the UK.
‘Jennifer (Sits Alone)’ which talks of how it feels to be an outsider was exquisite and this is where Andy’s superb storytelling really came into play as was fan favourite ‘English Summer’ which was a real standout.
He effortlessly engaged with the crowd with a delectable combination of wit, humility and charm whilst showcasing his impressive body of work with ease and an impeccable and exuberant delivery.
Andy’s stagecraft is evident, it is clear he loves to perform and this was an enthralling, prodigious and first-class performance. He is an exceptional singer-songwriter and if you love carefully-crafted songs with a nostalgic vibe, then definitely catch him on tour and give his band The Moons a listen.
Find out more about Andy Crofts via his website or follow him and his band The Moons on Instagram.
So Knebworth again. He came. He saw and he fucking conquered. Some (might say!) that you shouldn’t go back to Knebworth, but to hell with expectations and rules. Liam’s always swaggered to the beat of his own drum anyway. When it comes to Knebworth, as the man says himself ‘This is history – part 2!’
Let’s cast our minds back to the Platinum Jubilee weekend in June. I was at Knebworth reviewing the one and only Liam Gallagher. When he announced that he would be performing at the iconic Hertfordshire venue, 26 years after Oasis did THAT gig, there were a few rumblings from naysayers, but predominantly, there was a real sense of anticipation and the excitement was palpable.
Experience the Epic: Liam Gallagher – Knebworth 22 Documentary
LG sold out two nights and his huge back-to-back shows saw him perform in front of 170,000 adoring fans. Whether you were there or not, ‘Liam Gallagher – Knebworth 22’ will make you feel like you were there.
This brand new documentary film directed by Toby L , who has also worked on film projects for Bastille, Olivia Rodrigo and Damon Albarn offers an intimate insight into Liam and his team’s preparations for Knebworth.
It follows Liam as he heads back to the hallowed ground of Knebworth. This intriguing film showcases tracks from the gig interspersed with backstage footage which includes interviews, soundchecks and more.
There’s also commentary from his band members and fans. It’s an absolutely fantastic watch for both Liam stalwarts and a new generation of LG fans. Some of them weren’t even born at the height of the band’s success.
The Unwavering Devotion to Liam Gallagher’s Knebworth 22 Gig
It cleverly offers several different perspectives of a selection of fans who are going to the gig and the gargantuan impact that Liam has on their lives, many of whom have travelled far and wide to watch the iconic gig.
There’s little Audrina, an absolute demon on the ukulele who has thankfully recovered from cancer, the hugely passionate Aya who is missing her biggest exam at college in Belgium to go to Knebworth, Simon who’s taking his entire family of three generations to the gig and has an Liam-themed pub in his garden – the list goes on.
One fan cancelled his honeymoon in Jamaica to go, another used her life savings to go watch Liam and another has sacked off his job to go. After all, this was going to be the biggest gig of the year, why let weddings/money/your boss get in the way?! They clearly are all channelling the spirit of LG with a ‘zero fucks’ attitude.
Liam Gallagher’s Journey to Knebworth 22 and the Resurgence of Live Music
Everyone has a story (Morning Glory!) and it’s heartening to see the magnitude of how Liam, Oasis and his solo music have touched so many people. There’s some throwback footage from the 90’s, including footage from Oasis making their TV debut on ‘The Word’ from 1994.
At the beginning of the film, we see Liam flying over Knebworth in a helicopter and you really get a feeling of how up for it he is. This has been a long time coming. He says that he just wants to get on the stage ‘like a caged animal’ commenting that he ‘just wants to fucking let rip you know what I mean?’.
After the live music industry had been devastated by Covid-19, the return of gigs and festivals has never been more important and Knebworth was the pinnacle of this.
Even Liam admits that he didn’t think they would get back to ‘doing arenas let alone Knebworth’. Both nights had a fantastic lineup of support acts on the bill including Kasabian. All of which were hand-picked by Gallagher to join him for the two nights he played at Knebworth.
Kasabian’s Serge makes a cameo commenting on how music is ‘bringing people together’ and there’s also insight on Liam and his musical legacy from the likes of Melvin Benn (the promoter and MD of Festival Republic), Sam Eldridge (Liam’s Co-Manager who with Debbie Gwyther who have collectively helped shape Liam’s career and have been instrumental to the success of the Knebworth gigs) and band members – keyboard player Christian Madden and guitarist Mike Moore.
There are some funny anecdotes, Liam genuinely can’t remember certain aspects and places of Knebworth after performing there with Oasis in the ’90s. ‘I’ve never seen it in my fucking life!’ he remarks whilst marvelling at the expansive Knebworth landscape ‘Fucking hell, it’s big Debs!’.
C’mon You Know!
Some of the fans interviewed in the documentary were there and unequivocally have a slightly less than hazy recollection of that summer’s day and explained why they wanted to go back for as Liam calls it Knebworth ‘Part 2’. Without a doubt, this gig was really important to them to be part of the story and of Knebworth’s heritage.
Some things are always the same, the Oasis tee shirts, the bucket hats (although Liam admits he doesn’t think the fashion (of the ‘90’s) ‘was all that’. But Liam looked resplendent in a pristine white parka on Friday and looked equally cool the following day.
