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The Saturday at Staxtonbury 2015 brought another day filled with original and cover bands. This year we saw a number of up and coming bands from across the country including Red Star and The Sherlocks.
Once again, our hard working contributors were out and about soaking up the festival vibes.
Two Reasons Why by Paul Spencer
Terri-Ann Prendergast by Paul Spencer
Noah Clouds by Paul Spencer
Ashleigh McPherson by Paul Spencer
Laura Kindelan by Paul Spencer
Stray Scene by Katherine Dunn-Mines
Starfish by Katherine Dunn-Mines
Alan Lewis by Katherine Dunn-Mines
The Chris Berry Band by Katherine Dunn-Mines
Chest Rockwell by Kirsty Hannam
Amy Cutler by Tessa Hughes
The Sherlocks by Tessa Hughes
Dustin The Blues by Tessa Hughes
Snatch by Katherine Dunn-Mines
Another Manhatton
Big J & The Piccolo Chickens
Bogus Beatles
Kast Off Kinks
Unit 3
Two Reasons Why – Acoustic Stage (reviewed by Paul Spencer)
Singer Lucy Williams and guitarist Joe Baker are the aptly named Two Reasons Why. At their Staxtonbury appearance, the duo seed in some tender-sounding original material amid plentiful acoustic covers.
What is immediately evident about the duo is that Lucy has a remarkably sultry vocal, with a great range – hitting those notes of emotional strength when a song calls for it, while Joe’s country-garden fingerpicked guitar neatly complements her.
The soft-spoken pair are playing songs from their recent EP ‘Abbey Sessions’, including ‘Fox’s Den’, ‘Half Beat’ and their new single ‘Five Seconds to Fall in Love’. Cover songs include Aloe Blacc’s ‘I Need a Dollar’, a smart version of the Four Tops’ ‘I Can’t Help Myself’ and an emphatic treatment of Adele’s ‘Rolling in the Deep’ (the latter perfectly matched to Lucy’s rich voice).
Of their own songs, the spirited ‘Just To Let You Know’ is a memorable highlight, stirring the emotions – clearly a desired effect for the two-piece. “I’m singing just to let you know I’m holding on,” Williams sings – these are songs that cry out.
Terri-Ann Prendergast – Acoustic Stage (reviewed by Paul Spencer)
Nervously eyeing the PA system after its brief power outage, Terri Ann Prendergast looks the embodiment of summer, blonde hair tumbling beneath her straw hat. The acoustic tent is well suited to her absorbing, romantic vocals, as well as demonstrating her adeptness on acoustic guitar. Her set is largely led by covers, opening with a gentle song by Christina Perri (‘A Thousand Years’) and her “favourite song from last year”, John Legend’s ‘All of Me’.
Her first original song is ‘Tucked Up’, taken from her last EP (‘Intricate’). After the low-key, heartfelt beginning, ‘Tucked Up’ has a nicely effervescent feel, the fast-paced chorus claiming “I love it when it gets to the end of the day, and we’re all tucked up like a family”. It’s another showcase for Terri Ann’s flawless singing. Further covers include the popular ‘FourFiveSeconds’, a Staxtonbury favourite, and Gnarls Barkley’s ‘Crazy’, which is well matched to the singer.
With the music tech frying in the summer sun, Terri Ann adapts to the loss of the PA by encouraging the audience to switch to closer seats, round-the-campfire style. The last few numbers include festival perennial, ‘Stand By Me’, making for a very enjoyable set.
Noah Clouds – Acoustic Stage (reviewed by Paul Spencer)
Another York-based songwriter, the Staxto acoustic tent is the perfect home for Noah Clouds, his set consisting entirely of original material. With a whiskey-smooth vocal, he plays the acoustic guitar with confident, relaxed skill.
The grandly-titled ‘Magnificence of Livin’ Wild and Free’ is a signature tune for the musician, a paean to home towns and lost days, in which he will “raise a glass for our wild ways, raise a glass for forgotten days” and “can’t believe how much these pavements mean to me”, with an absorbing melody.
‘She’s a Writer’ features some dizzyingly ornate guitar playing, and Noah tells us that ‘With Handfuls of Dust and Broken Stones’ was actually inspired by the US TV series Spartacus. Tellingly, this memorable song also has a reference to ‘fields of gold’. The songwriter is often rightly lost in his music, hair falling over closed eyes.
His closing number is the ominous-sounding ‘Fear Walks with You’. “The shimmering of distant lights reminds you of another life,” he intones, bringing the song to life with some accomplished, agile fingerpicked guitar. A talented man indeed.
