Electric Fields

A number of things meant that I couldn't make it to Electric Fields this weekend. It was the first year in as along as I can remember that I haven't attended a summer music festival!

Reports from fellow music fans and from bands/artists I know that attended the festival have been very favourable and it is pleasing to see Electric Fields developing and improving year on year.

I look forward to getting back into the festival saddle in 2018.

Previous guest blogger Gordon Reid was there and was happy to report back.

Electric Fields by Gordon Reid

Scotland has a fine tradition of music festivals. TITP in its heyday ,  Connect , Rockness and Wickerman have all come and sadly gone. Belladrum is now the grand old lady starting in 2004 , TRNSMT the new kid on the block in its debut year and Electric Fields the young upstart growing , changing and adapting to its place in the calendar. We were there for the opening year 2014 and decided on another weekend visit to see how things had moved on. 

**other festivals are available**

Set in the grounds of the picturesque Drumlanrig Castle near Thornhill it has grown from a single day 2 stage small affair into a 2 day, 5000 capacity small/medium festival and it has done so without losing any of its original charm. Large well spaced car parking area with a camping site that has been well set out (could do with more lights on the walkways after dark) and an arena large enough to have areas to chill out in (something TRNSMT really lacked) while still being compact enough that everything was easy to find and get to and from quickly.

Food and drink was priced as expected and while I found the choice of vegetarian food a little limited I found a pizza stall so I was quite content with my lot. Varied drink available including what looked to be a specialist ale bar, they also had dark fruit cider so the wife was delighted. I got the feeling that that growth of Electric Fields is connected to Wickerman calling it a day as we met a lot of familiar faces from Dundrennan in the crowd. There were plenty of young kids present over the weekend and there seemed to be a few things for them to do as it can be hard to keep their attention with just the music. It’s always great to see kids at these things as they will be the future for music in general and festivals in particular. I honestly couldn’t find a real fault in the set up and organisation of the event and that might be a first for me, of course the fact that the sun shone all weekend might have helped!

pic from Electric Fields Facebook

So having arrived,  got our tent set up , air mattress blown up and bed sorted we wandered up to the arena and the music. First band we wanted to see were Nieves and we trooped into the tent just before starting time at 3. They had really changed their sound and look since last time we had caught them. Much heavier and less laid back than we remembered them. I made my way to the front of the stage to check it out. Yeah the new look and sound wasn't that surprising as they had switched time slots with SAVAGE MANSION,  a Glasgow 4 piece. One of the band had a superb pair of sideburns and the tunes were pretty decent. They are playing The Old Hairdressers on Oct 7^th if you are around. This threw our carefully planned schedule off track and we had to go get food and missed the band we went to see but it won’t be the last time we catch Nieves.

One well fired cheese and tomato pizza later we were back in the tent to see THE CALM FIASCO, another Glasgow 4 piece and one that we have seen quite a bit of. They looked a little nervous as the tent was quite empty but they had no need to be as the place began filling up quickly once they got going. Highlights were lead singer Del Morin paying tribute to Dizzee Rascal by covering Fix Up Look Sharp strutting about the stage rapping to the amusement of the other band members. They brought their set to a close with Just Don’t Care Any More and left the now full tent shouting for more. Enthusiastic and clearly enjoying something that they are doing well they have a gig coming up at The Art School on November 18^th and tickets are going fast. I'd encourage folk to give them a try as you won’t be disappointed.

We took our first trip to the main stage after this to see PETER HOOK and the light. There was something strange about seeing and hearing Hookie as a lead singer doing New Order / Joy Division stuff and although I enjoyed the sing along it just didn’t feel right. I know that they have issues with each other and have said never again but I hope one day that Bernie and Peter manage to bury the hatchet or at least put up with each other long enough to be on stage together again.

Pic from Electric Fields Facebook

The temperature dropped to bloody freezing about this time and we got ourselves a warm drink and headed back down to the tent where we discovered our brand new air mattress had a puncture and we would be spending the night sleeping on the ground. Heidi did her best to cheer me up by informing me that at least the ground was soft. She’s lucky that she is pretty. At 30 I would have just got on with it but at 50 I’m getting too old for this shit.