Whilst this documentary doesn’t show any of the footage of any Oasis tracks, the music that is included stands on its own merits, with tracks like ‘More Power’, a beautiful track from 2022’s ‘C’mon You Know’ (his third solo album) the epic ‘Wall of Glass’ from 2017’s ‘As You Were’, ‘Shockwave’ from 2019’s ‘Why Me? Why Not.’, ‘Everything’s Electric’ (which was co-written by Dave Grohl) ‘Better Days’, ‘The River’, ‘More Power’ and more.
Liam was joined by the legendary Stone Roses guitarist John Squire as the colossal gig drew to a close. It wasn’t John’s first rodeo at Knebworth having also appeared at the venue with Oasis back in 1996. This is sadly not included in the documentary, but it was truly a special moment for the elated crowd.
Liam Gallagher is a captivating performer with a charismatic stage presence, he sings as if his life depended on it and the gig at Knebworth was truly a magical and ‘biblical’ experience.
He’s a powerhouse in a parka, and this documentary not only showcases his craftsmanship and prowess as a performer, but it emphasises how instrumental live music is and what it means to us all.
Of course, it’s not just about Liam’s story, it’s about all of us. How we are all enjoying a moment in time, a song, an album and a gig. We’re all here for the same reason – the music. As Liam says ‘That’s what it’s all about, bringing people together’.
Omission of Oasis tracks aside, what’s clear is Liam’s passion for his music, the gig and his fans. He wants to do the best gig he can whether it’s for 100 fans or 100,000 fans. He is a man of the people and admits he is giving the fans ‘what they want’.
When it comes to Liam Gallagher – Knebworth 22, as LG says himself ‘Do you want to know what’s going on – check this shit out!’
Liam Gallagher – Knebworth 22 will be in cinemas worldwide from Thursday 17th November for a limited time only.
“You say it’s your birthday. We’re gonna have a good time!”, ok, so this jubilant track came from ‘The White Album’ which was released by The Beatles just one year after the release of the album ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ and tonight it was the latter album and it’s instantly recognisable design that was on the tip of everyone’s tongue.
‘The White Album’ (technically known as ‘The Beatles’ album) served as somewhat of a minimalist palate cleanser after the glorious technicoloured dream that was ‘Sgt. Pepper’ which was the brainchild and creative genius of Sir Peter Blake who not only helped cement this album as one of the most iconic album covers of all time, but it helped contribute to it being a milestone album of the band’s career.
This was the case not just visually, but sonically too. Both were a significant shift for the ‘Fab Four’ and demonstrated how far they had come since their earlier albums such as ‘With the Beatles’.
In celebration of this and the many other incredible pieces of art that Sir Peter Blake has created and to commemorate his 90th birthday which he celebrated earlier this year, musician and songwriter Paul Weller hosted an evening at the Royal Festival Hall at the Southbank Centre to celebrate Sir Peter and his incredible body of work.
The extravaganza was hosted by BBC Radio 4’s John Wilson who effortlessly compèred the star-crammed concert in London where acts like Noel Gallagher, Chrissie Hynde, Paul Weller and Madness all put on a stellar performance.
As well as some mind-blowing sets, the audience (which included Sir Peter and his family) were treated to anecdotes and tributes both pre-recorded and on stage from famous faces from the world of music and art.
This included Damien Hirst, David Hockney and Tracey Emin who talked fondly of the great man. Musicians such as Sir Paul McCartney, Jarvis Cocker and Eric Clapton also paid tribute to the iconic artist.
All the musicians who performed had their opportunity to sit down with John Wilson and speak about what it was like to either work with Peter or the profound effect that his work had on them either individually or from a collaborative aspect.
“Why do you paint? and I say, to make magic.“ – Sir Peter Blake
There was the expected – talking through the creative process for ‘Sgt. Pepper’ and other albums that had been treated to the ‘Peter Blake’ experience as well as the unexpected which included the confession by singer Chrissie Hynde’s now not-so-secret crush on actor Dennis Waterman (we think he would have absolutely loved this revelation!) where she paid her own tribute to the dearly departed actor by singing a rocky version of his ‘feem tune’ ‘I Could Be So Good for You’ from the TV show ‘Minder’.
The man that devised the event and hand-picked each band/musician for the gig, Mr Paul Weller who was looking as dapper as ever in a tailored jacket and a sharp haircut was introduced to the stage and talked about what it meant to create this event for Peter.
Paul Weller and band. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
His first introduction to his work was of course via The Beatles which during the chat with John he noted that like most admirers of this album cover that he kept ‘discovering different things. Weller then called upon Sir Peter to design the record sleeve for his 1995 album ‘Stanley Road’.
This instantly recognisable cover—a highly personal collage paying homage to Paul’s childhood and influences is one of his most seminal pieces of work. During his conversation with compere John Wilson, Paul Weller reminisced that he was so ‘nervous and shy’ when meeting the esteemed artist.
Paul’s admiration for his commitment to art was just one of the reasons why he created this star-studded lineup curated by himself in celebration of a true great of British pop culture and how the proceeds were going to benefit two amazing charities which included the Teenage Cancer Trust and the Graeae Theatre Company, of which Sir Peter is a founder patron.
