Fri 12 Sep – End of the Road Festival

What a super festival! I am glad that I picked this as my first proper weekend festival to go to, or else the horror of camping may have put me off trying again. Although perhaps now the bar will be set too high for future festivals?

After setting up camp right next to the fabled head on a stick, we set off to see our first few bands of the day. First off was Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, who sounded just lovely in the sunshine, and were kind enough to have a chat with Alex and I after their set. It's just a shame they were on so early- they deserved more than the twenty or so people who were actually around to see them! After a short walk we were back to see The Acorn who were really good- interesting rhythmns and textures from all the instruments- and A Hawk and a Hacksaw, whom I was not fond of before the festival, and am still not fond of now. I don't know, they're technically brilliant and should be something that I like, but I just don't. Perhaps because I was annoyed that Jeremy Barnes really seems to believe that he is Eastern European? You are not, Jeremy, so lose the pretend accent!

We unfortunately missed the start of Micah P. Hinson's set due to an emergency footwear/ clothing change back at the tent, but he was pretty entertaining through the rest of it (although not very child friendly...). I am sad that he did not play 'Diggin A Grave', but I did enjoy his death-metal style vocals on the last song, especially as they made the middle-aged woman stood in front of us visibly wince and huddle closer to her husband. Next came Dirty Three, one of my highlights of the weekend- the beauty of their recorded work really came to life in the live setting, and was nicely accompanied by Warren Ellis' ridiculous posing and leg kicks. The perfect music to listen to as the sun went down.

After American Music Club, who were solid although they did not blow me away, it was time for FUN. At the time, I thought I would be lucky to see someone top Dirty Three, but this was managed almost straight after by the fantastic Akron/Family. SO MUCH FUN! Admittedly I did get bored at one point at some extended jamming of theirs, and I did feel sorry for The Acorn for having to spend at least a solid half hour clapping and dancing in the background, but still. I love audience participation, and it doesn't get much better than chanting 'Circle, triangle, square, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah', with hand actions, over and over again. (Except for the whole audience screaming, but I'll get on to that later!) A fabulous end to the night. I'm kind of annoyed that I didn't stay up to see what was going on at the Local or the Bimble Inn- apparently David Thomas Broughton was amazing (we should have trusted the random drunk guy who told us to go see him when we were stood brushing our teeth). But by this point, I was pretty much dead on my feet, and now I'm going to see DTB next week, so no matter.

After a TERRIBLE night- it doesn't get much worse than lying awake, freezing cold, listening to the guy in the tent next to you snoring like a cannon- the day started nicely with Absentee, who I don't actually remember beyond a vague recollection that they were good, and Bowerbirds, who were really lovely. I liked the girl's accordeon, dress and hair, and the frontman had a really cute smile, and the violin-playing man was pretty. They were followed by Devon Sproule who was plain adorable, and was the envy of us all with her amazing sunhat. Noah and the Whale were surprisingly good- nice brass parts, an engaging front man and generally happy, smiley, sunshiney music.

Up next was The Young Republic, who had not impressed me with the few snippets I'd heard before I went, but who were in fact amazing! The frontman was incredibly dynamic (and had very shiny hair), all the musicians top-notch, and the songs just sounded fantastic. Definitely one to watch out for. However, they were followed by my- and many other people's, from what I have heard- favourite performance of the weekend- Bon Iver. Seriously, I nearly cried during their set, it was so, so beautiful. While I had been looking forward to seeing them, as I like the album a lot, I was not expecting anythign particularly special. How wrong I was. The vocal harmonies were perfect, Justin's voice was heavenly, just everything was heavenly. They were also extremely gracious, and I always enjoy an act more when they seem to be enjoying themselves. The mass sing-along to 'The Wolves', followed by our joint howl to the sky, was my favourite moment of the festival. Also it was nice to see Bowerbirds go up to join them- hopefully people who missed their main set saw them then, and will be inspired to check them out properly.

