Category: Ukranians

With apologies for the slightly blurred image today  – I didn’t realise until looking at it for the purposes of this post that it wasn’t perfect.

The day didn’t get off to a great start.  I had looked at the Scopitones website at lunchtime which gave the Saturday timings as doors opening at 3pm, so our arrival at 3.30 meant we missed all but the last song from Everett True, and it wasn’t even him singing The Fall.  But then again, his take on Chaise Longue by Wet Leg was fun.

One of the things about this particular festival is the timings, with the thought process being that anyone going along can seamlessly catch every single act.  The main part of Concorde 2 is badged as Le Bikini Stage, while an outdoor area takes the name of the Swim Stage.

A couple of minutes after Everett True stepped off Swim, Cinerama walked onto Le Bikini.  The four members of The Wedding Present augmented by Emily on flute and Charlotte on keyboards (apologies for not catching their surnames), while at one point Andrea from Melys joined to provide a co-vocal.  It was a short and very enjoyable set:-

146 Degrees
Close Up
7x
Ears
Sly Curl
Apres Ski
Careless
As If

Just eight songs over what should have been 40 minutes, but with David Gedge chatting away happily on stage, it meant it overran by a few minutes and led to  Melys having already begun the acoustic set by the time we ventured outside into what was a blisteringly hot and sunny day.  The space was rammed, and we couldn’t really see, so we went back inside to where it was a bit cooler and went down near the front to get ready for what Peter Solowka and Len Liggins from The Ukrainians were going to do. 

Turned out it was a mix of a Q&A with some live songs – the questions being asked by David Gedge (who also joined in on the songs on acoustic guitar) – as a way of promoting what looks like a fabulous new book ‘Taking Kyiv to the Kosmos’ which celebrates the now 35-year career of the band (a copy was bought and brought back with us).  The talk and performance was a real joy, particularly when they played this

mp3: The Ukranians – Batyar

Their manic and joyful take on Bigmouth Strikes Again from their 1992 EP, Pizni Iz The Smiths.  I never thought I’d hear that played live, and it put a daft grin on my face.

We forsake watching Jar of Blind Flies, instead making our way just across the road to a beachside cafe for a snack, where we could easily hear the band’s take on noisy alt-rock.  Listening in, we were a bit annoyed at ourselves at missing out, but as it was about to get a bit manic for the rest of the evening, a short break really had to be built in.

Having been sure Batyar would turn out to be my personal highlight of the festival, I was soon proved wrong when the Scottish contingent had their turns in the sun.  

Close Lobsters bounced on the main stage at 6pm and delivered a magnificent show.  The songs covered their entire career, from the early material of the mid-late 80s right through to brand-new songs that came out on a new EP just last week, with everything in between.  We stood near the back of the hall for this show as we were determined to get down the front for the next band on The Swim stage, and with things running marginally late, we had to, very sadly, leave just as Close Lobsters struck the opening notes of their last song:-

mp3: Close Lobsters – Going To Heaven To See If It Rains

And so we ended up right down the front for Spare Snare, who very cleverly waited until Close Lobsters had stopped playing before beginning their set.    I knew from having a wee catch-up with frontman Jan Burnett a few weeks back that he was really looking forward to being part of the festival, and the plan was to blast out, loudly, fast and energetically, a 35-minute set of what the band was all about.

They were truly majestic, with a show that was worthy of headlining Glasgow Barrowlands and not the second and temporary stage at Concorde 2 in Brighton.   Every song was given a rapturous response by an audience that was growing by the minute as word began to spread about the performance that was unfolding.  