Baxter Dury – Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
Baxter Dury clad in a pristine pale pink suit kicked off the musical proceedings with a blistering set and showed he meant business by parading around the stage with unsurpassed swagger performing tracks like ‘Pleasure’, Slumlord’ and ‘Miami’ which included some serious dance moves.
He later had the opportunity to sit with John Wilson to talk about the relationship between himself and Sir Peter who had taught Baxter’s father Ian at Art school which resulted in long-standing friendship between the artist and musician.
The pair collaborated several times, and inspired one another’s work, for example when Peter designed the promotional poster for the Ian Dury and the Blockheads’ single ‘Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3’ amongst others.
The Who talks with John Wilson – Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend from the legendary rock band ‘The Who’ sat down with John Wilson to talk about Peter and his work. The artist designed the sleeve for album artwork for their ‘Who’ album and also designed and contributed a painting to the sleeve of The Who’s 1981 album ‘Face Dances’ too.
Chrissie Hynde – Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
Musician and all-round kick-ass frontwoman Chrissie Hynde took to the stage superbly supported by her fantastic band which included musicians Tom Van Heel on keyboards and backing vocals and Ben Gordelier from Paul Weller’s band and psychedelic-rock band ‘The Moons’.
Her stunning set included a cover of ‘I Go To Sleep’ by The Kinks, her interpretation of the brilliant ‘Foxy Lady’ by Jimi Hendrix which showcased both her and Jeff Wootten’s spectacular guitar playing on this seminal Hendrix track.
Chrissie Hynde and band perform at the Royal Festival Hall. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
Of course, there were some tracks by The Pretenders in the mix such as ‘Don’t Get Me Wrong’ and ‘2000 Miles’ which gave all the festive feels.
Chrissie is such a giving and warm performer and was so engaging and charming, it goes without saying that the audience loved her set which was followed up by a chat with Noel Gallagher.
Noel Gallagher and John Wilson. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
An interview with the charismatic Noel Gallagher is always high on my watch list, not only is he always effortlessly entertaining, he also has to be one of the funniest people in the music industry too.
Noel elaborated on how Sir Peter conceptualised and designed the Oasis album ‘Stop The Clocks’ from 2006. The album features a collection of random objet d’art pieces which were found and curated in Sir Peter’s studio.
Peter let Noel and the band pick out what resonated with them which included items far and wide-ranging from Elvis to one of the seven dwarfs. Noel commented that it was an ‘amazing experience’ to be in the Blake studio and without doubt it’s an instantly recognisable piece of art.
How do you follow Mr Noel Gallagher and his indomitable wit and magnetism? It’s almost impossible, but it could only be with a five song set from who Noel calls the ‘Guvnor’ – Mr Paul Weller himself.
Paul Weller and band. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
Paul performed an exemplary and exquisite set of five songs which included the breathtaking ‘Gravity’ and the uplifting ‘Out of The Sinking’.
Paul Weller Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
It was great to hear ‘Soul Searchers’ from the 2014 album ‘True Meanings’, Paul’s fourteenth solo studio album as well as ‘Broken Stones’ from the aforementioned ‘Stanley Road’ which captivated the enraptured audience.
Of course, we had to hear from the great man himself – Sir Peter Blake who pointed out that today wasn’t actually his birthday, ‘but, er, near enough!’. Fair point, but if you are going to have a birthday shindig, why not go all out and have it at the Royal Festival Hall in front of some music royalty?!.
Surrounded by his family, Peter thanked the acts as well as the audience for attending this one-off live performance.
Then it was time for more music and it was time for Noel Gallagher again who performed a compelling set of some Oasis classics which included a stunning rendition of ‘Stand By Me’ from ‘Be Here Now’.
Noel Gallagher at the Royal Festival Hall – Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
This was truly a special moment, as this was the first time Noel had sung this track on stage as a solo artist (having last performed this track when he was in Oasis)
‘Wonderwall’ was a triumph and Noel effortlessly delivered on passion, sincerity, conviction and feeling on both this track as well as ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’.
He dedicated ‘Live Forever’ to Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie who had sadly passed away earlier that week which made for a beautiful and touching moment and it evoked a huge wave of emotion that seemed to hit everyone in the audience.
There is something so powerful about those lyrics and the connection Noel has with the audience when he sings like his heart depends on it.
Noel Gallagher – Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
This was a spellbinding performance that showcased not only his spectacular performance skills, but also his beautiful songwriting with the poignancy and meaning of the gorgeous lyrics and his captivating delivery ensured that there was barely a dry eye in the house and he left the audience wanting more.
Suggs from Madness charmed and amused the sold-out crowd with tales over his indecision over the artwork for the tenth Madness album ‘Oui, Oui, Si, Si, Ja, Ja, Da, Da’. Suggs explained that Peter created the artwork after the band kept changing their minds which resulted in the famed ‘crossing out’ design.
Suggs chats to John Wilson. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
There was also an appearance from an animated Bob Geldof who waxed lyrical about Peter’s designs for the Band Aid single and Live Aid.
