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

Scottish music festivals - what next?

Well that was quite a weekend for Scottish music festival news. I thought I would jot down some thoughts on the announcements from Wickerman and the 'leak' from T in the Park (CONFIRMED today - full press release here) and also look at the future of festivals in Scotland.

There was no surprise regarding any announcement concerning the Wickerman Festival sadly calling it a day, or the news filtering through that T in the Park would be having a 'break' from Strathallan Castle after only 2-years at the site, with DF looking at bringing 3 large festival-in-a-day style shows to Glasgow Green.

Music fans have been debating the future of both these festivals for some time.

Wickerman was brilliant and it was on the rise. The sad death of festival founder Jamie Gilroy in 2014 left the festival in doubt, however it kept going in 2015. Although I enjoyed it that year, many regulars felt it didn't have the same feel and that it would be the last one.

Sadly, they were right. Wickerman was set in beautiful rolling countryside, attracting a real mixed crowd of families, locals and music fans. There was plenty of space to explore and a real eclectic mix of music. Some of my highlights from the main stage through the years included; Candi Staton, The Human League, Idlewild, The Magic Numbers, Teenage Fanclub, The Charlatans, Chic, Primal Scream, Martha Reeves, Stereo MC's, Neneh Cherry, Alabama 3 and Jimmy Cliff - quite a mix!

Chic was one of my all-time favourite shows. The place was bouncing, singing, dancing and clapping a-long. The feel good atmosphere was off the richter scale. Jimmy Cliff at the last Wickerman was utterly sensational, I had tears in my eyes during an emotional and uplifting I Can See Clearly Now.

I missed Wickerman in 2016, I really loved the festival and getting to go down some years with bands or with a media pass meant that I got to meet and get to know a lot of the people who brought the festival together.

Chay Woodman and his crew at the Solus Tent were fantastic in their support of new music in Scotland and the way they looked after the artists they booked was tremendous. One of my favourite Wickerman moments was when I was working with Miaoux Miaoux and Detour booked him to have a rave in a caravan round the back of the Solus Tent. There was day glo face paint and all kinds of fun.

Obligatory posing like the Wickerman picture

I was out for a beer last Thursday night and my friend and I both called the biggest T-Break (pardon the pun) in years. It's been coming.

What next for T in the Park? Have we really had the last one? That would have been an unthinkable question a few years ago. Now, it is all too real for music fans in Scotland.

There have been issues with T in the Park for a number of years; the move to Strathallan over a mysterious oil pipe didn't go well in year one, with huge logistical issues surrounding the site resulting in deluge of complaints. Let's not mention the theft of the cash machine - there will be a few more CCTV cameras around Glasgow Green!

T bosses listened and learned from 2015. I attended the festival this year and loved the site and the journey to and from the location was fine. Although an osprey's nest added to DF's logistical worries!

However, I think T2015 was the final straw for large numbers of festival fans. They didn't go back - I wonder if they missed it. T still partied, but the crowds were noticeably down and in the weeks leading up to the festival there were 2 for 1 ticket deals on offer. Something I don't recall happening before.

The pictures of a reformed LCD Soundsystem, one of the coolest bands on the planet, playing to around a thousand people in a swamp seemed to sum things up.

LCD play to the hardcore in the mud

With profits reportedly down by around 50%, T bosses will have taken a long hard look at the festival and the music market in 2016 and plotted out the next step.

For a long time T was like a right of passage for Scottish youths and many just kept coming back year on year. It was something to look forward to, the announcement of the tickets going on sale, the first headliners, which young bands were playing T break, who was playing the Slam Tent.....

I'm not quite sure what happened and it might just be cause I'm getting old, but for me, T definitely lost some of its sparkle. I attended the first T in the Park at the age of 18 and went to pretty much every single T for a long time - maybe 9 out of the first 10-years.

Watching bands like The Charlatans and Black Grape in baking sunshine on the original site the year there was a dust storm due to the heat will stay with me forever. As will leading a conga through the crowd to get down the front for Kylie. And the human pyramid during Crowded House was incredible - doubt that would be allowed these days!

The move to Ballado went smoothly from memory. I remember a huge crowd from Carluke going up and camping out the first few years. One time we were some of the first to arrive and ended up playing an 11-a-side game of football against another group of lads.

 Highlights from Balado off the top of my head include watching Orbital play one of their last shows in the King Tut's tent and then running over to the Slam Tent to watch The Chemical Brothers. Vigo Thieves smashed it a couple of times and Kraftwerk were sensational.