Ashleigh McPherson – Acoustic Stage (reviewed by Paul Spencer)
Cover artist Ashleigh is a popular Staxtonbury addition, with her calm, relaxed approach and a singing voice that is extremely easy on the ear. Opening with George Ezra’s ‘Blame it On Me’, the elfin McPherson has a good line in crowdpleasing, satisfying tunes, including a spirited rendition of ‘Mardy Bum’ and teen anthem ‘Teenage Dirtbag’.
Ashleigh’s vocal is understated and unshowy, in a way that makes her a pleasure to listen to. Wisely following a credibility-shedding McFly cover with some classic Elvis and Oasis, she is rewarded with clapping and cheering from the satisfied crowd.
Laura Kindelan – Acoustic Stage (reviewed by Paul Spencer)
Young Laura is an appealing presence on the acoustic stage, mixing her own material with some enjoyable cover songs. There is a story behind every song, which adds substance.
As well as a tune written in sympathy for a jilted friend – the most heartfelt is probably ‘About You’, which she wryly explains is better known as the “the Mum song”, written after mistakenly forgetting about Mother’s Day. It’s a straightforward, honest tune, and it seems the talented Laura often wears her heart on her sleeve.
Cover songs include the Beatles’ ‘Blackbird’, and Bill Withers’ ‘Aint No Sunshine’ – for the latter, “if I don’t see bobbing heads I’ll be extremely sad,” she smiles. She closes with her summery, likeable ‘Dreamchaser’: “Clocks have changed, time’s up, I’ve got to go, I’ve got dreams to chase.”
Stray Scene – Marquee Stage (reviewed by Katherine Dunn-Mines)
Stray Scene performed with laid-back rock and roll verve in the lunchtime slot, telling the audience they were glad to be back at Staxtonbury after apparently being banned for the last couple of years.
They were certainly enjoyed by those residing in the marquee tent, with even some tiny tots having a little boogie to their twanging rhythms.
Playing some favourites that long time fans will be familiar with, as well as some more recently penned tracks, the three-piece represented solid original songwriting and cool stage presence.
Starfish – Marquee Stage (reviewed by Katherine Dunn-Mines)
This was my first time seeing Starfish, whose line up has changed of late from five piece to four man band.
Their set of original rock often has the feel of ’60s and ’70s rock, without directly referencing tracks from the era – it makes for an authentic classic rock sound.
The crowd numbers rose during their set with people wandering in, liking what they heard and staying for more in the relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere the band created.
Alan Lewis – Main Stage (reviewed by Kirsty Hannam)
Alan Lewis is a new name to me but apparently not to a large part of the crowd at Staxtonbury – a young performer from Filey, he received a warm welcome and although his style is not necessarily my first choice I found myself tapping my foot and applauding with the rest of them!
Although billed as a solo artist, Alan was more than ably supported by a young and talented band (in particular a young keyboard player whose talent belies his age).
Starting with a couple of well-known covers – including a funked up version of ‘Ain’t Nobody’ performed with a ukulele – all of which were well played and received, Alan came into his own with his original material.
‘Kids’ had many in the crowd singing along with a reception one would expect from an old standard, slightly reminiscent of Lenka’s ‘Caught in the Middle’, ‘Kids’ had simple harmonies and a cool summer vibe; a song that wouldn’t be out of place on a radio playlist.
Alan’s closing song ‘Only Love’, which features on his E.P ‘Wild’, had the energy of one of the livelier Mumford and Sons tracks; played on acoustic guitar it was certainly a good choice fitting well into the festival’s sunset setting; all in all a well accomplished set from a promising young artist, although for me there was a little naivety in some of the writing in Alan’s original numbers. However, if he has achieved this standard by now his future work will certainly be something to watch out for.
The Chris Berry Band – Main Stage (reviewed by Katherine Dunn-Mines)
The Chris Berry Band were a perfect match to the bright afternoon on the Saturday. A variety of covers, including Bryan Adams, The Kinks, Amy Winehouse and The Mavericks, as well as crowd-pleasing renditions of ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ and ‘Let’s Work Together’, had fans dancing and enjoying the simple pleasures of live music on a sunny afternoon.
A party atmosphere pervaded and I was glad to catch this band again later in the Marquee tent, where the dancing was also in full swing.
Chest Rockwell – Acoustic Stage (reviewed by Kirsty Hannam)
I’d heard the name, I’d listened to some stuff online and yet I still wasn’t sure what to expect; was it going to be comedy masquerading as music or music masquerading as comedy?