The Who are always an absolute riot to watch live, and Pete, Roger and their band did not disappoint. They kicked off with a barnstorming rendition of the electrifying ‘Substitute’ which really got the elated crowd on their feet. Of course, there was some classic shredding from Pete who with Roger did a stunning version of ‘Behind Blue Eyes’.
The Who perform in London. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
Other standouts included an effervescent rendition of ‘Pinball Wizard’ and a rousing version of ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ with just the two rock ‘n’ roll stalwarts performing together as they have done so since the 1960’s.
Last but by no means least was the event closers – Madness.
Madness in London. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
The Camden natives were on fire and put on a scintillating and pulsating display. Their set complete with colourful visual backdrops really got the party underway. From ‘Baggy Trousers’ and ‘The Prince’ to the dynamic ‘One Step Beyond’, the Madness boys cranked up the energy to deliver a high octane and jubilant performance.
Madness perform at the Sir Peter Blake gig in London. Photo Credit: Sharon Latham
Other standouts included ‘The Sun and The Rain’ from 1994’s ‘Keep Moving ‘and their delightful cover of Labi Siffre ‘It Must Be Love’. This was a glorious end to a fantastic night of live music from some of Britain’s finest bands and musicians.
The Cure’s live shows are always bewitching, intoxicating and dynamic and their gig at the Nelson Mandela Forum in Florence, Italy was no exception. If you have ever been fortunate to go and see The Cure live, you will know that the set is always super long, but it’s a unique and fulfilling sonic experience.
The Cure Delivers Electrifying Performance with The Twilight Sad
The band were ably supported by the Scottish rock band The Twilight Sad, who performed tracks like ‘Kill It in the Morning’, ‘There’s a Girl in the Corner’ and a superb cover of Frightened Rabbit’s ‘Keep Yourself Warm’.
This wasn’t The Twilight Sad’s first rodeo touring with The Cure and they put on an impressive set that entertained the crowd.
The staging was incredibly atmospheric, before The Cure came on stage, a cacophony of rain could be heard over the speakers which added a real sense of anticipation to the proceedings.
Robert Smith and the band kicked off their set with a brand new song that has been incredibly well-received by fans throughout their European tour.
‘Alone’ a soaring, dramatic track that really draws you in is a triumph and showcases Smith’s prowess as an exemplary songwriter with lyrics like ‘The fire burned out to ash and the stars grow dim with tears’.
This, coupled with two other tracks that were interspersed between deep cuts and evergreen classics made the band’s set an absolutely electric affair. The new tracks form part of a forthcoming and highly-anticipated album by The Cure which frontman Robert Smith has hinted will be entitled ‘Songs of the Lost World’ and has indicated will be ‘the doomiest thing we’ve ever done’.
The long-awaited album (their first since 2008’s ‘4:13 Dream‘) is rumoured to be comparable to the likes of 1989’s ‘Disintegration’.
However, as is the case with The Cure, where there’s dark, there’s also light which could be found in tracks like the joyful ‘Friday I’m in Love’ which really set the crowd alight. ‘Lovesong’ was a huge triumph as was the post-punk anthem ‘A Forest’ which was haunting and heavenly in equal measure.
Robert Smith of The Cure performs at the Nelson Mandela Forum in Florence, Italy
The Cure Dazzles Fans with New Tracks and Iconic Hits
Another new song from ‘Songs Of A Lost World‘ included ‘I Can Never Say Goodbye’ an emotional track which was a tribute to Robert’s brother who sadly passed away.
Highly emotive, this deeply personal track really resonates with anyone who has ever lost someone they love with touching lyrics like ‘‘Something wicked this way comes, to steal away my brother’s life’.
‘Endsong’ was a stunning exhibition of the band’s super musicality and stage presence. The pioneering and introspective track was performed under a blood moon on the big screen.
Those looking for a back-to-back showcase of The Cures’ most loved, seminal rock ’n’ roll hits were not disappointed with tracks like ‘Lullaby’, ‘Close To Me’, ‘Just Like Heaven’, ‘Hot Hot Hot!’ which was a tour debut, ‘Pictures of You’, and ‘In Between Days’. This was an exemplary set that showcased their impressive body of work.
Every band member put on a first-class and dynamic performance which included a welcome return of Perry Bamonte back to the band. Bassist Simon Gallup put on a high-octane and exuberant performance showing why he’s one of the best bass players in the business.
A force of nature and one of the most compelling and intriguing frontmen in music, Smith is a charismatic and captivating performer, his vocals remain as impassioned as ever before and haven’t changed since the band’s inception in the late seventies.
One of the highlights was the closer ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ which was a euphoric and dazzling rendition of one of the band’s best-loved hits.
The Cures’ gig in Florence was an electrifying and unmissable experience, with the band proving once again how incredible they are on stage.
Mesmerising and captivating; there are probably not enough superlatives to give The Cure who put on one of their best-ever performances in Florence.
Almost 22 years since the release of the debut hit album ‘One Touch’, the Sugababes are back and they mean business.
Further to their electrifying performances at Glastonbury, Victorious and a myriad of other festivals earlier this year, the iconic and original trio made up of Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy are on tour for the first time in ten years since they last toured as MKS (Mutya Keisha Siobhan)
With stellar support from rising star Kara Marni who put on a fantastic display which included ‘Trippin’ – a monster of a track that samples Amerie’s ‘1 Thing’. ‘Over You’ and a very heartfelt rendition of Coldplay’s ‘Fix You’.