After experiencing Benicassim in 2005 I never looked at T the same way again. Benicassim just seemed to have it all going on - of course the sunshine and proximity to the local beach helped! The site was set out perfectly, tarmac (the site is an old airfield) meant that even the odd summer shower meant there was no danger of things turning into a mudbath, the recycling and incredible lack of litter on site was amazing, the variety of acts on offer, bands playing long into the night.... sunshine!

I know that the same thing happened to others who ventured south to Glastonbury, or to Bestival, or went over to Primavera or even further afield.

And for the price of a cheap Ryan Air or Easyjet flight then you easily could. I think my Benicassim ticket in 2005 was £100 and that allowed me to camp for a week! Talk about value for money.

There is a HUGE market for live music and outdoor shows/festivals in Scotland. But things change and that market has to move with what music fans want and it also has to assess the competition what is working (here and elsewhere) and what isn't.

Mud, mud, glorious mud?

Could Brexit and the price of the £ have played a role in the decision to take a break? Will it be a lot more expensive to get bands to the UK due to the pound falling so dramatically against the Euro?

Music fans tend to consume in singles or a few songs from an album; so do they want a 3 or 4 day festival when they really only want to see and hear a few of the acts on offer? If these acts were all playing on a bill at Glasgow Green with easy transport access or the option to stay somewhere with a proper shower.......well then that is quite an attractive proposition to a large number of people.

T has been rotating the headliners for a number of years and has sadly been suffering in the way the music business has been suffering - the new bands are just not breaking through in the numbers they once were. So shaking up the festival isn't as easy as it once was.

Stone Roses smashed T in the Park in 2016

Bellahouston Park has been playing host to large scale concerts by the likes of Biffy, Paulo and Calvin Harris for years. Glasgow Green has also played host to the likes of Oasis, the Chilli Peppers, The Strokes and more recently the Stone Roses.

The format works and the concerts generally sell-out. It would seem a much more safer option for promoters than tackling T after such a drop in 2016. And I am pretty sure that music fans would respond well to 3or 4 large outdoor shows with huge names in proximity to the city centre.

We'll soon find out.

So what Scottish festivals are on offer next summer?

As the news that Brew At The Bog wouldn't be continuing also came out a short time ago. All I know is that there are enough people in Scotland who want to go to festivals and enough creative people to put them on - we'll be fine. Times-are-a-changing - but that isn't a bad thing.

Let's have a quick look at 3 of them; Belladrum, Electric Fields and the Kelburn Garden Party. Before I do, I caught up with David Blair from festival favourites Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5 for his take on them.

Guaranteed to put a smile on your face

David - Belladrum, Electric Fields and the Kelburn Garden Party were all highlights for Colonel Mustard and The Dijon 5 on the festival circuit this summer. We played 18 across Scotland, England and South Korea! The first two we played for the first time and were mightily impressed with the diverse line-ups that recognised both established acts and up-and-coming Scottish acts.

Kelburn Garden Party is well known to us having played there a few times. It seems to get better every year and the work that goes into their Neverending Glen is worth the entry fee alone. One of the most stunning natural assets for a festival anywhere.

Should these festivals look to expand given the gap left by T and Wickerman?
If logistically they can expand, then I believe they should. I don't think they need to massively increase their capacities but if they have a great reputation then they deserve to thrive and get more punters in to help with the acts they can book and help to create memories for people to take away and tell their pals. Hopefully starting a positive feedback loop that benefits everyone involved in the music industry.

Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5 - on location at Kilburn

ELECTRIC FIELDS - 1ST-2ND SEPTEMBER 2017
Electric Fields was fantastic this year and I know from speaking to the organisers that they learned a lot from the move to 2-days and the increase in capacity. The feedback they received was overwhelming and the first two tiers of tickets released have already sold out. They look to have the boutique festival sorted - something Scotland has been crying out for for a long time. Many music fans I know reminisce fondly of Indian Summer and Connect.

The atmosphere at EF2016 was exceptionally friendly and it was fantastic to see a lot of young families there. The festival really supports Scottish music with Scottish acts featuring across the main stage, Stewart Cruickshanks Stage, Sneaky Pete's stage and the Tim Peak's Diner.

With the weekend news - will they look to increase the capacity again?

The beautiful setting of Drumlanrig Castle is around an hour from Glasgow. Keep an eye on their website and social media feeds for tickets and line-up announcements. I have heard through the grapevine that the line-up is pretty established already.

BELLADRUM TARTAN HEART - 3RD - 5TH AUGUST 2017
I've never been to Belladrum! One year it had Edwyn Collins, The Lemonheads and Teenage Fanclub - I was travelling! I have thought about going and I have only heard good things about the festival site and atmosphere - but truth be told, the line-up hasn't appealed to me over the last few years.