After dinner, it was over to the Big Top in preparation for my most anticipated act of the festival, Sun Kil Moon. We caught all of Kurt Wagner, who was nice to see despite being completely unfamiliar with both him and Lambchop. I enjoyed his little stage set-up with the clothes pegs, although I was concerned that he was going to set some of his songs on fire when he pegged the cigarette to the line. A short wait later, and it was time for SKM- who turned out to be pretty much my only disappointment of the festival. I think I'd psyched them up too much in my mind- I knew my personal fantasy of Mark Kozelek going, "OK everyone, I am going to play some Red House Painters now," was highly unlikely, but they could at least have played a more interesting set. Carry Me Ohio, at least. They were the only band I saw who did not seem pleased to be there, and while I did not think Mark K would be the cheeriest of folk, he barely paid the audience any mind at all. Smelly man. Oh well.

We had a little sit-down during the first half of Two Gallants, who were pretty good from what we heard, then it was over to the Local to see Shearwater. Well, to hear Shearwater- trying to see the low stage from anywhere other than right at the front was nigh-on impossible for one vertically-challened like myself. Still, they sounded fantastic, and were well worth staying awake for, despite how dead our legs were.

A better night's sleep saw me ready and refreshed for the final day, beginning with Sons of Noel and Adrian, who were surprisingly good, with a wide variety of instruments and interesting arrangements. The Wave Pictures were another surprise- I had thought that they would be pretty much by-the-numbers British guitar indie-schmindie- which I guess they were really, but they pulled it off with style, and were super-fun to bop along to. Kimya Dawson was as lovely as I had expected, and it was nice to be right up at the front so I could see her tattoos properly. As ever, I enjoyed the singing along and hand actions (apparently I am actually a five-year old child). Alex went and met her afterwards, but I stuck around at the front for Jason Molina, one of my favourite discoveries of the year. It was a shame we had to see him without the band- meaning no actual Magnolia Electric Co songs, or at least not any that I recognised- but he was still lovely to see live, his vocals haunting, and dressed in a nice suit.

Woodpigeon were a little underwhelming, but I suppose by this time I was a bit music-ed out and was having another little sit-down, so it's probably my fault rather than theirs. Then it was over to the Big Top again to see Darren and Jack play Hefner- a band I got into from their being played at Offbeat in Sheffield (thanks Chris!). Despite not knowing them that well, they were still really fun to see live, and the crowd's enthusiasm really made their set. And it was the third time that we saw a less-popular band (The Wave Pictures) go up and play with a bigger band. I had another little rest during Jeffrey Lewis, who was still nice to listen to- I remember liking a silly poem-y thing he read out- and was then up and ready for The Mountain Goats, who did not disappoint. Even John Darnielle's guitar string breaking on the first strum did not ruin matters, as we were treated to a 5 minute drum solo, with a bit of bass, and an interesting rendition of Regina Spektor's 'Samson' (which had just played on the speakers before the band came on.) With guitar fixed, the band started proper, and played a really engaging, entertaining set, with brilliant sing-along moments. Just fantastic.

Mountain Goats finished, we made our way over to see the second half of Calexico's set. Alex and I were rather annoyed about this clash, as we would have liked to see both bands on full, but we were still able to see a good amount of the latter band- the more brass-y, Mexican-sounding numbers sounded fantastic, and were fun to dance to. After going back to tent to tidy up and put Alex to bed, I then ventured back out on my own to catch what was going on at the Local. I caught the last minute of a.P.A.t.T., who sounded really interesting so I'm annoyed that I didn't see the rest of them. Denis Jones was a great surprise- I'm a sucker for artists who use loop-pedals, and those who mix electronic and more organic sounds, so I was pleased I managed to catch him. Finally- and what a final act to see- were Wildbirds & Peacedrums, who were just incredible. What a voice! What drumming! What magnificent foot stomping/assorted percussion! What false lashes! Their recorded work really cannot do justice to how amazing they sound live, so if you ever get the chance to see them, do not miss out! I really could not have hoped for a better end for the festival.

It really was such a good weekend. My main regret this year is that I didn't spend more time at the smaller tents, seeing more unknown, esoteric acts - the problem with having such an amazing line-up is there was nearly always something I wanted to see elsewhere- so hopefully I can go next year, and see the little things then!