Kara gave a well-rounded and captivating performance and really helped pave the way to get the party started for a fantastic night of live music.
An elated crowd welcomed the Sugababes to the stage who kicked off proceedings with a sultry and cool rendition of ‘Push the Button’ which was followed in quick succession with ‘Red Dress’ and the brilliant ‘Hole in the Head’.
The trio have always been renowned for their impressive harmonies and their supercool attitudes, track by track, this was a masterclass in pop perfection with every member giving a high energy and an accomplished performance
Hit after hit, the girls showcased their epic back catalogue of their best-loved hits which sat effortlessly alongside some deep cuts and tracks from their MKS days which included ‘Flatline’ and ‘Love Me Hard’.
The Sugababes elated the crowd with tracks like ‘Ugly’, an emotional ‘Too Lost In You’, an impassioned rendition of ‘Stronger’ and ‘2 Hearts’.
One of the highlights of the set was a cover of Sweet Female Attitude’s ‘Flowers’, which was followed by ‘Round Round’ and the electrifying ‘Freak Like Me’. The band closed the set with fan favourite ‘About You Now’ which really set the 02 Academy in Bournemouth alight.
Melodic and magnificent in equal measure, the Sugababes effortlessly showed their pop pedigree thanks to their top-notch performance skills and their captivating and endearing stage presence.
The End Of The Road festival has been captivating festival goers since its inauguration in 2006, thanks to its quaint location in the heart of the countryside on the Dorset/Wiltshire border, its boutique vibes and its carefully curated lineup of music.
Located at the scenic Larmer Tree Gardens, this festival offers a wide range of musical talent on offer and has been instrumental in showcasing talents like Tame Impala, Father John Misty, Sleaford Mods, Little Simz and more.
Thursday
With an eclectic lineup over four days, Thursday saw Texan psychedelic trio Khruangbin provide a cosmically delicious performance that was atmospheric and exhilarating in equal measure. The Houston band effortlessly fuses together an intoxicating mix of psychedelia, Middle Eastern soul, jazz-funk, reggae dub and more.
There were rousing renditions of tracks like ‘August 10’ and ‘Maria También’ as well as some electric interpretations of Dick Dale’s ‘Miserlou’, Spandau Ballet’s ‘True’ and a funk-laden version of Tina Turner’s ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’.
Another standout was post-genre American artist Sudan Archives who put on a dynamic and well-rounded performance playing her fiddle with a dizzying panache.
At the close of ‘NPBQ’ she hollers that she just ‘wants to have her ti*tties out’, the excitement for the first night of ‘End of The Road’ is clearly palpable and is rubbing off on everyone, especially Brittney Parks.
Friday
Friday saw performances from Seattle indie-folk rockers Fleet Foxes, and London-four piece Automotion who put on a high energy and compelling performance complete with impressive driving guitar work.
Mali’s Tinariwen which included some pretty nifty guitar work from leader Ibrahim Ag Alhabib who cut a resplendent and majestic figure and got the crowd going with his undulating rhythms.
Post-punk rockers Porridge Radio put on a passionate yet vulnerable display at the Garden stage, but it was the magnificent Soccer Mommy who was the standout act of the night with her candid storytelling and shoegaze-driven guitars that drew in quite the crowd over at the Big Top stage.
‘Bones’ was an absolute triumph, but the overall set was a dreamy waltz through Allison’s impressive body of work.
The genre-gnarling members of Black Midi served a typically avante-garde, frenzied and vociferous set over at the Garden stage. Their rock opera album Hellfire was performed almost in its entirety asking the crowd to vape collectively to create a smoke machine effect – and why not?!
Fleet Foxes were a worthy headliner for Friday, they sounded fantastic and their harmonies were rich and deep in equal measure.
This was an intricate and impressive performance and was absolutely worth waiting for after Covid halted their plans to play at last year’s festival.
The set was stellar in every way, with the inclusion of ‘Can I Believe You’, ‘Phoenix’, ‘Drops in the River’ amongst others.
Saturday
Saturday saw solid performances from the likes of Kevin Morby, The Magnetic Fields, The Weather Station, Los Bitchos and more. Alabaster Deplume added a serene and celebratory vibe to Saturday’s proceedings.
Without a doubt, the endearing Perfume Genius was a magnificent addition to End of the Road. Despite worrying about falling over (don’t talk about it – thoughts become things and all that jazz!) he strutted like the peacocks that have been walking around the Larmer Tree Gardens for years!
An abundant and accomplished performance, Hadreas is akin to a flamboyant Vegas showman, especially with the electrifying ‘Queen’.
Of course, it was the magnificent Pixies that drew the largest crowd of the festival thus far. Kicking off proceedings with an exhilarating rendition of ‘Gouge Away’ closely followed by ‘Debaser’, ‘Hey’, ‘Planet of Sound’ and the ultra-savage ‘U-Mass’.
Whilst the newer material was well-received, it was those classic Pixies hits that got the crowd going. The influential indie-rock pioneers showcased their incredible back catalogue with vigour, panache and class.