That might change for 2017 as Sister Sledge have already been confirmed as one of the headliners! Their Kelvingrove Bandstand show in the summer was exceptional and they have sold out the Barrowland Ballroom in December. They will get the party started.

Check this cracking promo video from 2016 below.

KELBURN GARDEN PARTY - 30TH JUNE - 3RD JULY 2017

Another I haven't been to, but an increasing number of friends are going year on year and they have said they want to keep it a secret....well it's out the bag! Not just because of me, but word of mouth is the best form of promotion and those that go and don't want to keep it a secret tell friends aplenty. 

Check this beautiful film from 2016. It might just sell it for you.

Electric Fields - Everything Flows DJ set

When is the last time you danced? I mean really danced? Like when you go for it, do the whole big handclaps, hands in the air, singing all the lyrics type dance?

For some people it will have been last Saturday night in the Tim Peaks Diner at Electric Fields when my friend Phil Redfearn played an incredible 70-minute set under the guise of the Everything Flows DJ'S.

The set started with a nice little bit of Bowie before taking in a wildly eclectic mix of disco, funk, punk, rock n roll and soul. It was pretty much 70-minutes of euphoric vocal led upbeat music.

The highlight for me was Atomic by Blondie. The place went absolutely crazy. Then there was the brave choice of Relight My Fire....no not Take That, but a sensational 8-minute Dimitri From Paris reworking of the Dan Hartman and Loretta Holloway version - it sounded incredible. With people starting to head out to see the headliners, the set ended with Primal Scream.

See below for the songs played and a link to the entire mix.

Everything Flows DJ's are available for hire - pubs, clubs, gigs, parties, weddings....

Get us via everythingflows (AT) ymail (DOT) com or via @murrayeaston or @philthedriller

Memory Of A Free Festival (outro) -David Bowie
Backstabber - The O'Jays
Everybody Dance - Chic
I Wanna Be Your Love (live) - Prince
Boogie Oogie Oogie - A Taste Of Honey
Getting Away With It (re-edit) - Electronic
Love Will Tear Us Apart (Drop Out Orchestra mix) - Joy Division
Rock The Casbah (re-edit) - The Clash
September - Earth, Wind and Fire
Dance To The Music - Sly and The Family Stone
Get Off Of My Cloud - The Rolling Stones
Atomic (12-inch) - Blondie
Relight My Fire (Dimitri from Paris remix) - Dan Hartman featuring Loretta Holloway
Ain't No Mountain High Enough (re-edit) - Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
Movin' On Up (extended intro re-edit) - Primal Scream

Electric Fields 2016 review

A beautiful rainbow appeared during Public Service Broadcasting

Glorious sunshine, only a couple of tiny showers, a rainbow, a stunning setting,a friendly and upbeat atmosphere and all kinds of brilliant music ensured that Electric Fields jump up to a 2-day festival was a roaring success.

In only the third year of the festival, it was a considerable leap from a 1-day festival with a 1,000 capacity to a 2-day festival of 5,000. It worked......and then some.

There were 4-stages; the main stage with all kinds of eclectic acts and headlined by The Charlatans and Primal Scream, the Sneaky Pete's dance tent with the likes of Erol Alkan, the Tim Burgess curated Tim Peaks Diner with great coffee, sofa's and bands from Wales, Northern Ireland, England and Scotland and then the Stewart Cruickshanks tent with all kinds of bands and artists including The Go! Team.

The festival site is only 1-hour from Glasgow, in the stunning grounds of Drumlanrig Castle. It is a gorgeous setting for a festival.

Friday

Neon Waltz are a band I've mentioned a few times previously on this blog. I last caught them just over a year ago at the Wickerman Festival and they seemed to have stepped up a gear. A 7-piece band  creating some great guitar music with plenty of melodies, gracing the Main Stage with ease.

Tuff Love pulled a good crowd to the Stewart Cruickshanks stage where their old school fuzzy upbeat indie guitar tunes will definitely have won them some new fans.

Tim Burgess had curated a real eclectic line-up for his diner. Yucatan were a band I really fell for when I discovered them upon announcement back in February. Think Sigur Ros meets Spiritualized in the Welsh Valleys - beautiful music that can soar and swoop, sung in their native tongue. I spoke to the band and was delighted to hear that they were going off to tour in Germany as their latest album Uwch Gopa'r Mynydd has been received extremely positively over there. It was there first trip to Scotland and for me that summed up the Tim Peaks Diner concept in a nutshell - giving brilliant bands the opportunity to play to new audiences across the UK. I'd love to bring them back to Scotland in the future.

