#TGE16

[miseryauthorex]

this episode!!! is so good!!!

[lampenfiebermusicblog]

This is post no. 600 on Lampenfieber Music Blog. Something, which actually started as just a side project to my other photo tumblr. 

Time to say thank you to anyone who actually is reading this and is looking at my photographs. In a way, this is mainly a sort of public music diary  I haven’t made much effort to spread the news about this blog. So thank you for finding me!

I want to “celebrate” this day by featuring the artist behind one of my favorite albums from 2016, Frankie Cosmos. 

I was lucky to see Greta Kline’s music project twice at last year’s The Great Escape in Brighton. There was something awkward and shy about her live performance. In a way, the pictures are a bit misleading - mostly Greta Kline had her eyes closed during her sets, like a teenager performing for the first time in front of an audience. But that actually made the concerts quite refreshing, in an environment where even new and upcoming bands usually already are incredibly professional and (seemingly) cool.

In a way it also was fitting the beautiful fragility and poetry of her lyrics.

[sparkleandsnarl]

The Great Escape 2016, day 3, part 2

This evening had tons of clashes, but I made my first difficult choice by opting for Jambinai at the university's Sallis Benney Theatre, an excellent decision. Jambinai are a Korean band that fuse traditional instruments with rock. They were fierce and extremely talented and also just really absorbing to watch. One long song had me almost in tears; I bought both their CDs (the second one hadn't yet been officially released, woohoo!) and discovered that this particularly moving song is called "커넥션 (Connection)," and I would urge you to put it on, loud, so you can hear all the nuances, and just sit back and close your eyes and let it wash over you. It's that one repeated melody bit whose poignancy really got me.

After a bit of a break, I returned to Patterns Upstairs to see Cosovel, a Polish woman with intriguing electro pop (her bio on the festival page says that the lyrics are based on translations of poems by modernist poet Srecko Kosovel). She was so bubbly and charming, and sweetly excited to be there, which made her set even more enjoyable. For visual interest, abstract patterns projected behind her during her performance cast her, and her backing musicians, into stripey or jaggedy shadows. I didn't often see people dancing at the smaller venues, especially if they weren't dimmed like traditional gig venues, but they were dancing so enthusiastically at the front that the guy next to me, filming on his iPad mini, had to relocate lest he capture nothing but bouncing fans.

I had other plans for the lineup that evening, but was suddenly knackered and... kind of ready for the festival to be done and dreading it being over at the same time. I didn't want to go back to my Airbnb room at 22:00; that just seemed like a defeated ending. I checked the timetable for the Unitarian Church, because I thought a gig that was sort of halfway between Patterns (on the seafront) and my room (by the station) would be a gentle way to start winding down.

Seeing dance music duo Mieux there sounded like a good idea. And a gig where I could sit seemed like an even better idea.

And it was! The two Austrian guys were kind of adorably nerdy/normcore, and told all of us sitting there that this was their first seated concert, and we should feel free to get up and dance. Most of us stayed slumped in our seats, nodding our heads or chair dancing as we had energy or lack of inhibition for, but there were about 20 people (in varying states of inebriation) at the back dancing wildly. Halfway through the set, two guys who'd been among the more frenetic of the chair dancers got up to dance for real with the crew at the back, and then for the very last song, one of the dancers led everyone up front. You could see Mieux were tickled by this tribute; it was all a thousand kinds of adorable.

So... that was my festival. The next morning I got up early and had a quick walk down the beach one last time, especially because the sun was shining (on Saturday it rained on and off, sometimes heavily, for pretty much the whole day). It was mostly quiet: day-trippers hadn't arrived yet and most of the festivalgoers were either sleeping off a hangover or already getting their trains. I dipped my fingers in the water again and took a selfie and some photos of the beach, and listened again to the rattle of the sea as the tide sucked itself back through all those pebbles.

