Flibster
06-07-2009, 19:08
Another fantastic weekend for the festival.
Went from rock, to bluegrass, to blues, to reggae, to punk, to ska, to swing... amongst many others things.
I missed out on 2008 as I couldn't be bothered at the time, But other than that I've been several times when it was free and it's always been a good time. Sadly, it's no longer a free festival in Hitchin, it's £7 per day - which considering there was 6 stages, an arena and a DJ booth providing entertainment is damn good.
Acts went from the supremely talented Jive Aces *closing act on the main stage on Sunday* to John Otway *closing act on the Herts Uni Stage on Saturday* at the other end of the scale and all sorts in between.
Otway absolutely rocked though. packed the stage out He didn't have Richard, his guitarist with him so he was providing all the music himself. :D He freely admits he's not a musician - until he gets his Theramin out. :D He even has 2 guitars hinged together, as he says he can play with both hands equally badly. ;)
The absolute highlight for me was the Jive Aces though. Total class. The stage was completely packed and they made the place jump. :D the singer/trumpeter, saxophonist and trombonist even ended up in the crowd to serenade a young lady in italian....about 2ft away from me.
It's absolutely well worth suffering a visit to Hitchin for this next year - you're bound to find something you'll enjoy.
Some links to audio/video of my favourite acts I saw this year - not going to embed them as there may be too many.
The Dealers - The Well Below the Valley (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EbItiazevM)
The Dealers - Was it Me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDrO_6s4ZD0)
The Dealers - Bitter Pill (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-wUIFyud-s)
John Otway - I Will Survive - A Tribute to Bob
Dylan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0BcBajJioY)
John Otway - Bodytalk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsJtVi-5H8U)
John Otway - House of the Rising Sun (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am7YaW1A5vw)
John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett - Headbutts (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQOAjMlzCUc) I just love this one for some reason. He now does it on his own without the 'assistance' of Wild Willy. :D
Toque Tambor (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCHOtxaC5f0)
Toque Tambor (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxQlpXOJAxM)
Toque Tambor (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81lZ1u_JfZE)
Etran Finatawa - Surbajo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NjX1ziHVX8)
Etran Finatawa (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRXj6e6cH38)
Jive Aces - GI Jive (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsA07kwQ7CU)
Jive Aces - Jump, Jive an' Wail (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJLKj44mKgY)
Jive Aces - When the Saints go Marching In (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK0IxYo1sSc)
Jive Aces and 'special guest' - R.O.K.C. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LRAYmoiT7Q)
Jive Aces and 11 year old Cody Lee - Boogie
Woogie (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW8ZpPUyumw)
Jazz Jamaica - Guns of Navarone (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LJqgxEmjtU)
Jazz Jamaica - My Boy Lollypop (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbVi-ni9nUk)
The Defekters - Myspace Link (http://www.myspace.com/thedefekters)
Rebel Control -Myspace Link (http://www.myspace.com/rebelcontrol)
The CC Smugglers - Baker St. 205 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jyuaxq0s74)
The CC Smugglers - Johnny B Goode (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W83bTMafXzE)
The CC Smugglers- Little Sleazy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZththzygBs)
The CC Smugglers - Rushin' Water (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMfiIV7hEoU)
The Magnolia Sisters (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ1iyMUvG0A)
The Magnolia Sisters (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvrLrhAPfS0)
Went from rock, to bluegrass, to blues, to reggae, to punk, to ska, to swing... amongst many others things.
I missed out on 2008 as I couldn't be bothered at the time, But other than that I've been several times when it was free and it's always been a good time. Sadly, it's no longer a free festival in Hitchin, it's £7 per day - which considering there was 6 stages, an arena and a DJ booth providing entertainment is damn good.
Acts went from the supremely talented Jive Aces *closing act on the main stage on Sunday* to John Otway *closing act on the Herts Uni Stage on Saturday* at the other end of the scale and all sorts in between.
Otway absolutely rocked though. packed the stage out He didn't have Richard, his guitarist with him so he was providing all the music himself. :D He freely admits he's not a musician - until he gets his Theramin out. :D He even has 2 guitars hinged together, as he says he can play with both hands equally badly. ;)
The absolute highlight for me was the Jive Aces though. Total class. The stage was completely packed and they made the place jump. :D the singer/trumpeter, saxophonist and trombonist even ended up in the crowd to serenade a young lady in italian....about 2ft away from me.
It's absolutely well worth suffering a visit to Hitchin for this next year - you're bound to find something you'll enjoy.
Some links to audio/video of my favourite acts I saw this year - not going to embed them as there may be too many.
The Dealers - The Well Below the Valley (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EbItiazevM)
The Dealers - Was it Me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDrO_6s4ZD0)
The Dealers - Bitter Pill (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-wUIFyud-s)
John Otway - I Will Survive - A Tribute to Bob
Dylan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0BcBajJioY)
John Otway - Bodytalk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsJtVi-5H8U)
John Otway - House of the Rising Sun (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am7YaW1A5vw)
John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett - Headbutts (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQOAjMlzCUc) I just love this one for some reason. He now does it on his own without the 'assistance' of Wild Willy. :D
Toque Tambor (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCHOtxaC5f0)
Toque Tambor (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxQlpXOJAxM)
Toque Tambor (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81lZ1u_JfZE)
Etran Finatawa - Surbajo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NjX1ziHVX8)
Etran Finatawa (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRXj6e6cH38)
Jive Aces - GI Jive (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsA07kwQ7CU)
Jive Aces - Jump, Jive an' Wail (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJLKj44mKgY)
Jive Aces - When the Saints go Marching In (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK0IxYo1sSc)
Jive Aces and 'special guest' - R.O.K.C. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LRAYmoiT7Q)
Jive Aces and 11 year old Cody Lee - Boogie
Woogie (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW8ZpPUyumw)
Jazz Jamaica - Guns of Navarone (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LJqgxEmjtU)
Jazz Jamaica - My Boy Lollypop (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbVi-ni9nUk)
The Defekters - Myspace Link (http://www.myspace.com/thedefekters)
Rebel Control -Myspace Link (http://www.myspace.com/rebelcontrol)
The CC Smugglers - Baker St. 205 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jyuaxq0s74)
The CC Smugglers - Johnny B Goode (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W83bTMafXzE)
The CC Smugglers- Little Sleazy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZththzygBs)
The CC Smugglers - Rushin' Water (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMfiIV7hEoU)
The Magnolia Sisters (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ1iyMUvG0A)
The Magnolia Sisters (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvrLrhAPfS0)