Dillwyn - lead singer from Yucatan

The no-show of Sugarhill Gang left a huge gap on the Main Stage on Friday afternoon. They should have been the act to really kick start the party. As a result, it was slightly postponed until Public Service Broadcasting took to the stage.

Public Service Broadcasting

PSB are the kind of band that would generate a response anywhere. Mixing electronica with old broadcasts from the BBC through to NASA. The Other Side was euphoric, building, building, dropping and then exploding to a rapturous reception.

The Charlatans absolutely smashed it. Opening with a triple blast of Weirdo, North Country Boy and a glorious Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over ensured that the crowd were in full on festival party a mode. If anything, this only helped the band on.

Let The Good Times Be Never Ending was a total groove and then One To Another (being played on the 20th anniversary of its release) sent the field wild. There was plenty more to come; including The Only One I Know that created a festival indie disco. Come Home Baby jettisoned straight into near the top of my favourite Charlatans songs chart upon release. I sang my heart out to the chorus.

How High was delivered in blistering form, Tim Burgess was bounding and dancing across the stage, conducting the crowd and sounding better than ever.

Sproston Green, the traditional set closer for The Charlatans started with a slow, menacing bass and organ groove, exploding into life and not letting up until the band brought it all back down to the start.

It was a stunning set from The Charlatans and it was great to meet some seasoned Scottish music veterans the next day and hear them singing the bands praises and talking of them smashing it out the park.

The Charlatans - picture from the Electric Fields Facebook page

We hot footed it over to the Bowie and Prince disco at the Tim Peaks tent and danced like crazy to I Wanna Be Your Lover and Controversy and reached for the sky and sang like crazy to Starman. What a great end to a brilliant day.

Saturday

The campsite was certainly lively and the ear plugs worked a treat! I felt reasonably fresh and a Tim Peaks coffee and some chat in the early morning sunshine worked wonders.

Plenty of others were also feeling fresh, choosing to take part in the Northern Soul dance class that was on at the Tim Peaks Diner. It was great to see people of all ages participating; indeed it was great to see lots of families and young kids at the festival.

Northern Soul dance class in Tim Peaks Diner

There was plenty of things to do. I chose a 10-minute neck, shoulder and back massage and almost fell asleep to the strains of Time Will Pass You by coming from the northern soul class. Along with the coffee, some fresh homemade soup and a cheese and onion toast - I was ready for another day.

The weather on the Saturday was absolutely glorious. The sun broke through what little clouds there were early on and remained out for the rest of the day.

Mix sunshine with a festival and the Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5 and then you have a winning combination. Despite being a fan of the band, this was actually the first time I had seen them live. There were plenty of fans there to see them, in fancy dress and in loads of band t-shirts. The bands yellow movement is growing with each and every show.

The absolutely nailed it. Coming on stage and turning the festival into a giant party. At one point the good Colonel instructed everyone to go to one side. His compadre David Blair then jumped down with a flag to play lollipop man to a song called Cross the Road with everyone then dancing to the other side. This played out a few times and people were grinning from ear to ear.

We also had a song called Dance Off, with David jumping into the crowd to egg everyone on. They didn't need too much encouragement!

Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5

Another song had the Colonel instructing everyone to dance to certain moves; drive your car, first pump, hands in the air...... everyone had to join in - security, police and people trying to be cool.

I've blogged about These Are Not The Drugs You Are Looking For before and it was perfect for Electric Fields with the Colonel confirming that peace, love, happiness and friendship are the only drugs we need.

This was a family show, the Colonel had his kids on stage, plenty of the 6th Dijon's had their kids in the crowd and everyone could join in good old fashioned fun.

To say that the crowd was buzzing after this performance was an understatement. I suspect they might be back next year! If so, they should get a later slot and longer time. They play a HUGE hometown show at the ABC in Glasgow on 23rd December. It will be the Christmas party to end all Christmas parties!

The crowd (the 6th Dijon) play a huge part in Colonel Mustard shows

There was time for a laze about in the sunshine before Mark W Georgsson took to the Tim Peaks stage with 5 friends to play songs from his forthcoming debut album that will be released via Last Night From Glasgow Records in January. The warm acoustic country rock/Americana feel to the songs was warmly received by the crowd.

The sunshine ensured a busy crowd for the main stage. Admiral Fallow were perfect for a mellow Sunday afternoon in the sunshine. Honeyblood then came on and blitzed it. Their performance bodes well for their forthcoming second album.

We began the Honeyblood set at the side of the stage in blistering sunshine. We then walked through the site and out the back to wander up towards the castle and rest in the shade under a tree. It was a beautiful half hour listening to the sounds of Honeyblood from the main stage.