Sunday
From Kurt Vile & The Violators and Lucy Dacas to the brilliant Yard Act and Willie J Healey, Sunday was yet another monumental day of music at End of The Road.
Bright Eyes provided an impassioned and emotional performance with heartfelt tracks like ‘Lover, I don’t have to Love’, ‘Bowl of Oranges’ and ‘Persona non grata’. Melodic and melancholic in equal measure, Conor still managed to captivate the audience despite a few digressive interludes.
Aldous Harding closed Sunday at the Garden Stage in a magical and ethereal way. An emotional and hypnotic performer, you truly feel a sense of serenity when listening to her sing and her whole set is a remarkable and thrilling affair.
Harding along with several other spell-binding and riveting acts showcased once again why the End of the Road has endless appeal and is one of the most visionary, culturally-rich, enlightening and exploratory festivals in the UK.
Victorious has gone from being an under-the-radar late summer festival to one of the major players in the UK festival scene.
Music Festival has always boasted some of the most eclectic lineups in live music and has previously seen acts like Rudimental, Royal Blood, Manic Street Preachers, The Charlatans, Years & Years and Blossoms.
The festival site is just a stone’s throw from the seafront at Southsea and is renowned for attracting festival-goers of all ages.
This musical extravaganza is one of the highlights of the UK festival calendar and this year saw the likes of the Stereophonics, Becky Hill, Paolo Nutini, Bastille and Sam Fender performing to a sold-out crowd.
One of the best things about Victorious is that there’s something for everyone, whether you are into indie, pop, folk or dance, there’s certain to be a huge selection of acts that you will be adding to your ‘must-watch’ list.
Friday
Scottish rockers Primal Scream kicked off the entire Victorious Festival 2022 with a storming set which included some of their most-loved tracks like ‘Movin On Up’, ‘Country Girl’ and the infectious ‘Rocks’. Bobby Gillespie and the band were on fine form and proved their live credentials once again with a fantastic set in the sunshine.
The Common stage also saw great performances from Anna Calvi, Soak and Self Esteem, but one of Friday’s highlights was from indie rockers James (who we reviewed in Porto earlier this year) who provided a stellar set which included ‘Come Home’, ‘Sit Down’, ‘Beautiful Beaches’ and of course the festival classic ‘Sit Down’ which was one of the entire weekend’s highlights.
Naturally, Tim Booth was at his flexible best, dancing as if his life depended on it as well as crowd surfing twice. Luckily, the crowd didn’t let him down, and neither did he.
Tim and the rest of the band were on top form, although the omission of tracks like ‘Say Something’ and ‘Laid’ were slightly disappointing, but when you have a back catalogue as extensive as James, something has always got to give!
Bombay Bicycle Club were on their unusual top form with a jam-packed collection of songs which included ‘Eat, Sleep, Wake’, ‘Shuffle’ and their reflective cover of Selena Gomez’s ‘Lose You To Love Me’.
Friday’s headliner was the incredible Stereophonics who are no strangers to the Victorious stage. Their set was pretty much the same as what the guys played when they supported Pearl Jam at BST Hyde Park earlier this summer and was a masterclass in performance from frontman Kelly Jones and the band.
Fans were treated to rousing renditions of hit after hit which included favourites like ‘Maybe Tomorrow’, ‘The Bartender & The Thief’, ‘Pick a Part That’s New’ and ‘Just Looking’ as well as tracks from their last album ‘Ochya!’ which came out earlier this year.
Friday night’s festival was closed out with a spectacular firework display which provided a colourful and thrilling end to a high-octane night of music.
Saturday
The second day of the Victorious Festival is always a pretty stellar one and Victorious 2022 was no exception.
It saw some incredible performances from the Sugababes (which coincided with the Royal Navy carrier HMS Prince of Wales passing by – is this royal approval or a mere coincidence?!), We are Scientists and Irish rockers Inhaler who delivered an energetic and dynamic set with tracks like ‘It Won’t Always Be Like This’ and ‘When It Breaks’.
Another Victorious veteran came in the shape of Ocean Colour Scene which included some epic guitar playing from Steve Cradock who was resplendent in a cricket jumper, looking effortlessly cool as always.
The set from Ocean Colour Scene was first class and was packed full of their most-loved hits which included ‘The Riverboat Song’ ‘One for the Road’, ‘The Day We Caught The Train’ and ‘Hundred Mile High City’.
Saturday also saw performances from The Wombats, White Lies, Declan McKenna all of whom served electrifying sets to the enraptured crowd.
Bastille’s set was first class and with tracks like ‘Back to the Future’, ‘Flaws’ and of course ‘Pompeii’, it’s easy to see why.
Paolo Nutini was another Saturday headliner, it was difficult to choose between Bastille and Paulo who delivered an incredibly strong set that effortlessly demonstrated his capabilities as a lyricist and vocalist.
Fans were not disappointed with his setlist, but the omission of ‘New Shoes’ in its entirety did ruffle a few feathers from those wanting to hear it live. However, Nutini’s set was a well-rounded, crowd-pleasing affair and was a strong way to close Saturday for Victorious.
