Anyone going to any festivals this year? After bemoaning the lack of decent ones on this side of the pond for the last four years, I discovered All Points West, which has exactly my kind of music and is literally across the way at Liberty Park in Jersey (it's overlooking the Statue of Liberty, hence the name).

I just read this great article about the best small festivals in Britain - some of them sound great!

I'm off to Download, just like every other year. I wasn't originally planning on going, then they confirmed Faith No More as a headliner and my interest went from "meh" to "OhmygodIhavetogetaticketrightnow".

I'm gutted that i can't get the day off for Faith No More's day at download.

Depending on how the line-up goes, i may grab a day ticket for sonisphere at knebworth, or a day ticket for the kings of Leon day at Reading.

　If I had my life to live over...I would have talked less and listened more.
　　I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was strained and the sofa faded.
　　I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
　　I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
　　I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

　　I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

　　I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while watching life.

　　I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding patter if I were not there for the day.

　　Iwould never have bought anything just because it was practical, would not show soil or was guaranteed to last a life time.
　　There would have been more "I love yous" ... more "I'm sorrys"... but mostly, given another shots at life, I would seize every minute... look at it and really see it...live it...and never give it back.

Living Life Over

Edited by Chapman Baxter: Spam links removed but message left for comedy value.

In English class, one girl said never give up when discussing. It just reminded me something about myself.

Maybe it is something about love. My love, which began on July 3rd of 2005 and finished on August 23rd of 2008, taught me many things. It is not a pleasant thing to look back on that. But I know I must learn something from it, no matter what it is, happiness or sorrow.
Our love did not go on so smoothly and we went through many things. When we were confronting difficulties, he always told me “never give up”. I insisted that we would love
each other forever and that we would overcome all difficulties so long as we never give up. It was the reason that we can persist though we did not live in the same city.
This summer, he came to Qingdao campus. I was so glad because we could study together from then on. But all to my surprise, things changed so fast and out of my control.

In these days, I am always trying my best to forget all the things of him. But it is not an easy thing. At last I know that when we promise something, we just believe we will
try our best to realize it, but if things change, we may do nothing about it.

PS: Writing these words, I suddenly don’t know what to say next. Maybe we should believe the person who told you never give up. Here, I want to bless for the boy once told me never give up. Wish you have a happy life in your future.

NEVER GIVE UP

Edited by Chapman Baxter: Spam links removed but message left for comedy value.

I think we should all post like this from now on.

KEEP ON TRUCKING.

I agree.

IF THE ROYAL PERSON OFFERS A HAND THE HANDSHAKE SHOULD BE SHORT AND NOT HARD.

I could get used to this

NOW WASH YOUR HANDS

Why do people have to constantly learn things from the events of their lives. Fucking hippies.

That made my day.

MIND THE GAP.

And back to reality....

Glastonbury Line-Up

Now comes the impossible task of picking who to go see when.

That's pretty impressive, especially Sunday on the Pyramid. Madness I would normally avoid but I think the audience might well have less than the usual quota of tossers in it. Tom Jones the last time he played Glastonbury was one of the best shows I've ever seen.

Pyramid Sunday does indeed look good. Also tempted by the Spinal Tap / Dizzee Rascal double-bill. Not too fussed by a lot of the new acts this year, so I'm happy with the largely older line-up.

That actually makes me feel old, I haven't heard of a lot of the acts and half of the ones I have are people who I wouldn't expect to be there. I've not been since they started making you pay to get in but it must still be true that you can have a good time no matter who's playing.

i struggled to find people i'd want to see over all four days...

I'm hoping to do a bit more exploring this year, so not too fussed missing most acts. Plus I'll be working at a stall a fair amount, so I'll be happy.

One day, though, I will go to Fuji Rock - pretty good line-up, though some more Japanese bands would be nice.

yep, that's much more like it. even with a few crappers on the bill, there's plenty to spark one's interest...

trashcan sinatras???

That's a blast from the past. And Gong.

Worth going for Guitar Wolf alone.

I am looking forward to Manchester International Festival this year, although not a music festival in the general sense, it's got some amazing acts playing this year (Kraftwerk, Durutti Column and Elbow with the Hallé), and I am very much looking forward to It felt like a kiss.

i'd look forward to it a lot more if it wasn't so expensive...

i'd quite fancy seeing carlos acosta, dela soul and that adam curtis thing...

Cripes you're not wrong about the cost - might have to give it a miss unless I can make a preview (I still have a student mentality, £25 seems like far too much). I hadn't noticed the prohibitive pricing.

indeed, most of the events seem to be £25 and those which have a range, are £12-£50: which kinda suggests that the £12 seats may be a bit crappy...

Isle of Wight Festival

I'm there Friday and possibly Saturday. First ever festival!

They'll be gentle.

Have just purchased a ticket for Greenman sadly giving latitude a miss this year.

They've just announced the line-up for the cinema tent at Glastonbury and as predicted there's a super secret 3D film showing on Sunday morning, which just happens to have the same running time as a new Pixar film. And as Wall-E was a special preview last year...

Also looking forward to the Shangri-La area this year that promises a late-night future dystopia a la Blade Runner and Trash City for nutty weirdness.