By the time we walked back down and in the back of Tim Peaks Diner, Documenta were on stage and creating blissful drone pop. They brought a sizeable crowd and again I thought of how brilliant the concept of Tim Peaks is - bringing this band over to Scotland from Northern Ireland to play to a new crowd.

Documenta from the back of Tim Peaks

Steve Mason was in fine form, dedicating a song to his keyboard player who was married the previous day, joking he was paying him time and a half. Mason's vocals were crystal clear, cutting through the summer sky and captivating the crowd. His bands shuffling laid back grooves were perfect for the weather.

Back at Tim Peaks Diner, TeenCanteen were soundchecking to an already impressive crowd. By the time they were 3-songs in the tent was packed and people were peering in from outside. Sister and Kung Fu Heartbeats were uplifting pop, Roses was Motown updated for 2016 with a dash of C86 thrown in for good measure. The sweetness of Honey drew large cheers and Cherry Pie was delicious. Amanda Williams was back on acoustic guitar after returning from her travels, turning the band into a 5-piece and bolstering their modern Spector-esque wall of sound. It was the best I have seen and heard them, brimming with confidence ahead of the release of debut album Say It All With A Kiss on 9th September. Closing with a brilliant Sirens ahead of their cover of TLC's Waterfall with a slice of All Saints I Know Where It's At left the crowd wanting much more.

TeenCanteen

There was time to catch up with TeenCanteen afterwards and the feeling on stage had been the same as off - quite a show.

We waited for friends as actor Paddy Considine's Riding The Low blasted through a high energy set, although it was their chiming guitar song Rocky 99 that won my heart. Although Paddy definitely won a few girls hearts!

Then it was the turn of Everything Flows DJ's to get the crowd in the mood for Primal Scream. I decided to hand the music duties over to my friend Phil Redfearn and he played an absolute blinder.

Opening with the end of Bowie's Memory Of A Free Festival, Phill packed the tent and generated the best atmosphere of the entire festival. Chic's Everybody Dance got....well everyone dancing. Electronic's Getting Away With It was a delight but Blondie's Atomic was the tune of the night. The place went crazy! A Dimitri from Paris mix of Take That's Relight My Fire was a brave choice but it also kept people dancing. There was room for The Stones Get Off Of My Cloud and an incredible re-edit of Marvin and Tammi singing Ain't No Mountain High Enough into Primal Scream's Movin' On Up before we packed up quickly to get out to see the Scream team.

Thank you to everyone who came to see us (Phil). The atmosphere and reaction in the tent was incredible. Phil has recorded the mix so hopes to get it online soon. You can follow him @philthedriller

Everything Flows DJ Phil Redfearn

Primal Scream came on stage just as we met up with friends near the sounddesk. Bobby Gillespie was moving a little more freely than the Kelvingrove Bandstand show and Movin' On Up was the perfect intro. A blast of Jailbird kept things moving. Gillespie did need to sit down for some of the show but Primal Scream kept the party going with Country Girl going down a storm. Everyone wanted to have a party and Loaded was predictably the song that did it and I doubt there is a better song to end a festival with than Come Together.

Top marks to everyone involved with Electric Fields - stunning site, great line-up, perfect size and that touch of luck with the weather.

 Bobby and Simone

Tim Peaks - Podcast

Everything Flows Podcast #5

Electric Fields - Tim Peaks diner line-up

Tim Burgess has curated a wonderfully eclectic line-up for his Tim Peaks diner at Electric Fields. It is going to be like a festival in a festival with the incredible talent he has discovered and is promoting.

I have just discovered the vast majority of these artists for the first time and I've been blown away by what I have listened to so far. Enjoy this special PODCAST 

Come Home Baby - The Charlatans
Angharad - Yucatan
Rattlesnakes - Blueprint Blue
Spanish Artist - Documenta
Vagabond - TeenCanteen
Disappear - Horsebeach
Quiet Handed - Hot Vestry
Rocky 99 - Riding the Low
White - Tim Burgess

Mark W Georgsson is also playing but his album, recorded with Rod Jones from Idlewild, is currently being mastered. However you can listen to an unmastered Faces and Places HERE

Loads of other fun things going on, fuelled by quality coffee, including a DJ set by me!

Electric Fields - Tim Peaks line-up

Electric Fields is going for it this year, moving up to 2-days, announcing Primal Scream as a headliner and creating a real buzz with its initial line-up. There is a lot more to come!

There are only 5,000 tickets available so be sure to get yours NOW if you are thinking about it.

