Mason delights as fans try to escape queues
The Holloways played well into the early hours
Saturday, 19, May 2007 04:34
An hour-long set from Willy Mason managed to brighten the evenings of Great Escape revellers in Friday's night of gigs.
The American folk hero arrived onto the stage later than scheduled after giving an impromptu performance to the dozens stuck in the queue outside.
With waiting times of an hour and a half being spoken of around Great Escape, some people in the depths of the queue were voicing concerns that they would be lucky to catch Mason at all.
The singer was also required to go back outside to vouch for his guitarist who, having lost his pass, was having no luck with the humourless door staff.
Favourites such as We Can Be Strong and new single Pick-up Truck had the audience singing along at full volume and his hour-long set was never going to be enough for anyone.
Oxford band Foals brought their irregular guitar interplay to the Great Escape hoards, with a packed show at Horatio's.
"We thought we'd be playing to just one person," Yanis, the Foals lead singer had said - how wrong he was as the crowd thronged from corner to corner.
Current single Hummer went down particularly well and did Two Steps Twice, which had everyone on the room standing up and taking notice.
Queues were part of the furniture during Friday night's shows and the Holloways had their performance delayed well past 03:00 BST before taking to the stage at Concorde 2.
"Good morning Brighton, what's for breakfast, lead-singer Alfie joked before the band launched into opening track Dance Floor.
The band played fan favourites Two Left Feet and Generator to a crowd thankful for the emergence of a band.