A cold night and hard ground made a trip to Dumfries for a new air mattress an absolute necessity so after making breakfast we made the 45 minute round trip. Once again I managed to get stage times mixed up so that we only just made it back in time for MEDICINE MEN and we were glad that we did as they were in my top two acts of the weekend. A heaving tent bounced along with every song and they almost blew it all away when finishing the set with Out Of The Light. Stop reading this and go find it on YouTube,  I’ll wait. The sea of smiling faces was fantastic to watch , people high fiving strangers as they sang the chorus at the top of their voices. Medicine Men are certainly going places and they are picking up speed on the journey.

Next up for us were THE BEAT and once again it was a chance for all us older folk to sing our hearts out to songs from our childhood ( I used to laugh at my parents for this ).  I’ve missed the Scooter tent from Wickerman so it was nice to have a little bit of ska in there.

We then had the “London bus” effect as 3 bands we wanted to see all overlapped. We had to leave before the end of The Beat to make sure we got into the tent for CRASH CLUB. We got lucky as it was rammed with bodies , it felt as if everyone at the festival was in that tent and they were treated to a superb set from the best Scottish Electro-Rock band out there. The ground was shaking and reminded me of younger days long since gone in the slam tent at T. The music screamed in your face as they lifted the crowd up , let them dangle on the edge and then threw it all back in the mix as they took off again. For me they were the star spot of the weekend and if you haven’t seen them yet then try to do so , you won’t regret it.

We missed the last 10 minutes as we needed to eat and wanted to catch FATHERSON. The boys from Kilmarnock headlined the first ever Electric Fields and have gone from strength to strength since then. They looked delighted to be back and it feels like they have been touring constantly on the continent.

We stayed at the main stage for GLASS ANIMALS. Heard a lot about them but I couldn’t see what the hype was all about however Heidi thought they were amazing. She knows her stuff so we will give them another try next time they are north of the border. I had the same with JESUS AND MARY CHAIN , I was really looking forward to them but it just felt flat to me. In both of the bands defence I was cold and tired so it was probably the mood I was in and the way I was feeling. I didn’t stay for DIZZEE but Heidi did and said he had the crowd eating out of his hand. Everyone bouncing about and it was a cool way to bring the weekend to an end.

Electric Fields has definitely found its place on the festival circuit but now comes the hard part. Does it stick or twist? Is it the right size or will they try and get more bodies through the gates? I’d like to see it stay roughly the same for now but that’s not my call. I hope they make the right one......

Pic from Electric Fields Facebook

Peter Hook and The Light at Glasgow Barrowland

Peter Hook in action, photo by Stuart Westwood

After almost 3-hours on stage legendary bassist Peter Hook removed his instrument and then peeled off a soaking t-shirt, gave it a careful and considerate wring, and then threw it into the adoring mass of fans chanting 'Hooooooky'.

Bare chested and with a few tattoos, he beat his chest and saluted the crowd. He looked like a warrior, in many ways he is one. He's taken on more than a few battles in his time and there were moments on stage at the Barrowland Ballroom last night where it was crystal clear that he was playing as if his very life depended on it.

Where does this 60-year old veteran get the energy and the stamina from? Well, towards the end of the lengthy show, the evidence presented itself. The audience responded to the sheer energy of Joy Division songs like Transmission and She's Lost Control and Hooky somehow took it up a level, using his bass like a weapon to unleash those bass lines that won hearts all over the world.

The answer is that there is no bigger fan of Joy Division and New Order than Peter Hook himself. His mission is to travel the world playing their back catalogue to fans of all ages. That catalogue brought him to Substance, New Orders incredible compilation album, originally released in 1987; compiling all of their 12-inch singles and b-sides to that point alongside new single True Faith.

Picture by Stuart Westwood

It took a few songs for things to ignite, but once the flame was lit, there was no going back. Ceremony was delivered at breakneck speed, sounding sensational. Hooky patrolled the stage and fired the bass riff down the throats of the audience.