I am absolutely thrilled to bring you the line-up for Tim Peaks - the diner/tent/stage curated by Tim Burgess from The Charlatans. Tim has his own coffee and has been serving it at festivals since 2012 in his own diner with loads of great acts and DJ's. Guests at previous Tim Peaks have included Edwyn Collins and Roddy Frame (see Tim's interview below), Sleaford Mods, BMX Bandits, The View, Nick Heyward and Suzanne Vega.

Tim always has his finger on the pulse and enjoys discovering up and coming bands/artists and giving them a boost. The eclectic line-up he has curated for Electric Fields is going to be like a festival within a festival with loads of fun things going on as well.

I'll see you there if you are going. As well as the bands I am looking forward to some much needed northern soul dance lessons and I'll also be DJ-ing. And the Bowie disco is going to be amazing!

I caught up with all the bands playing Tim Peaks at Electric Fields for a few quick questions. Read on and enjoy links and videos from all the bands playing. There is loads to explore.

We start with the curator, Mr Tim Burgess

1. Do you have any releases coming out this year?

Well, funny you should ask! I have a new book coming out. Telling Stories was my first, so this one is called Tim Book Two. I enjoyed writing the first one and Faber & Faber asked if I wanted to write another. Telling Stories was kind of about everything that has ever happened to me and I couldn't just write about the three years since that came out. I'd always loved record shops and collecting vinyl so I asked some friends to recommend an album that I'd go out and find it in a record shop. I ended up getting recommendations from Johnny Marr, Iggy Pop & Bill Drummond and I was on tour with The Charlatans so I tracked down record shops from Istanbul to San Francisco 

2. What is your favourite festival memory?

At the very first Tim Peaks, I asked Edwyn Collins if he'd like to come along and maybe do some drawing. He was still recovering from his illness so he wasn't really playing or singing at the time. He brought Roddy Frame along and they performed a set together. They asked me to join them on a version of A Girl Like You. It was a magical moment. Edwyn's laugh is one of my favourite sounds

3. What song/band would you recommend from another band  playing Tim Peaks?

It's a tough one for me as I love all of the bands and am really excited about seeing them all. I'm going to pick the last song that I listened to by one of the bands that was playing - which was about 15 minutes ago. So my choice is Disappear by Horsebeach 

4. How do you take your coffee? 

Soy latte - if there's no soy milk, black Americano. Can I have a biscuit too please?

Dilwyn from Yucatan
How I'd describe them in a tweet - Think Sigur Ros, think shimmering strings, soaring choirs and  chiming, ethereal lullabies. Think of melodies building in layers - beautiful

1. How much of a boost is it to have Tim recognising and promoting your music?

It's been really great to know that Tim and the gang like what we do. We've had the chance to play some great events. But more than anything else it's important for us that people like what we do and think it has value. That's even more when it's one of our heroes. 

2. Do you have any releases coming out this year?

We are working on recording an album this year but at the moment we are not sure when it will be out. We may put something out this year but don't have solid plans. We had an album out last year called UWCH GOPA'R MYNYDD.

3. What is your favourite festival memory?

Playing Festival Number 6 last year was great. We played at a tower in Portmeirion and the crowd really got into it. And that made us get into it and have fun. It was special.

4. What song/band would you recommend for anyone visiting Tim Peaks? 

I really like Idle Hands by Documenta. VIDEO

5. How do you take your coffee?

In the mouth

Carla from TeenCanteen
How I'd describe them in a tweet - Gorgeous harmonies, hooks and choruses that will stay with you, clever lyrics full of sugar and honey at one moment and then bittersweet the next.

1. How much of a boost is it to have Tim recognising and promoting your music? 

It's wonderful! I think it's so important that established musicians promote and cultivate a community of grassroots, up and coming and/or unsigned bands. It's a snowball effect for everyone involved - as one of the bands playing Tim Peaks at Electric Fields we are now getting to know other bands performing and sharing our music with each other which is really special to be part of. You don't feel like 'just another band on the bill', you feel part of a collective. It's not one band being promoted - it's a whole heap of us - and in some way that feels even better.

2. Do you have any releases coming out this year? 

We've just finished recording our debut album which we completed through Pledgemusic. Hopefully it'll be released this year when we find a home for it. In the meantime we'll be organising another limited edition single.

3. What is your favourite festival memory? 

Without a shadow of a doubt, seeing The Polyphonic Spree at T in The Park 2003 in scorching sunshine and feeling so happy I thought my heart was going to burst.

4. What song/band would you recommend for anyone visiting Tim Peaks? 

I really can't wait to see Documenta play. The arrangements and production on their songs is just so gorgeously lush and warm. Sunsoaked sonically. I can't wait to see how that will translate to a live experience. Particularly love their song 'TV (Girl on Fire)'. Reminds me of early Pastels and I love the melody played on the cello (is it a cello?). It's really beautiful.