I was dubious that the Great Escape would feel in any way as exciting and lovely as by:larm; it just seemed so much bigger and potentially more stressful, and in a way it was -- in the weeks before, I got pretty frantic with my spreadsheet and trying to note down whose songs I'd clicked 'like' on the festival playlist, and just despairing. But in the end, it was all right: there was no way I could see all those 400 bands, and I didn't want to, and that was okay.

Also, the ocean, THE OCEAN! I grew up very near the beach and spent a lot of time there growing up, and I miss it in London.

This was my second bit of holiday this year involving gigs (the first being by:larm), and so far it's worked out really well, after years of me saying, huh, the Great Escape's got a good line-up, I should've sorted out going this time. I'll try to go next year, I think. Who's with me?

[walzerkoenig]

Two crappy cellphone pictures of MIEUX at The Great Escape Festival 2016 in Brighton, UK on 21 May 2016

It was the first seated show for Mieux, but it wasn’t really seated for long. Their music worked unexpectedly well in the ascetic atmosphere of Brighton’s Unitarian Church, and an ever-growing congregation of their British fans danced throughout the whole set – in the back at first, then making their way along the aisle to the front, and that is a kind of transcendental experience I can support.

[xc-photography]

#fromlastyear #tge16 #photo for @drmartensofficial & @livenationuk @thegreatescapefest #greatfun #promophoto #beforetheevent #shoes #newshoes #newdms #solastyear #fashionphotographer #fashionmen #fashionphotography #inthepub #bar #notbotheringthisyear

[testwood]

Feature: The Great Escape Highlights (10/10)

@danpyunsun wraps up my @thegreatescape highlights. Roll on next year! #TGE16

10/10: Danpyunsun and the Sailors

The Great Escape is a celebration of musical diversity and there was no better way to finish the weekend than with one of the most eclectic of the lot. The show was set in the conference room of a hotel, but as we entered to neon stage lighting draped across a drum kit complete with wind chimes and various other miscellaneous percussion, it didn’t take long to be…

[sparkleandsnarl]

The Great Escape 2016, day 3, part 1!

The Great Escape, day 3! I was torn between wanting to cram in as many gigs as possible on the final day and simple fatigue. Constantly trying to rejig my schedule depending on energy or crowds or weather (it rained a lot on Saturday...) got old fast. I really appreciated seeing other people with printed-out and annotated timetables or even their own spreadsheets (... I had both). With phone battery charge at a premium -- all the tweeting and Instagramming of bands takes a toll -- I agreed with one guy who fervently told me paper was the only way to go, the festival's app (which was, to be fair, very good: I think it was the same code as the one by:larm used, which was amazing) only to be used as a backup.

I started off with the Big Moon over at Komedia. The club, ickily enough, was apparently not mopping its floors during the festival: it was only lunchtime, and the floors were so sticky it hampered movement, certainly dancing. Anyway! The Big Moon are four confident, cheerful young women with tons of rock swagger. I loved watching them grin at each other and do all the requisite power posing (guitarist and bassist facing off, etc.). Their music is scratchy, buzzy pop-rock that put me in mind of the Muffs (or maybe that just means most of my musical references remain from my high school days), but with sweeter, less growly voices. They were hugely entertaining to watch!

Next I ducked briefly into the Spiegelpub, the big tent area that I'd only been to for wristband exchange a couple days ago. I kind of felt compelled to at least see one dePresno song -- he's so hyped at the moment, and I've missed seeing him about 3 or 4 different times (I meant to see him at by:larm and elsewhere, and just... never did). Visually he's got a kinda retro nerd thing going on, a combination of old Life cereal commercials and Ron Weasley. I love the warmth and resonance of his voice. He started off with some song that -- sorry! -- I can't even remember right now (I've just been clicking around his Soundcloud trying to find it, alas), but I remember that a weaker singer couldn't have carried the lyrics, because they would've been cliched and overwrought, but he made them so heavy and poignant that I clutched at my chest a little.

