Fantastic weekend despite a few oops'. We intended to get there by 10.00 am and arrived at 1.30. We brought a generator (a quiet one) to let us play SA music - it didn't work. We had an area reserved for us, which would have allowed our Marquee front entrance to be near the main walkway, but as we got there so late, it had been usurped and we had to relocate up the hill. We did manage to rig the lights up via a magic box plugged into FD's car cigarette lighter, so the blue, chill-out light was able to lighten up the place. We didn't give out as many leaflets as we'd hoped, nor played any SA music, but the festival itself was fantastic.
I seriously love these festivals. Once more I can honestly say I heard not one musician or band I didn't enjoy - some so much I need more. The crew, the musicians and the fans mingling, drinking, smoking, laughing and having a great time was fantastic - it's that, actually, that makes these festivals great, and is the very essence of the idea behind the SoundAwesome Community.
I danced. Boy did I dance. Someone said 'I've never seen you dance like that before' and I replied I hadn't, not in decades. But, although it's taken a while, it's finally sunk in that you don't have to look good dancing, you just have to feel good. And I felt great.
There were a lot of SoundAwesome Members at the festival; many we knew were coming, and a few very pleasant surprises, including Moonstorm. Whilst the plan of all SA members camping together didn't come off due to our tardiness, we were close enough and enjoyed time together. We and I personally, made a lot of new friends too - people like us who do what they do for new and original music. And once again, I find that even the most respected musicians are, in this arena, some of the nicest people I've ever met.
It would be unfair of me I think to say I preferred this band over that band because I thoroughly enjoyed it all. And it's awkward giving a sentence on each band, but Omnia Opera did it for me on Friday - I've heard them before - and saw them at Hawkfest, but Friday was a fantastic set - one I shall always remember. I spoke to the girls afterward and made sure they knew it too :). The Hawklords was a bit of a coup and a fantastic treat, whilst the Starfighters - well I still have the original Captain Lockheed album on vinyl - w w for white..... Brilliant. Litmus I enjoyed and it was good meeting up with them later for a jam, too. Harvey was, well Harvey, and brilliant as ever. Anubis I met last summer and despite an invite to their gig at Mansfield, wasn't able to make it, so I was looking forward to seeing them round the festival off. Large, powerful sound. I really enjoyed it. Wore the T-Shirt too :)
Of course I was looking forward to the Sunday with 'our' bands performing. It was great finally meeting David and the crew from Akahum after a couple of months of emails and comments. It was cool 'hanging out' over pints and patter after their set, which although cut short sadly for some reason, was nonetheless excellent - as proven by the live recordings on their profile. Flutatious were out of this world. I mean it. I have seen them play a few times now and I said they played a belter at the SoundAwesome Gig, and they did, but Sunday night at the SRS, they played, in my opinion, the best gig I've heard them do. Oh they'll probably tell you it was full of this or that going wrong, but to repeat it what has already been said, every single person in the place was dancing. The bar staff, people outside, everyone. No-one else did that.
Bill, Stella and Malcolm (Flutatious), Josh Dreamspirit, Angel & Jo (Sahmak), Harry C, Tombs, ET, et al came back to marquee for an accoustic jam that lasted all night and well into the morning. At one point Harry C, Tombs and I had to play bouncer to lose someone who was a little overawed by it all and wanted someone to beat him up. We didn't of course, and though apparently he'd upset a few people around the festival that night, we still didn't, and cool as you like, we ushered him away, then turned to each other and realised we were all bricking it, lol.
But all good things come to an end and it was finally time to drive home. I realised at that point that I'd not actually slept since I arrived. It took two coffee stops and a stop for a cold facewash to keep me awake on the way, but I finally stumbled in at about 5 pm on Monday. By 5 past I was asleep. Twelve hours. Solid. No dreams. Sorted :)
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Dr Hasbeen presents Sonic Rock Solstice 2009, set in the beautiful area of Builth Wells in Wales. Superb venue & Facilities. More acts TBC
Marvellous to meet the SA crew, & at such a friendly small festi.
YEP CHAPS,a wonderful time was had by all,akahum were great and i had a lotta fun in the soundawesome marquee.we have already been booked for next year so lets make it even better.
bill