Sunday
The Libertines kicked off day 3 of Victorious with a bang, this is a band that doesn’t disappoint. Fans were treated to a set list chock full of favourites which included ‘Up The Bracket’, ‘Don’t Look Back Into The Sun’ ‘What Became of the Likely Lads’ and ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’ which really got the crowd going.
One of my favourite things about this band is the chemistry between Pete Doherty and Carl Barât – both of which put on stellar vocal performances throughout their short but sweet set.
Sunday also saw some superb performances from Sam Ryder who closed with a spectacular rendition of ‘Spaceman’, Editors, Amy MacDonald and Metronomy who dazzled the crowd with tracks like ‘Right On Time’ and ‘Love Letters’.
Whilst there’s no doubt that the Castle Stage was heaving with fantastic performances, two of the standout performances from not just the final day of music, but from the entire festival came from the Castle Stage and the Acoustic stage from Embrace and James Walsh respectively.
Both acts were absolutely incredible; showcasing their impressive back catalogues as well as effortlessly including newer tracks, with world-class sets that truly charmed the crowd.
Embrace who have just released their 8th studio album ‘How To Be A Person Like Other People’ were on fire and fans were treated to sublime performances of ‘Gravity’, ‘Ashes’ ‘Come Back To What You Know’ amongst other beautiful tracks.
James Walsh (Starsailor) has a voice that you could listen to for hours. His understated, intelligent and heartfelt performance had the crowd in the palm of his hands.
His sincerity and tenderness when delivering a song are second-to-none and he has a very special quality that is both captivating and endearing in equal measure.
Songs like ‘Alcoholic’ and ‘Silence is Easy’ are absolutely exquisite and it was a real pleasure to hear them performed with just a guitar in such an intimate setting.
Sunday was one of the busiest days of the festival and with a lineup of Becky Hill, Anne-Marie and Sophie Ellis-Bextor on the Castle Stage, it’s easy to see why.
All three acts provided an energetic and exhilarating set which got the crowds on their feed. Nothing But Thieves provided a rockier end to the pop proceedings with a barn-storming set which included ‘Impossible’ and ‘Real Love Song’.
Suede was one of the final acts to perform on the main Common stage with frontman Brett Anderson delivering hit after hit like ‘Metal Mickey’,‘Animal Nitrate’ and ‘Trash’ before closing with ‘The Beautiful Ones’.
His commitment to delivering a high-octane performance cannot be denied, but he did bizarrely have something close to a meltdown mid-set when he started telling members of the crowd to ‘f**k off’.
Sam Fender’s star continues to rise, not only did he receive huge plaudits for his performance at Glastonbury, but this year alone, he’s supported both The Rolling Stones and The Killers proving that he’s quite possibly one of the biggest musicians in the UK right now.
In a fantastic set of almost 90 minutes, Sam treated the gargantuan crowd to tracks like ‘Seventeen Going Under’, ‘Will We Talk’, ‘Getting Started’ ‘Saturday’, and of course ‘Hypersonic Missiles’ which closed Victorious 2022 accompanied by an electrifying display of colourful pyrotechnics which culminated another amazing weekend of live music down on the south coast.
Imagine if 20 of London’s best bars were to pop up in a beautiful Georgian garden slap bang in the middle of London and bring you the al fresco cocktail experience of your dreams?
Well, you don’t have to imagine it anymore thanks to the genius team at Cocktails in the city who have transformed Bedford Square Garden into the ultimate summer cocktail paradise during August and September.
Food and Drink
Dubbed the London Summer series, it’s a delicious medley of street food, cocktails and live entertainment and a must-visit for fans of all things al fesco who want to make the most of the UK heatwave. Whatever you want from a drinks festival, Cocktails in the city deliver in abundance. Whilst you dawdle around the beautiful garden sampling the finest cocktails that London has to offer, you can also indulge in lip-smackingly delicious street food too. Gorge on the Bento box of your choice from Sticks ‘N’ Sushi or tuck into Cafe Pacificos’s Tacos and Burritos, loaded with a sensational guacamole and perfectly crunchy corn chips. And for those wanting something a bit more gourmet, Oficina 00’s show stopping pasta dishes which include fried ravioli and panko lasagna will have you queuing up for a second serving.
In addition to seriously bop-inducing live music, there is also the option of swaying your way around the garden courtesy of the silent disco . You can also learn a new skill (and also cool down) by taking part in the popular ice carving workshop, and the best part? You can use that ice in a bespoke cocktail that you can make yourself in the interactive cocktail making masterclass.
Music and Entertainment
If you’re able to drag yourself out of the comfy garden chairs, a game of shuffleboard where groups of up to 8 can participate definitely beckons for the more competitive amongst us whilst sparkly festival makeovers and pampering, courtesy of Chambord and Iris add a touch of glamour and sparkle to the day. As if that’s not enough, there are tasting stage talks aplenty throughout the day that you can pop into if you want to learn about different flavors, pick up some tips from the experts and be immersed into the world of cocktail making.
Get Involved
So if you’re in need of a summer plan, GRAB YOUR TICKETS now for the next installment of the Summer Series which is taking place 11th- 13th August. It’ll be a Summer Series with a twist, an ‘International Edition’ which promises to transport you around the globe with a diverse food and drinks offering. The best bit? If you attend you will have a chance to win a trip to St Lucia as well as other many other amazing prizes throughout the weekend!