To be honest it was both – Chest Rockwell has the writing and playing talent to deliver great ‘straight’ songs and the comic edge to succeed as a stand-up; anyone willing to start a set so close to Scarborough with a Jimmy Saville joke has got to be a genius or a maniac and I say he’s a little of both!
Certainly not an act for the family audience, Chest began with an audience participation of ‘Living Next Door to Alice’, as he said he can’t swear but we can! Chest isn’t for the easily offended, subject matter included religion, incest and homosexuality, that being said none of it was designed to shock for the sake of it.
All Rockwell’s material had a point and a message and most importantly a knowledge of the issues he was singing and writing about. Attacks on Cameron and Farrage were clever, referring to “Nigel Feuhrer regenerating like Dr Who”, and even the more light-hearted songs had opinions likely to cause a debate, a song about Karaoke TV shows calling “Family Guy a watered down South park, who needs that much CSI anyway”, and ‘Even Love the Shit Bits’ was possibly the most down-to-earth realistic love song I’ve ever heard. All in all though my personal favourite was a public service announcement-esque parody of ‘I Will Survive’ about a zombie holocaust.
Very much in the style of Tim Minchin and Beau Burman, Chest Rockwell has a talent and stage performance that would be at home both on the comedy and music circuits – musical influences are eclectic, from pop to blues to epic movie sound tracks; if you want something different and like to laugh while you listen this is definitely the artist for you!
Amy Cutler- Acoustic Stage (reviewed by Tessa Hughes)
Local singer Amy Cutler can be often be seen around town performing solo or with Soul Rida, and her jazz and soul influenced tones are strong and distinctive.
Taking to the acoustic stage she was backed by Stefan Ward and Elliot Pelucci on guitar and bass, plus a drummer. Together they performed fantastic covers, all very well arranged and layered up with heavy measures of funk in the bass and sizzling soul in the singing.
Sadly the set was cut a little short due to a power outage in the middle, but Amy and co. recovered superbly and managed to get people up dancing to their cover of ‘Uptown Funk’ before they ran out of time.
The Sherlocks – Main Stage (reviewed by Tessa Hughes)
Sheffield five-piece The Sherlocks are probably tired by now of being compared to The Arctic Monkeys. However, it’s a little hard not to do so.
Each one of the budding Indie-Rock outfit’s original songs is stuffed full of catchy riffs and solid basslines being driven home by a determined drummer. The band brought with them a small group of fans that made themselves comfortable in front of the stage, dancing and singing along with an enthusiasm that showed what kind of following these boys may have back on their home turf.
Towards the end of their set they delivered just one cover- an absolutely slamming rendition of Kasabian’s ‘Club Foot’, which was understandably very well received. The Sherlocks’ sound would not be out of place in any rock club across the country, and with their very marketable image and sound it would not be surprising to see them on bigger stages in the future.
Dustin the Blues- Marquee Stage (reviewed by Tessa Hughes)
Scarborough outfit Dustin the Blues are no strangers to Staxtonbury, and always manage to draw in a crowd despite being scheduled opposite main stage headliners.
Their fast paced, toe tapping tunes are enough to draw out a strong level of audience participation despite the late hour. Excellent original song ‘Put the Kettle On’ went down a storm, as did their well chosen collection of covers, all featuring perfectly executed vocal overlaps and harmonies.
The set featured a stirring tribute to the late blues legend B.B. King, and finished with a song entitled ‘Stop Press News’, a number which swung the blues vibe right towards the rock ‘n’ roll end of the spectrum.
Snatch – Main Stage (reviewed Katherine Dunn-Mines)
Snatch proved that they are masters at raising their game from pub gig to festival stage, and did so in style.
With drummer Kerry in full Superman garb and lead guitar/vocalist Mick and bassist Ben sporting their Snatch/Superman logo t-shirts, they turned the dial to 11 with a full-pelt set, covering the likes of Sinatra’s ‘My Way’ in their inimitable style, alongside a barrage of hits from across the eras, and even at one stage paused to help stop a brief/swiftly dealt with fracas in the crowd (maybe the superhero outfits aren’t just for show?).
Snatch definitely brought fun to the festival in their headline slot and left the revellers in good spirits as they made their way back to their tents and camper vans.
Another Manhatton – In Pictures (photos by Lee Jones / Radiomoths
Big J & The Piccolo Chickens – In Pictures (photos by Lee Jones / Radiomoths
Bogus Beatles – In Pictures (photos by Lee Jones / Radiomoths
Kast Off Kinks – In Pictures (photos by Lee Jones / Radiomoths
Unit 3 – In Pictures (photos by Lee Jones / Radiomoths