I had to scurry after that, over to Patterns to see Elifantree. My festival priorities always include focusing on Finns and/or women and/or people of color, and the intriguing Elifantree hit the first two items. They do a lot of... kind of noodley-jazz-improv-type stuff. To be honest, it was a bit too much so at times for me; it's just not hugely my thing. Still, I did enjoy their set; their personable singer has an incredible, versatile voice, and the three of them played with such verve and glee, it was a pleasure to watch. I would go see them again.

I next went over to the Latest Music Bar (where I'd happily had my rooibos tea and orange juice the other night!) to catch Korean doo-wop girl group the Barberettes. The room was rammed; for most of the show I could barely see them at all. They were a delight: impeccable styling, gorgeous voices, and bubbly. Their guitarist asked for the sound to be adjusted very nicely, noting, "You have to be very polite in England." Later on, after exhorting us to sing along, she said something like, "English people sing very well, I am very surprised!" Their set was somewhat heavy on English-language cover songs -- sharply and confidently done, but I wanted more original stuff, and wondered if they felt like too much Korean-language music would put off the audience (quite possibly, alas).

Then I had an encounter with a musician whose band I've already mentioned seeing at the festival: I saw him at a restaurant during dinner and flailed pathetically to him about how much I dug their music. Thrilling and embarrassing at the same time!

Next I went back to Patterns (enjoying feeling the vaguest bit familiar with the venue) to see the Polish band Sorry Boys. I'd describe them as doing witchy rock, an impression added to by the long white lace dress with random silver bits on it worn by their singer. At one point, she announced a song and someone called out from my right, "My favorite!" Someone to my left then chimed in, "Mine too." It was very sweet! (Later on the same person on the right called out, "Bela, give me your dress!" It was a pretty cool outfit...) The singer explained the cultural context of one of their songs, "Dagny" -- I've forgotten the details, but something about love frustrated by a political marriage, and how the story captured everyone's imagination at the time. It's sort of melancholy-languid-sultry; check out a live version here:

I'm going to stop here for now, but: one more post & I'll actually have written up an entire festival, woo! This never happens (you'll note on my first post it took me something like 4 years to write up 2 Stars gigs, however briefly...).

[chris-watt]

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Top weekend in Brighton. Only downside was @emmamoutrie beating me at crazy golf (again). Until next time @greatescapefest ✌️❤️⛳️ #TGE16 #brighton (at Brighton, United Kingdom)

[lampenfiebermusicblog]

One of my discoveries at this year’s The Great Escape was Julia Jacklin from Australia. I got to see her and her band twice furing the festival.

In three weeks her debut album “Don't Let The Kids Win” will be released. I am going to mark my calendar.

[xc-photography]

Welcome once more lone reader!

So, May, what a month, I have to admit it was an adventure. I had myself the most fun I could in a month of photography, and boy what a month. My adventure started back in April when I was offered the chance to pitch for a slot as one of the Brighton Fringe Photographers and I also was auditioning for the Great Escape. To my pleasant surprise I received an email saying that I was successful in my application for Brighton Fringe 2016. I was advised of all the things they would like shot and they had a system to apply for particular shows.

Once the festival got started there was no stopping me. I wondered the streets with my family and shot everything I could around Brighton, showing my lanyard to those that offered my flyers. My very first show was Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, I was very excited and extremely nervous, this was the first shoot for me of someone's work and a very personal show it was too. My first hurdle was that no one was expecting me, I nearly gave up and went home, thankfully the show's star (one amazing Rebecca Crookshank!) was more than happy to have me, nerves kicked in once more and a lot harder!! It was a great performance, my hats off to her for telling a story that really needed telling!!

From there I dashed off and took some shots around the festival and got home to edit, ready for bed by about 1:30am up for the school run, full day of work then out again to shoot, this repeated a lot over the month. But I can tell you it was worth every minute!! I would just like to point out here, I saw a lot of shows, I am not going to list them all, it would take too long!!

Another show on that first night was Meow Meow, it was a great cabaret performance, almost felt like you were being transported back to Paris in the 30's, Meow Meow's performance was well polished and a wonderful spectacle of comedy, music and audience participation. Her abilities to hold an audience were well honed, it was only the second time in my photography carer that I had been asked to submit my work for approval, thankfully she kept my favourites in.