5. How do you take your coffee? 

With hot milk and honey.

Chris from Riding The Low
How I'd describe them in a tweet - Lofi rock, capable of chiming guitar pop and then raise your hands in the air anthems.

1. How much of a boost is it to have Tim recognising and promoting your music?
Since we first met Tim, he has been such a friend to us. We have had a number of opportunities to play at a variety of places arranged/curated by Tim/Nick and their circles of events people and promoters. It has certainly had a positive impact on how many people know about and like Riding The Low!

2. Do you have any releases coming out this year?
Our second album, Here To Help The Neighbourhood, arrives late spring/early summer this year. It's a great record with some really cool songs on it - we can't wait to share it with everyone!

3. What is your favourite festival memory?
The tent filling up at Forgotten Fields last year. It was quite quiet leading up to us going on and we were really worried that people would miss us play with so much else going on, but it was packed with such a great buzz! Can't beat that!

4. What song/band would you recommend for anyone visiting Tim Peaks? 
Hot Vestry are great, we've done a few things with them.

5. How do you take your coffee?
Simple. As it should be!

Blueprint Blue
How I'd describe them in a tweet - Fuzzy, scuzzy, cool melodies to fall in love with. No messing - raw and pure. All kinds of velvet-y goodness.

1. How much of a boost is it to have Tim recognising and promoting your music?

It's great to have Tim pushing our music. His opinion is very well respected and he's always been a champion of new bands. We're really excited that he's given us a chance to get our songs some exposure and to play in front of a whole new audience outside of London. Thanks Tim! 

2. Do you have any releases coming out this year?

We recorded our debut album last December with James Hoare of Ultimate Painting, so yes, hopefully that will come out this year.

3. What is your favourite festival memory?

It would  have to be seeing Neil Young at Hyde park two summers ago. There was a huge gang of us and we got a great spot right at the front. A highlight of the set was Down By The River and an acoustic version of Only Love Can Break Your Heart. 

4. What song/band would you recommend for anyone visiting Tim Peaks? 

We are excited to see Yucatan. They had a great concept of streaming their album for a week from the top of Mt Snowdon! Pretty cool. I'm choosing the song Angharad because it's our bass player Huw's sisters name. 

5. How do you take your coffee?

I quite like crap black coffee but if I'm somewhere fancy it's nice to have a Cortado. 

Blueprint Blue don't have anything on YouTube at present but check them on soundcloud 

Joe from Documenta
How I'd describe them in a tweet - Creating a sound and a world of their own, one that you'll want to discover and enjoy getting lost in.

1. How much of a boost is it to have Tim recognising and promoting your music?

It's fantastic, outside of being blown away by Tim digging our music, he has let so many other folks know about us. Tim asked us to support The Charlatans when they played Belfast at the Cathedral Quarter Festival last year and it was quite an experience playing to 1500 people!

2. Do you have any releases coming out this year?

Not this year, we just released our second record (Drone Pop #1) last November on Touch Sensitive Records but we have started work on our next record. Hopefully we can get all recording and mixing done as soon as possible and have a new album within the next 16 months.

3. What is your favourite festival memory?

Easy, dancing on stage with The Stooges at Electric Picnic in 2007. Paul from the band got to sing the "C'mon" in No Fun while Iggy held the mic.

4. What song/band would you recommend for anyone visiting Tim Peaks? 

It's a cracking line up all quality acts, so that's a bit tough but I'm really enjoying Teen Canteen, Sister is class.

5. How do you take your coffee?
Black. 

Horsebeach
How I'd describe them in a tweet - Melodic, reverby, dreamy gorgeousness.

1. How much of a boost is it to have Tim recognising and promoting your music? 

It's awesome of course! It's so great to have Tim spreading our music around and inviting us to play at places like the Tim Peaks stage. We've had the chance to get to know loads of the other bands playing and the whole thing feels way friendlier than just another big line up. 

2. Do you have any releases coming out this year? 

There will be a single or two surfacing later this year but I'll be getting started on the third LP in time for release next year.

3. What is your favourite festival memory? 

When we played Midi Festival last year, hung out in an opera house and our guitarist Tom was nearly taken out by an egg, thrown from apartments above.

4. What song/band would you recommend for anyone visiting Tim Peaks? 

I'm particularly looking forward to checking out two bands, TeenCanteen and Hot Vestry. Both great bands. Right now i'd recommend Honey from TeenCanteen.

5. How do you take your coffee?

Black Americano. Brown sugar. In my face.

Hot Vestry
How I'd describe them in a tweet - New Order meets LCD Soundsystem at an post club party at 5am to create something to keep the party going.

