Rivfest - Priestley College Warrington 02.09.2017

Rivfest 2nd September 2017

Priestley College

Warrington

 

Today is a special collaboration of artists at this local festival,last year 'Warrington' lost a talent that was starting to flower and bear fruit and it was in a band called 'Viola Beach'.

 

Tragically they were in a fatal accident whilst overseas playing a gig,leaving the country they were not to return home and neither was their Manager claimed by a freak accident on a bridge on their way back from 'Sweden'.

 

River Reeve's was part of that group, a young lad, local guitarist and an inspiration to many with a dream to be a musician, he would have wanted the town and the fans to remember him and the band but to do something with that legacy and help other young rising stars, so 'River's dad 'Ben' and the family came up with 'Rivfest' last year where 500 people turned out.

 

Today capacity for this event is at least 2000,tickets flew out with the line up being so exclusive, all monies from the event and the sales of merchandise will go to the 'River Reeves Foundation'.

 

It's a beautiful day with wall to wall sunshine if you can believe it,so I'm here to see what local talent there is and to also see one of my favourite Indie bands headlining it is Newcastle's 'Maximo Park'.

 

First to take the stage at 12.35pm after a sing a long with the towns mayor to warm us up, is a band from 'Dundee' Scotland called 'Model Aeroplanes, this was especially significant as the band actually toured with 'Viola Beach' at the time of the accident, they brought their sound back to life with a special half hour set.

 

Next band 'Stillia' from 'St Helens' they are a band to watch clearly influenced by 90's Indie Britrock and fronted a male vocalist who can wear a black lace shirt almost look as good as 'Brett Anderson' in it, they play an energising set with lots guitar effects and echo.

 

Another local band on the bill and from 'Warrington' 'The Man & The Echo' with a cynical joker of a singer, with trademark slick black hair and shirt reminded me of early 'Weezer' a young 'Rivers Cuomo', not as shy as his innocent look would have you believe, he says "Come on 'Warrington' its not for sitting down" and later "Cover your kids ears cos we don't give a Fxxk" I was sat down though as the day was so glorious I combined it with relaxing in the sun, well I'll be standing later ,saving my legs.

 

'R.P.M's were up next from 'Brighton' really enjoyed their set and their style #OneToWatch as people were starting to respond and get involved at this point.

 

On to a band from 'Manchester' 'The Rainband', exceptionally good Indie band with a great idea of entertaining and controlling the crowd, the singer confidently tells us "We're going to do a song from a famous 'Manchester' band and it's called 'Sit Down' everyone is up and dancing and we are told to sit down after the last verse, so we all do whilst they bring us all up to the chorus and everyone stands up singing along at the end .

 

Another local band  'Slydigs' that have done well commercially and have toured with Rock Royalty 'The Who' , have a following overseas too as they have a 60's Rock sound, it's really loud they can literally rock your socks off,I had an opportunity to see them at a show back in 2014 but I was attending 'Kasabian' at the now re-opened 'Manchester Arena'.

 

Next up 'Weekend Wars' a band from 'St Helens' and 'Northwich' they have the ability to step out the bands "unit" box and take it to another level as we get ever nearer to the main headliners, their sound is quintessentially Indie with touch of Rock, singer has Ginger hair and Ginger beard and looks very charismatic in his black sunglasses , also appropriate for the weather conditions, he gets closer to the crowd, by standing up over the crowd at the barrier, and later  throwing t-shirts into the crowd eagerly running from the back to catch one.

 

A popular band from 'London' now on the main stage 'Eliza & The Bear' are somewhat an undiscovered talent to me,I'd long heard they were worth going to see live, once 'Viola Beach' supported them at a 'Manchester' venue .

 They are upbeat vibrant Indie like 'Friendly Fires' and they play an impressive set including a song I knew but didn't know I knew 'Friends' (It was on a famous advert for a Phone manufacturer brand I think) the commeraderie on stage between the group is fascinating to watch, its a fun part of the show .

