REVIEW: Bearded Theory, Saturday
Jane’s Addiction by Isla Kerr
A break from dreary Derby skys came on the Saturday of Bearded Theory. The fields were quite literally alive with the sound of music albeit the muddy ground didn’t look at all similar to the Austrian hills the music was undoubtedly better than anything heard in the movie.
Pet Needs
Having already played the set they were booked for back on Wednesday it was only a last minute injury from Divorce’s guitarist, Felix, that saw Pet Needs take to the main stage in place of them on Saturday. Vocalist ‘Johnny’ didn’t miss the opportunity to comment on how monumental of an occasion this was for the band ‘Most of the time when a band like ours gets an opportunity like this they try to be cool and act like they play stages like this all the time’ ‘That’s not who we are, this is a massive f-cking deal for us’
Their affinity with the crowd only grew as they pointed out family members and got everyone to raise their hands for a picture mid set. The Essex band were full of energy and truly gave the slot their all as they bounced around the stage. It would be great to see them play similar slots in the future.
Goat Girl
The London band have been building momentum over the last year or so and with an upcoming tour later this year as well as new album ‘Below The Waste’ set to be released in June it’s geared to continue that way. Today the stage was laid out in a sort of half circle formation with Rosy Jones (drums) facing (keys). They played a dreamy thirty minute set containing loads of new material under glorious sunshine.
bdrmm
What was hailed by many as one of their favourite sets of the weekend didn’t come out of the main stage and in fact from the tented Meadow near the entrance instead. Shoegaze band bdrmm amassed a crowd quickly and kept them there until the very last minute of their set. Building intros, dotted tempos, bass lines and vocal delays marked a set that was impossible not to tap or sway along to.
Dogshite
My first trip to the Convoy Cabaret stage was for the self proclaimed ‘punk skankers’ Dogshite. Their charismatic show was perfectly suited to the indoor circus like tent and their ska punk rock tracks had the crowd banging their heads from the get go. More and more piled in after peering behind the tent’s sides that were drawn as if they were curtains in a circus.
(images sadly lost, but didn’t want to leave it out)
Wargasm
The divisive duo will never be known for their subtlety and lack of noise. They exploded onto stage today along with Stone Behzadi (bass) and Adam Breeze (drums). They played a range of tracks from old hits like, Fukstar to new ‘Bang Ya Head’ which they created with Fred Durst.
The Menstrual Cramps
The band who led the Boycott of The Great Escape Festival alongside How To Catch A Pig have recently been making more and more of a name for themselves. Tonight they were called to stage by the introducer who seemed just as excited to see them as the crowd were.
Emilia (vocals) sported a high vis velcro with ‘No! Men @ Work’ ‘Support Strikers’ scribbled on the back in marker pen as well as ‘Boycott Barclays’ written across their legs. If this left you with any doubt about the way the punk band use their voice then their call for spectators to boycott upcoming festivals funded by Barclays and others on the BDS list left no doubt. Emilia focussed on Download as well as Isle of Wight and Latitude urging artists to boycott as well as anyone who was yet to buy a ticket to avoid doing so. Those who already had tickets and were unable to receive a refund were instructed to let them know so they could be pointed in the direction of action to take while attending.
The crowd soon chanted ‘Free Palestine’ and united in support of the band’s revolutionary tracks. It is amazing to see a band who not only stand up for what is right but set aside the time to educate others. The Menstrual Cramps are an essential group.
Jane’s Addiction
The American rock band have seen endless praise, line up changes and subsequently plenty failed reunions throughout their almost 40 year career. The band emerged in the late 80’s and heralded a more bohemian style of rock than had been heard before. Tonight the original lineup of Perry Farrell (vocals), Dave Navarro (guitar) and Eric Avery (bass) take to the stage and seem to have found whatever they were missing before. They work in perfect harmony and appear ready to take on their upcoming UK tour which begins at The Roundhouse the following Monday. The crowd laps up every minute of their reminiscent set as Farrell stalks across stage with his mic in hand while Avery mouths lyrics in time as Navarro draws indescribable sounds out of his guitar.
As the sun set on the now dry fields of Bearded Theory there was a sense of reminiscence, not only because of a band as legendary as Jane’s Addiction closing out the main stage but also the dawning realisation that the festival would soon be coming to an end. This topped with the daunting forecast for Sunday made many wish the sunny day would never come to an end.