The Trash City/Lost Vagueness war as told in Jon Ronson on Glastonbury is very funny.

Just thought I'd chime in here. The agency I work for has made "Spot the Bull" a fun little game where you can win Glastonbury tickets if you can correctly guess where "Desmond" the bull will be at 3pm.

May well be the only way to bag said tickets now.

Check it >> http://www.spotthebull.co.uk/play

So you know Andy Whitlock then?

Yep - the man sits next to me

Should I pass on your wishes?

Sure, why not. It's Adam from CRC. Small world, eh?

Isle of Wight tomorrow! Pendulum, Prodigy, Basement Jaxx!

I caught Pendulum and the Prodigy at Download and they were both brilliant, highlights from what was an incredibly good weekend. Although the real high point was managing to squeeze my bulk right up to the front before Faith No More started and managing to stay there for their entire (unbelievably awesome) set. Kei is a happy bunny.

Jealousness! Glad you had fun, peeps. Are there going to be any highlight shows on tv?

Glastonbury 2009...



We Have Band - emerging talent competition winners and The IT Crowd lookalikes playing hip dance music that's fun to listen to and works well with a festival crowd. Not groundbreaking, but entertaining.



The Mandibles - another band I'd seen before, but worth another look, as they play brilliant 20s/30s style speak-easy kinda swing with a ska inclination and the odd dip into psychedelic spoken word story-telling. Highly recommended.



Sub-Universe - hilariously brilliant/awful rap trio, another emerging talent competitor we'd seen before. We got right in front of the stage on Friday morning, and danced our tiny minds out, singing along to all the words. Most fun I had that weekend.



Metronomy - aka The IT Crowd + 1. Nice flashing lights on their chests, and a more indie vibe than We Have Band, but lacks individuality.



The Dead Weather - the third Jack White band I'd seen at Glastonbury (after The White Stripes and The Raconteurs), and undeniably sounds like him, but a lot louder and grungier than ever. I was dead right that they'd be special guests at The Park and I was very glad to see them, but we'll see what the album sounds like.



Spinal Tap - the most entertaining act of the weekend. Sounded great, lovely renditions of Saucy Jack, Stonehenge (with mini version and mini Druids), Jamie Cullum guesting on Hell Hole and Jarvis Cocker bringining the bass for Big Bottom.



Franz Ferdinand - another band I already done seen live, and they are excellent performers. Really good set, and very lively.



Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - they rocked. Electrifying show from all concerned and wonderfully moody without being too dour. Brash and exciting.



Blur - got up very close (as you can see by my video), so was crushed a lot at the start, but found some space to enjoy an incredible set. They played their hearts out both as if they'd never gone away and also that they were desparate not to disappoint, and the fact that they still had great songs to spare left me wanting more. Wonderful.

Also caught a bit of The Specials (excellent), end of Ray Davies set (lovely sing-a-long set), Friendly Fires (upbeat but lightweight), The Hot Rats (nice covers from part-Supergrass), Dizzee Rascal (fun and worked the crowd well, but was expecting a little more), and Tom Jones (brilliant voice and still energetic).

Many more photos here: Flickr

Would have loved to have been there.

Am most particularly jealous of this...


I really wish they would come to Australia.


Did you see Madness?

I had intended too, but I was really tired at the time and needed all my energy for being at the front of the Pyramid stage for Nick Cave and Blur back to back, so thought it best to have a lie-down in my tent beforehand instead. Another time, maybe.

Don't suppose you saw N.O.M.A.D did you?
I'm asking everyone I knew who went to Glastonbury in the vague hope they saw my friend Lydia's band, who were playing there.

Because I am cheap and cannot afford anything at the International Festival, I will be attending some events at the alterna-fest NotPartOf.

Specifically, at 1pm on Saturday I, and hopefully many others, will be taking part in Flashmob Shakespeare, and hopefully going to the interactive Murder Mystery the week after.

'fraid not. Actually only saw about three or four bands a day, but there's lots to see and do anyway, so it wasn't disappointing at all.

Quite understandable.

So many awesome acts...so little time.

Fantastic photos all round, but particularly jealous of this. My friends who went said he was possibly the loudest act they saw.

Field Day tomorrow. Rain predicted. Lack of suitable footwear may prove problematic.

Get a pair of wellies, they're only a tenner.

That may put me off, although I don't actually have a ticket yet. Mogwai and Four Tet are still calling me...

I do have a pair, just not with me in London. And I'm loathe to buy something I already have, even if it is miles away and unreachable in my hour of need. I've got plenty of crummy footwear I don't mind getting destroyed, just unfortunately they weren't priority one when moving to my teeny flat.

I think I need to do some more Event radio listening on Last.fm - pretty much every band that has popped up playing tomorrow sound good.

Well I did go to Field Day, and I did get really very wet waiting for Santigold to appear on stage. But, the music was mostly excellent, if the sound wasn't especially good. Photos can be found nyah.

I especially liked First Aid Kit, Jon Hopkins, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Final Fantasy, Wild Beasts, Santigold, Fennesz, Four Tet, and Mogwai, while Errors, Fake Blood and Fanfarlo were all 'fair enough'.

You've totally made those bands up. I haven't heard of most of them, I'm so old