The National Geographic Food Festival claims to offer ‘tastes from around the world’ (which it did) and to ‘inspire you to take your own culinary adventure’ (which it also did) but somehow, I was left wanting more.
Insider’s Take: National Geographic Food Festival
I think the important thing to remember here is that anything that is housed in the Business Design Center is going to be an expo – however hard they try to creatively mask the shell scheme booths, there is no getting away from the fact that you are shuffling from one 3×3 space to the next, hoping to grab a tasty morsel from the tasting trays but actually realising that queuing for 30 minutes for a bite of a fishcake, isn’t quite worth it.
However, that being said, it was refreshing to see countries you may not necessarily think of displaying their culinary wares and I guess that is what Nat Geo is all about, discovering the lesser known, Sampling chocolate and coffee from Ecuador, followed by pastries and sweets from Azerbaijan was one of the highlights of the day and exactly what I hoped to get out of the experience albeit with a couple more elbows jousting for that chocolate than I would have liked.
Check out our coverage of the Festival of Love at Skylon in our latest article on House of Coco. Read more here.
Chef’s Perspective:
As a chef and food writer, the demos and talks were the peak of my day of which there were plenty. With a main stage and four smaller stages plus a ‘cookbook corner’ for intimate chats signings and demos taking place on the larger stands, there was never not something to watch. Being an absolute sucker for anything from the deep South, learning how to make Muddy Waters Shrimp with chef Brain Landry and then sampling a bisque of curried pumpkin, crawfish and corn was fabulous and did indeed inspire me to take a culinary adventure to Louisiana (which I am currently planning) so I guess by that logic, the event did exactly what it said on the tin. I also managed to catch Grace Dent who was as iconic as I had expected – she held the audience, had everyone in stitches and was informative about what it takes to become a restaurant critic. Not to mention she looked absolutely GAWgous and has further cemented by affirmation to ‘be more Grace Dent.’
The best tacos in town.
The woman, the myth, the legend – Grace Dent.
Books, books and more books.
Exploring the Delights of the National Geographic Food Fest
If the jostling for samples isn’t quite your bag, the deli and food market situated on the upper ground floor is the place to head. A variety of food traders selling street food style plates was absolutely what was needed to ward off the hunger pains that were starting to form after watching cooking demo after cooking demo. Of course, like the taco bloodhound I am, I sniffed out Taco Padre and after a plate of Lamb Barbacoa and a couple of frozen margs, I was ready for round two of elbow jousting.
I am still not 100% sure who this event is directed at. As a food professional, I had a reason to be there and did indeed get inspired by the variety of ingredients on offer as well as hanging on the every word of chefs from around the globe. For the foodie-loving public, I guess I can see the appeal – a collection of offerings you may not be aware of, coupled with some well-known names and faces. A nice way to spend a couple of hours just make sure you sharpen those elbows and if you intend to watch any of your favourite foodie celebs, get down the front early to avoid disappointment.
Some things are worth waiting for and the Eels UK tour is certainly one of them. After suffering a series of delays due to the global pandemic, the indie rock stalwarts were in their element with their gig at the O2 Academy in Southampton.
Lockdown Hurricane might be the name of the tour, and the mood definitely represented this sentiment. It felt like it’s been a long time coming.
Having been around (in different line ups) since the early nineties, the band have always been synonymous with their unique fusion of experimental arrangements, uplifting melodies and intelligent and reflective lyrics.
The seminal rock band and in particular frontman ‘E’ may have been around for over thirty years, but without a doubt they can still rock as ‘E’ declared:
‘We’re proving that you can be old as fuck and still rock like fuck’. Not only can they rock hard, but the banter is still on point too with the band running with a quirky ‘exercise’ concept where all the band members have ‘exercise goals’ to achieve which was demonstrated throughout the set with quirky graphics illustrating that the various band members had hit their ‘exercise goals’.
Captivating, candid and always amusing, the band opened up their sold out show with ‘Steam Engine’ and ‘Amateur Hour’ from 2022’s ‘Extreme Witchcraft’.
The band had lots of energy and swagger and played a fantastic selection of songs from their extensive back catalogue which included the fantastic ‘Earth to Dora’.
As well as showcasing some of their most loved hits and deeper cuts, there were also some intriguing covers which included the Small Faces and Nancy Sinatra amongst others. The electrifying riff from The Kinks ‘You Really Got Me’ was elegantly mixed with ‘My Beloved Monster making for a fantastic mash up.
One particular standout was the fantastic ‘I Like the Way This is Going’ from ‘Tomorrow Morning’ which was a gorgeous pared back rendition which really showed off the beauty of the lyrics.
Other highlights included ‘I Need Some Sleep’, ‘I like Birds’ and ‘The Deconstruction’, all of which provided a stellar reminder of the fantastic lyricism that Eels are renowned for.
The fantastic ‘Novocaine for the Soul’ was an absolute dream and got one of the biggest receptions of the night.
This was a dynamic and well-rounded performance from a truly compelling live act that is one of the most exciting indie-rock bands of our generation.