Everything's Gone Green still sounds futuristic all these years down the line and Temptation is one of my favourite songs of all time. I abandoned my wife and friends to run into the centre of the crowd for some mad dancing and pogo-ing, lost in the music.

Blue Monday was a delight, a young couple in front of me danced like they were in the Hacienda in the Second Summer Of Love and looked like they were too. To my left there was a Dad with two teenage daughters who had been glued to their mobiles for the first few songs, now they were dancing with their Dad and like everyone else in the Barras.

Hooky is backed up by a cracking band including his son Jack on second (and sometimes duelling) bass, Andy Poole on keyboards, Paul Kehoe on drums and David Potts on guitar and vocals.

Potts guitar playing was exceptional throughout and his vocals suited some songs more than Hooky's deep voice (I'm sure Hooky would be first to admit that).

The Perfect Kiss was utterly outstanding, intro, verses, choruses, outro....and one extended instrumental allowed Hooky to catch a deserved breath while leaning against a speaker. Bizarre Love Triangle was as majestical and magical as always and True Faith proved to be the most popular New Order song of the night, generating a huge reaction with the crowd singing their hearts out with their hands in the air.

Picture by Stuart Westwood Photography

There was time for An Ode To Anthony H Wilson to be played before the band came back on to begin the Joy Division set. This was delivered with pace, menace and incredible force.

These Days was a highlight for me, while many of the older heads around me lost it to the likes of Warsaw, Leaders Of Men and Digital. My favourite song by Joy Division remains the beautiful Atmosphere, so dark, yet so uplifting, reaching for the stars for answers.

Hooky told us they had one more to play and then we could all f**k off home, launching into an epic Love Will Tear You Apart that threatened to take the roof off the Ballroom. The band brought it all back down at one point to allow the crowd to continue to sing the chorus over and over. Hooky looked emotional and had to compose himself before delivering the final verse and chorus.

This was a brilliant night, a celebration of the music of Joy Division and New Order. That is Hooky's mission and this was easily mission accomplished.

A final word on the great man himself. His passion for the music and energy and stamina to deliver such a lengthy set was fantastic to witness and hear. This isn't a show, it really is a celebration and celebrate we did.

Picture by Stuart Westwood

http://www.stuartwestwoodphotography.com/

Peter Hook and The Light at Glasgow Art School

If Peter Hook wasn't on stage at Glasgow School of Art playing 3-hours of Joy Division and New Order songs last night, then his performance gave the impression that he would have been happy at home playing the songs on his stereo, singing a-long and looking through memorabilia from an incredible career.

Hooky is a fan - probably the biggest fan there is of two legendary bands that he has been part of.

As much as I would love to see Hooky and New Order kiss and make up, there doesn't seem like much chance - and f**k them - Hooky is having a blast.

At 7.45pm sharp he strode on to the stage and said 'Evening' before playing a set of Joy Division songs. The power of the songs was incredible, Hooky took deep breaths to ready himself for delivering Curtis' lyrics. Walked In Line was delivered with sheer power. Transmission was a delight.

There was a short break and the band returned to play the New Order albums Low-Life and Brotherhood. Hooky displayed incredible stamina and passion, he was on stage for almost 3-hours last night and it wasn't a one-off! His band are constantly touring around the world - and what a band - extremely tight and Pottsy (formerly of Monaco) helping on vocals was particularly brilliant.

Look at that for a setlist - and that is on top of the opening Joy Division set! It was joyful and Hooky was having the time of his life conducting the crowd and the band.

Thieves Like Us was superb, Bizarre Love Triangle greeted like a long lost friend, All Day Long and Every Little Counts were brilliant. Sooner Than You Think was sublime, Love Vigilantes and The Perfect Kiss were blissful, Elegia beautifully somber. Then the encore of Shellshock, True Faith and the glorious Temptation resulted in mass pogo-ing down the front.

What a performance, what a night! Hooky threw poses and sang his heart out, the band were amazing, the crowd even better.