I’m not too sure just how many folk at the festival knew of Spare Snare before last Saturday evening, but I’m certain that their name was put into loads of search engines once folk got back to their hotels or returned home.  There was certainly quite a line-up at the merch stall the rest of the night, where new fans took the opportunity to press flesh with Jan and the rest of the band, while picking up CDs, t-shirts etc.   Oh, at Gatwick Airport waiting patiently for a delayed flight back home, we overheard a group of people who were, by the sounds of things bound for Belfast, talking about the festival and saying that Spare Snare had been the support act they had been most enjoyed, especially as they had not known what to expect.

mp3: Spare Snare – Action Hero (Marc Riley Session Version, 2018)

It took us a few moments to catch our breath, and by the time we got back inside to the main hall, the show by Miki Berenyi Trio was already underway.  I’m sure that quite a few of the audience, the opportunity to hear a few Lush songs sprinkled throughout the set was a real highlight, but it kind of felt a bit ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ coming on the back of the two Scottish acts.  Still, finishing off with Ladykillers was a nice populist touch that raised a loud cheer.

Again, it was time for another tough decision.  Back out to the Swim stage to see Lande Hekt (who I had enjoyed in Glasgow a few months back) or stay put to ensure a good spot for the second performance of the weekend by The Wedding Present? The opportunity to lean against one of the columns holding up the venue’s roof, thus giving a bit of support to my increasingly stiff back and legs, made our minds up, and so we reluctantly missed out on what by all accounts was a fine show by the Bristol-based singer.

And so to the end show.  TWP Take II. 

Any worries or fear I had from the previous night were quickly allayed. The sound wasn’t nearly as vicious as it had been on Friday – maybe the more gentle performance as part of Cinerama earlier in the day had rubbed off on Vince Lammi on drums as he was way less violent this time around.  Rachael Wood proved to be a very fine foil on lead guitar for David Gedge while Paul Blackwood very effectively and efficiently did his bit on bass, often over in the corner out where the stage lights were shining. It was quite the set that seemed to feature a fair-amount of duelling guitars, in which David and Rachael brought out the very best in one another.

Rachel
A Million Miles
You Should Always Keep In Touch With Your Friends
Momento Mori
Dalliance
Loveslave
Come Play With Me
Crushed
Don’t Talk, Just Kiss
Nobody’s Twisting Your Arm
I Am Not Going To Fall In Love With You
Corduroy
Science Fiction
My Favourite Dress
Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)
Crawl
What Have I Said Now?

I have avoided describing it as a career-spanning set.  17 songs, of which 13 were originally released between 1987 and 1992.   One from 2016 and three from 2022.  Nothing whatsoever from Take Fountain, El Rey and Valentina, the three albums that marked the second coming of the band in the 00s and 10s. Over the two nights, six out of nine songs from Bizzaro were played, along with a b-side from that particular era.  There really is nothing to complain about.

2025 will mark the fifteenth edition of At The Edge of The Sea and tickets have already gone on sale without knowing anything other than The Wedding Present show on the Friday night will centre around Mini, the six-track EP released in 1996, while Cinerama will play an extended set on the Saturday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the album Disco Volante. 

David Gedge looked absolutely knackered at the end of it all.  Three sets plus the appearance with The Ukrainians, and at other times doing interviews/chats for those watching a live stream of the event or hanging around the merch stall chatting away to anyone who stopped by.  It would take a lot out of anyone half his age – he turns 65 next April – so we might be getting close to a time  where it proves nigh on impossible for him to stage the festival.  On that basis, there’s every chance we will go back again next year, but it’ll be hard-pressed to better the 2024 event.

mp3: The Wedding Present – Thanks

One they didn’t play from Bizarro!

Oh…..I nearly forgot about my wee postscript.

Sunday evening, at the aforementioned Gatwick Airport just waiting to be called to board and I spot various Close Lobsters along with friends and family members.  Andrew (lead singer) sits a few seats along from me and Rach with his wife/partner.  

I take the opportunity to pass on my appreciation for what had been a great set and apologising for missing the last song.  I also mentioned I was marginally disappointed that Foxheads hadn’t been part of the set.  He smiled, said thanks and said that everyone in the band had thoroughly enjoyed the whole weekend.  On the plane, I found myself in the same row (but across the aisle) from Bob (bass player) and as we get ready to exit having landed in Glasgow, I take another opportunity to repeat what I had said to Andrew, and received a similar reply as to how enjoyable the whole experience had been for the band.

Your humble scribe…..rubbing shoulders with the cream of indie-pop!

JC