From there it started getting easier, my workflow started to get the groove, I was getting some good praise for my shots (no idea why!!). Another show I saw during that week was Police Cops, this had to be one of my favourite performance of the entire festival (sorry if anyone else from the fringe is reading), 3 guys a tiny stage and great ambition, they were fantastic, funny and made a Jerry Bruckheimer style 80s buddy cop movie to the fringe. They were obviously very well rehearsed and appeared to get on well, I don't think I have ever seen an actor trying to distract his colleague by stroking, what I can only imagine, a very sweaty nipple. This was a great light relief from the other show I had seen at the same venue the night bfore, Groomed was another one person performance about the performer's struggle to come to terms with what had happened to him as a child at the hands of a trusted teacher. Another tale that was very heartfelt and one that needed to be told.

As I said before, there was a lot of shows I saw, but I am going to move swiftly on as there are only so many I can write about without you loosing interest.

I was also commissioned for the Great Escape, a wonderful music festival in Brighton, though this one has something very different on offer. The city is taken over by musicians and industry types, the level of performance was amazing, though not surprising, they were there to impress, adn impress they did. My first assignment was to cover the green Door Store, I was there to shoot for Live Nation and their sponsors, this one was for Dr. Martens. When I arrived the staff were in a state of delight, they had been given some new DM's, how cool was that (just in case you were wondering, I wasn't given a pair, just saying DM!!).

One that night there were several bands and I was tasked with shooting their feet, not the first time I have had to do this, though this was the first at a gig, it felt a little out of place. The bands were great, the crowd was amazing, the ting that let it down.... Other photographers using flash. I am sorry but there is no excuse for firing a flash at a gig, it is off putting to performers, awful for the audience and dreadfully unprofessional and I just hoped no one thought it was me! One of them said it was the look they were asked for, well, they should have said that it just wouldn't work. Sorry I have a real beef with flash at gigs, there are lenses and settings you can use!

For the rest of the weekend I was being pulled from pillar to post for TGE and the Fringe, I was becoming exhausted, but I was having a blast. I am starting to realise I have written a lot, I will leave it here for now, though one thing I wanted mention was the March of the mermaids and the awards, both of which were again, wonderful to be part of. All of the Fringe shots can be seen here and the Great Escape here. Though the Funk The Family and Format were still technically Fringe events, I was asked directly to shoot for them, it was an amazing weekend of watching good music and meeting some fascinating people. That dear lonely ready is not even the surface of it, but alas time has gotten away from me, I will try to continue the epic tale later! TTFN

The Pictures!

http://www.xcphotography.uk/Brighton-fringe-16/

http://www.xcphotography.uk/The-Great-Escape

Brighton_fringe_16

The Great Escape

[testwood]

Feature: The Great Escape Highlights (9/10)

The wonderful @cmacconiomaire is Part 9 of my @thegreatescape highlights #TGE16

9/10: Colm Mac Con Iomaire

One of the most beautiful live sets of music I’ve ever witnessed, not only at The Great Escape but anywhere. Colm awed the crowd with his wonderful fiddle melodies, made even more perfect thanks to his accomplices on piano and guitar.

Sometimes you just have to stare in slack-jawed wonder at masters of a craft and Colm certainly qualifies. Check out his websitefor music…

[sparkleandsnarl]

The Great Escape 2016, day 2, part 2!