1. How much of a boost is it to have Tim recognising and promoting your music?

When someone like Tim, who has been in the music game for a long time reaches out to you - (Normally through Twitter, might we add, in front of his 100,000 followers) It can be the perfect platform for any musician trying to reach to greater heights.

Of course, being backed by an musician who is widely renowned as an icon of the Brit Pop Manchester scene isn't always brilliant. But fortunately for us, Tim is on another level. Tim himself is constantly listening to all sorts of music (As you can see from his Twitter) and is pushing himself as both an artist & a pioneer. He is always getting involved in all sorts of various projects. For example, he was an ambassador for Independent Venue Week earlier in 2016, but has also sung on the last Grumbling Fur album released in 2014. Tim does what he wants when he wants.

The Charlatans themselves have released one of their greatest albums in 2015, and have sold out venues around the world on their current album cycle. They are still clearly relevant. That's why it's special to be backed by someone like Tim. He's both at the past & the present, exactly how a real artist should be.

We aren't just backed by Tim & the Tim Peaks gang, we released our debut release on his label O Genesis, which is ran by Mr. Burgess, Nik Colk Void from Factory Floor, Tim Peaks Diner head honcho Nick Fraser, and super producer Jim Spencer. They're like the avengers, but with superior hair.

The most memorable moment of Tim Burgess promoting Hot Vestry would have to be when he wore a HV T-Shirt at The Charlatan's Brixton Academy show. We supported them in Liverpool at the 02 Academy the night before, and Tim told us he wanted to wear a T-Shirt at the Brixton Academy show. We had forgotten to bring the Merchandise with us to the Liverpool show, so we had to drive all the way back to Macclesfield, pick up the T-Shirt, and drive to The Big Mushroom studios (The Charlatan's recording home) in Northwich. Tim was leaving for London at 5am, and in the end we dropped it off around 4am. A successful night for all involved, but was sadly hampered by the fact Harry had to work at McDonalds at 6:45am.

2. Do you have any releases coming out this year?

We do indeed. Sooner than you think.

3. What is your favourite festival memory?

We played a festival in Sussex called Forgotten Fields last year with The Horrors, Super Furry Animals, Public Service Broadcasting and Basement Jaxx, which stands out as a favourite festival memory.

We managed to befriend The Horrors at the festival, and spent most of the night backstage with them. We knew them vaguely already, but that night we reached the point of phone number swapping. Now that was a moment for the Hot Vestry history books.

We gave Faris a shit tonne of HV merchandise, which he took home to London. We never actually knew if he did take if home, or just dumped it in a bush somewhere along the M25. The next time we saw them was when they supported New Order for two nights at Brixton Academy in November. We opened for New Order on the same tour, but we were in mainland Europe & Glasgow, so our AAA passes enabled us to still get into the shows for free, and more importantly backstage. It turns out Faris did keep all the T Shirts, EP's, and Fanzines we gave him.

4. What song/band would you recommend for anyone visiting Tim Peaks? 

Documenta - Love Is A Ghost

The most beautiful Drone Pop in the world...

5. How do you take your coffee?

Lattes at the moment, but the new Toffee Lattes from McDonalds are the perfect cure for these long numbing February days up in Manchester.  A small plug for McDonalds there, considering Harry & Joe from the band work at the branch in Macclesfield... We are on the verge of getting fired for touring too much, so maybe, just maybe they'll keep us now.

Check Hot Vestry playing Tim Peaks

Mark W Georgsson
How I'd describe Mark in a tweet - West Coast Americana via Glasgow, stopping off at Iceland en route. Tender, melodic country soul to fall for.

1. How much of a boost is it to have Tim recognising and promoting your music?

It's a massive boost. Tim is so well respected and the fact he takes time out to listen to, watch and promote new bands and artists is amazing.

2. Do you have any releases coming out this year?

Well, I've just recently finished recording my debut album with Rod Jones (Idlewild) producing. It was recorded between between Edinburgh and Reykjavik with a bunch of friends and talented musicians to help me record it.

3. What is your favourite festival memory?

Probably when I played the T Break Stage at T In The Park in 2013 with my previous band The Velveteen Saints. We were asked to headline the stage on the Saturday night, which is a big deal for any up and coming band in Scotland. I remember that we were on at the same time as Beady Eye and Rihanna and still managed to pack out the tent.

4. What song/band would you recommend for anyone visiting Tim Peaks? 

I would recommend catching Hot Vestry and Teen Canteen. Two great live bands.

5. How do you take your coffee?

Double espresso.

Mark has only just finished recording and has nothing on YouTube yet, but check the beautiful Faces and Places on his SOUNDCLOUD.