LTW newsletter 76
Welcome warriors,
It’s been a tumultuous week of much change. Since I last spoke to you all, I was lost in the mire of Glastonbury, where I am the host of Billy Bragg’s Left Field stage.
My job is to introduce the bands which is a real pleasure as they always have a great line up on that stage. Much is said about Glastonbury, mostly on social media by people who don’t go there, but the reality is quite different. The BBC version is the luxery version of celebs and big names but there are 105 different stages and the musical diversity at the festival is staggering.
Once you are at the heart of the festival no-one really mentions Dua Lipa or the headliners because there is so much more going on. The real heart and soul of Glastonbury are the smaller stages like Left Field itself, where a mixture of new bands and classic bands play to 1000 people, or the all-night mad rave scenes at the Shangri la where 30,000 people get lost in sci-fi madness and loud electronic grooves. The sheer scale and size of Glastonbury means that the debate about headliners seems silly!
I came back from Glastonbury, though, with a rotten stinking cold and was out of action for a few days - the rancid bugs one can catch if you bump into a lot of people! But I feel a lot better after last night's election result and the site of Rees Mogg being deposited from his own petard. Hopefully, the new Labour government will connect with people and break down the log jam of problems. I know it never is what you hope for but at least we can hope now - starting with music. I wrote a mini-manifesto of what we would like to see happen in the music world from a new government.
https://louderthanwar.com/what-labour-can-do-for-music/ (Opens in a new window)
Somehow in the incoming fog of the cold and the 12 hour train and foot journey back from Glastonbury, I wrote up my adventures at the festival.
And because its such a masive festival and impossioble to cover fully we had another writer running around the site as well…
nwar.com/glastonbury-2024-festival-review/ (Opens in a new window)
It’s not just the big festivals this week, though; the classic Manchester band Puressence made a sudden reappearance after a decade to a sell-out 1600 capacity Albert Hall. Much loved in the city their music has never sounded so urgent and timely. The Manchester legends returned to the live stage after an 11-year absence to stun a fevered Albert Hall.
https://louderthanwar.com/puressence-albert-hall-manchester-live-review/
Conflict is an anarcho punk classic - angrier and noisier than Crass,. They also removed the hippy bit from the equation - it was a pure punk generation reaction to the anarcho ideas. Decades later, they are still angry and visceral.
https://louderthanwar.com/conflict-the-1865-southampton-live-review/
At the other end of the punk matrix are Green Day. Stadium success was the number one albums and much success - all in conflict with what punk stood for - or is it? Surely the original punk bands like the Sex Pistols were pop bands who changed your life? It’s all very contradictory, but does it make sense?
https://louderthanwar.com/green-day-bellahouston-park-glasgow-live-review/
Placebo burst onto the scene decades ago in a blur of mascara and flash. Their dark heart tunes were big hits for disaffected youth across the world, but where are they now? We found them selling out the 6000 capacity Peice Hall in Halifax and still at the top of their game.
https://louderthanwar.com/placebo-the-piece-hall-halifax-live-review/
Bat For Lashes are touring their most recent album The Dream Of Delphi around the UK, and playing the last British date of the tour at Manchester’s most recent concert venue which isn’t an Arena, but the site of the old Granada Studios, Aviva/ Factory International. MK Bennett feels the magic
“Something glorious is about to happen!” Kele’s heroes are back in Birmingham for the first time in a long time, showcasing their landmark album Silent Alarm as it turns twenty. Sam Lambeth dines out on a Banquet of legendary rock staples. https://louderthanwar.com/bloc-party-birmingham-o2-institute-live-review/ (Opens in a new window)
Krankenhaus Festival in the Lake District is an amazing event – hosted by Sea Power and taking place at a 12th century Lake District castle. The 2024 line-up ranges from Nadine Shah, Sea Power and Snapped Ankles to Lias Saoudi, Maxine Peake and Will Sergeant, mixed with fell walks, bird of prey displays and a beautiful campsite. Krankenhaus is where rock music meets the highest rocks in England – looking out to Scafell Pike, the tallest peak in England. We’re told they’re now getting down to the last few weekend tickets.
https://louderthanwar.com/krankenhaus-festival-announce-bill/