My next stop was the pop-up stage on New Road, where Swing Patrol was starting the second of their taster sessions. I've been taking swing lessons for a few months this year, to my delight and surprise (after having wanted to for ages). They did some partner Charleston basics and had everyone switch partners, so I could join in even though I was alone; one of the teachers initially asked me to dance, which I appreciated! They ended with some splashy, fun demonstrations of what they could do. I also super appreciated that they had two men dancing together for one of them! At festivals you tend to eat random things at random times, in the gaps between sets, when you see a restaurant without a queue or something quick you can scarf down. For some approximation of dinner, I had a salted caramel brownie from Loving Hut, which was mind-meltingly delicious. I think my stomach didn't want all that sugar first thing though, so I had a rice ball from the Korean restaurant next door to settle it. Then I went off to Horatio's, the bar venue at the very end of Brighton Pier where I'd seen Anna of the North the day before, this time for LCMDF, the Finnish sisters who do really fun dancey electro stuff. Their Ja Ja Ja festival set a while ago was frenetic, lots of capering and bouncing around. Cool, still, so sharp you could cut yourself on it, but really energetic. This time, they were still full of energy, but more contained; the new songs they played were smoother, more chill, less wacky. Emma noted they were the house band that day, as they'd already done an early afternoon set there -- which had much lower attendance, so she was reassured by our presence now: "I've made it in Brighton, I might come back." She introduced a song for an ex-boyfriend; it went something like, "I couldn't be more done, you're an idiot, please go fuck yourself"; very satisfying! They were nearing the end of their set and hadn't yet played "Rookie," last year's fuck-you party anthem about sexism in music. Finally Emma said, "We try not to be political," -- aw, why? -- but this song was about how tired they were of the metal scene in Finland, mention of which got a few dudes in the crowd cheering. "Helsinki Rock City," one of them called out approvingly. Way to miss the point! Anyway: they could've done a nice "chicks up front!" moment with that song, but that's fine, I was almost the only non-dude up at the front and I had tons of fun singing along with them. (A thought I had: when your band name is an acronym and you sing in English but are from a country with another language, does it get annoying spelling out the letters differently depending on context? Do LCMDF -- and K-X-P, for that matter -- refer to themselves differently in Finland and in England?) I was too lazy for a 20-minute walk out to St. George's Church for a planned gig, so instead I headed to the Hub, a tiny venue along the beach (in one of the arches underneath the main road), to catch Rysy, two Polish guys doing very promising electronic dance music. I enjoyed the first few minutes of their set, until some technical problem occurred which ultimately led to their having to abandon ship. What a shame! They had some very dedicated fans up front cheering them on, one of whom received a CD from the guys for her kind thoughts. Rysy were very apologetic and grateful to the audience for sticking around while they tried to have a set. I don't know if the problem was on their side or not; my uninformed observations made me think it was a problem with the club's equipment, but I'm not sure. It's worth noting that the next band had some technical difficulties that delayed their set briefly, too, so I'm inclined to blame the club! Anyway: I'm going to make an extra effort to check out Rysy in support! The next act, the reason I was at the Hub, was Leyya, an electro-pop band from Vienna. They seemed understandably a bit annoyed and unnerved by the technical issues, but once they started they played with a fierce joyful concentration that was really appealing. I mean, I like their music too! It's kind of... well. Here we go again with my "dreamy, but with beats" descriptor. I'll look forward to seeing them again sometime, at least. My final show of the night was catching Finnish musician The Hearing over at the Queen's Hotel, where I'd seen K-X-P: a weirdly-shaped open venue space in the hotel's basement. An odd space for gigs; it just seemed like having a concert during a business conference. But I kinda liked it: small enough to be intimate, and because it was carpeted no one hesitated to sit down between sets (whereas some venues like Komedia were so sticky-floored with booze you could hardly move, much less dance). The Hearing talked a lot during her set, and kept saying she was talking too much, but her rambling was endearing. I liked watching her make her electro music; during one song, she unlaced and removed one of her Doc Martens, the better to manipulate one of her pedals. She was a real master with loops (and used them to good effect to demonstrate her exquisite voice); by the final song, I think she had close to a dozen loops on the go, rhythms and tones curling around each other gracefully. What is up with names with no Google juice lately, incidentally? I can't talk, as someone whose favorite band is named Stars, but just at TGE there was: View, Skies, Blossoms, Nature, Frances, Causes, just to name a few... really, people? After that I went to bed. Going to gigs all day is hard work!

[fufanumusic]

We had off from @greatescapefest we had a blast. Thank U all for being there #fufanu #tge16

[xc-photography]

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