 

Up next two "Winners" from 'ITVs' 'The Voice' taking to the stage first 'Max Vickers' and his newly formed band '32-Tens' they are unsigned at present but have tunes on iTunes you can download and Soundcloud.

 

Immediately he dominated the mic with a unique blend of 'Indie' and 'Hip Hop' Rhyming that we glimpsed on 'The Voice' (He was in it up until the Semi Finals) I knew he'd do well then, it wont be too long before they get signed up.

 

Is the crowd ready though for his flat mate and close friend 'Mo' !! winner of the show and now onstage (wearing a Black 'Rivfest' t-shirt as 'Max' wore also, you can buy these at the event) he begins to sing with that amazing deep soulful voice that belies his young age that astounded everyone in the competition and the viewers earlier this year.

 Present with me on the front row barrier a lady called 'Sue' and another lady called 'Sue' who is 'Mo's  foster mum , she is very proud of his achievements I confide "I knew he would win 'The Voice' as he deserved it", she tells me "Wait til you hear his new song it's even better" he plays his own songs ,and then teams up a guest think they said his name was 'Jack' ?? (Tell me if I'm wrong) and later with 'Max' and the '32-Tens'.

 

 They perform a superb rendition of 'Jimi Hendrix's 'All Along The Watchtower' he hits those notes no problem, Yes to start with he was a little nervous but who wouldn't be playing to thousands in your home crowd yes he lives here same as 'Max',but he absolutely nailed it.

 

Next up an 80's Icon from 'Dagenham' in 'Essex' and activist 'Billy Bragg' kicking off with 'Sexuality' in a country style suit with Red Stars in the detail, and his trusty acoustic guitar, he looks from a certain angle with his white hair and beard like a certain 'Mr Corbyn' he has a quite few fans in the crowd that know all the lyrics, I on the other hand didn't, but loved the irony in his lyrics.

 He plays one song I can sing along to written for and performed by the late 'Kirsty McColl', called 'New England' I sing it quite loudly to make up for my silence throughout much of the set that I apologise to the poor child standing next to me as she's no earplugs.

 

Then 'Billy' says "Right I need you to sing loud when the song fades out 'Solidarity is..' it's going to go on my new record so sing it loud and clear" we all do and it sounds great.

 

He speaks highly of 'Warrington' and its industrial past, he believes we can overcome political adversity, and the madness of a cynical media,he is a positive activist .

 

He left the stage to rapturous applause and was replaced by a DJ that had a few technical problems so had to cut short his warm up set but played tracks by 'Stone Roses', 'Killers' and 'Pulp' then it was time for main act 'Maximo Park' , the last thing to put on the  stage was the rug and the mic stand-Stage Ready!!

 

As the band take to the stage the crowd roar everyone surges forward and 'Paul Smith' walks onto the stage he wears a Blue suit with Leopard print shirt and his trademark hat.

 

They begin with new song 'Risk To Exist' the title track of the new album the energy this band give off at their shows is unique and astonishing ,'Paul' is a frontman with a passion for strutting and leaping up in mid-air and jumping from one side of the stage to another so fast with moves even 'Ricky Wilson' of the 'Kaiser Cheifs' would be in awe of.

 

They play material from across 3 of their main albums tracks such as 'Books And Boxes' and 'National Health' and 'Girls & Guitars' he speaks to the crowd about 'Viola Beach' and how they could relate to their ambition as a young unsigned band back in the day they had there own van and went on tour travelling around, the crowd applauded.

 

The atmosphere was fantastic,security did a great job of stopping people getting squashed at the front which is something I've not seen in all the times I've been to a gig, telling people to take a step back, taking 'Leeds' campaign of 'Safe Space' for women a step further very commendable.

 

Encore time already and it's 'Apply Some Pressure' one of my favourite indie anthems of all time, it's got everyone excited though its now reached the end of the festival, the band take a bow and leave the stage.

 

It's been a Huge success and next year there will be another 'Rivfest' as raising money for the foundation will build on this, you can read more on the charity at riverreevesfoundation.org.

 

That's a wrap 'Warrington' .

 

Lmi  xo