Sundae on the Common - the inthenews.co.uk review
Sundae on the Common - the inthenews.co.uk review
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By inthenews. |  |
Monday, 27, Jul 2009 10:59
Thomas Williams and Julia Ross swallow some more free ice cream and report from the annual south London event.
Saturday July 25th
A music festival organised by a multi-national food company? A few years ago we'd have seen music fans up in arms, citing Johnny Rotten lyrics, and proclaiming music dead. These days, post 'gentrification' of the Reading festival (by 'gentrification' I of course mean 'going s**t') and the fact that attending a festival seems to be something everyone must do, regardless of a liking of music, eyebrows are barely raised. With an event as excellent as this, it's a damn good job too.
Sure, there are a couple of clangers on the line-up. Telegraphs offering an indie-by-numbers, bore-by-droves approach to music, and Tommy 'won a television show' Reilly and his tuneless nonsense, being the prime offenders. Given that both play early doors, while most are still attempting to rupture their gut with free ice cream, it matters little.
Marina and the Diamonds bring the glamour to Clapham, in the form of glitter, stunning good looks, and music that a lazy journalist could describe as "a bit like Kate Bush", but is in fact totally individual, despite being inevitably lumped with the lesser likes of La Roux and Florence and the Machine.
It takes King Creosote to strip away the glamour, but bring along one of the finest sets of this or any other day. Eschewing his more common acoustic performances in favour of a full band set, it's nothing short of inspiring. As The Pictish Trail attacks his guitar like Godzilla, King Creosote looks like a kid in sweet shop as a mildly interested crowd turn into rapt disciples in the space of forty minutes.
Things continue on the upward trajectory with Teenage Fanclub, a band that leave this reviewer nearly speechless. Giving the crowd a best-of set, peppered with three new songs (one from each of the songwriters, as is their very democratic habit), it's impossible not to feel like the luckiest people in the world. Treats come in the form of Did I Say, a hardcore-fan pleasing rarity, and the monumental pay off that is Sparky's Dream. As aeroplanes race overheard, it's impossible to feel anything but pity for the holiday makers off to tropical climes, as you know that they didn't get to see Teenage Fanclub today.
Following this would be a tough act for any band, but then the Super Furry Animals really aren't 'any band'. Remaining blissfully unaware of passing musical fads, trends and scenes has allowed SFA to cultivate a long shelf life, never once being dull, and never once failing to impress. With a set that spans all eras, it's impossible for them to go wrong. God Show Me Magic still has the same punch it had all those years ago, whilst new single Mountain sounds so completely apart from anything else being currently made it should take out a patent.
That Ben and Jerry's have managed to create something as fantastic as this Saturday in Clapham Common is fantastic. A blissful sense of quality over credibility resides over the field, acts who are pioneering without ever being pretentious, and operate in their own worlds regardless of what the vile music 'scene' in general is telling them they should be doing. It's one of the best days of live music you could ever hope to have and a reminder for this reviewer of all the reasons he loves music.
Tom Williams
Sunday July 26th
After Saturday's glorious weather, the skies were already distinctly overcast by the time we arrived at the second day of Sundae on the Common. This was very much a day out for all the family, with farm yard animals for real Londoners to experience country life firsthand (without actually having to set foot outside the capital), fairground rides, coconut shys, biscuit decorating and mosaic making (special mention should also be made here of the sinister-looking male 'toe-wrestler' clad all in pink lycra... seriously wrong!).
Aside from this, there was relaxingly little to do during the day, except sit on the grass, eat, drink and watch the bands, should the mood take you. In addition to families, Sundae on the Common also offered a great pretend festival within stumbling distance of the Clapham bars for those who were perhaps not your typical 'festival' crowd.
As well as the limitless supply of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, there was a selection of food stalls (all wholly ethically sourced brands) and bars stocking the obligatory extortionately priced and brand-regimented bottles of beer and cider. The strong focus everywhere was on the key social awareness campaigns supported by the event; this and the efforts to make the whole thing carbon neutral compensated for the inevitable corporatism and the atmosphere remained friendly and uplifting throughout the day and night. The weather in a way, only added to this- it just wouldn't be an English summer without some rain and lightning!
First band on was the Brute Chorus, too early for most people to really register, with their special brand of 'modern folk' acting as the perfect soundtrack for the illusion of being close to nature; rather than enclosed in a relatively small piece of grassland backing onto a busy high street.
Unbelievably young and Libertines-esque, Mancunian band the Answering Machine took to the stage next, dressed in obligatory skinny jeans and checked shirts. Once again, the crowd at this point was nominal, and those positioned vaguely near to the stage, were on the whole sitting down and only half listening to the music. The band did not seem phased by this, however, putting on a sterling performance- definitely worth looking out for in the future.
On the arrival of Red Light Company- currently being championed by the NME- the crowds slowly began to form and the day really started to feel like a music festival. It was also around this time that the rain really started, but this didn't seem to put people off, as Red Light Company launched into their distinct brand of anthemic, festival appropriate indie pop with 'darker undertones' (apparently!).
Attracting more of the 'family' groupings, Glaswegian act Camera Obscura came up next. A big favourite of the late John Peel, the band have been going since 1996, making them veterans of the day, after The Human League. Despite a few worrying flashes of lightning, the whole set was soothing and whimsical following two louder, up-tempo acts.
Of course, the bands that most people had turned up for were the Futureheads and 80s legends the Human League. Sunderland post-punk outfit the Futureheads, stuck mainly to early material (including the obligatory performance of Hounds of Love) to a phenomenal crowd response. Meanwhile, Tthe Human League offered a spectacular closing complete with entourage, 80s regalia and final, magnificent performances of Don't You Want Me and Electric Dreams.
To sum up the whole day, it was very Clapham and very nostalgic. A great simulated festival experience, which beneath all the hype, genuinely promoted a number of worthwhile causes. While you can be cynical about any event's claim to be entirely carbon neutral, painstaking efforts were taken to ensure it at least came significantly close to this.
Julia Ross