Neighbourhood Weekender Warrington Victoria Park 25-26th May 2019

Neighbourhood  Weekender 

     

Victoria Park  Warrington

   May 25th-26th 2019 

                          

                       Saturday- Day 1

So here we are again another year on from last years successful 'Neighbourhood Weekender' and its different weather with it mostly overcast on Day 1, still some sunshine though.


I'm reporting from the main stage today and there are hours of entertainment  to come, the first band on to go on stage are 'The Seagirls' which I seen last year at 'Truck Festival' they have a good following here, a couple of people even wearing their t-shirts,very likeable catchy indie vibes.


Next band to take to the stage are 'Yonaka' another superb upcoming rock band from 'Brighton' who I've been meaning to see as they were recommended.

They were every bit as I expected  'Rock/Grunge' a bit like 'Black Honey/Hole', the singer is an energetic front woman 'Theresa' not the most popular name at the moment , superb riffage and they also have a Great Drummer in rhythm.

Yes this band are fantastic and a great opener for 'Main Stage'. 

It's then over to 90s band 'Embrace' to entertain the crowd in the brightening sunshine Belting out hits like 'Gravity' 'Come Back To What You Know', and his brother on guitar singing a track he had a very good voice the crowd loved him and after their half hour they closed with 'All You Good People'. 

Making his way to the stage for a second time is 'Londoner' 'Tom Grennan', he has the crowd in his hands just listen to the response as he walks on as he plays his set with one fan stood next to me shouting 'I Love You' he takes his shades off looks right at her and says 'I Love You Too' shes crying tears of joy and shaking bless her.

His voice is fantastic all the songs off his last album are well known now with the crowd in full voice on 'Found What I've Been Looking For' and 'Sober' noteably on 'Don't Make em Like You' and 'Barbed Wire' what a voice and hes a star in those sunglasses and those baggy trousers !!!

Next up the mood is changing for the arrival of 'Nothing But Thieves' one of my favourite rock bands, I've seen them a lot back on 'Muse's Drones Tour in 2016 and once at 'The Academy' in Manchester, they are a great live act and never dissapoint.

'Connor' arrives on stage in dungarees and 'Slipknot' t-shirt he starts things of by yelling "Neighbourhood Warrington, are you ready?" the crowd squash in its going to be a bumpy ride 'Warrington' strap in !!! 

They play favourites from the debut album which includes 'Tripswitch' crowd went mad, 'Hostage' and the very lovely 'Particles' off 'Broken Machine' album yes now it feels like we're at a gig .

Of course the main act tonight is 'Glasgow's finest 'Primal Scream' and their entrance is iconic !!

'Bobby Gillespie' all suited up in Bright Pink with a greatest hits setlist to floor even the lesser rock followers among the crowd 'Movin On Up' and speeding through with '1994's 'Jailbird' into the dance genre with 'Acid Rock' tinged 'Kowalski' followed by 'Miss Lucifer' and 'Swastika Eyes' and 'Kill All Hippies' climaxing as the sun goes down with '1991's 'Higher Than The Sun' and '1990's smash hit 'Loaded' for the Rave Generation.

On the Encore they are bringing in 'The Stones' influence with 'Country Girl' and ending with their biggest hit of the mid 90's 'Rocks'.

It's now quickly over to the tent for last act 'You Me At Six' and currently playing are 'Pale Waves' finishing their set dosent matter I'll catch them on tour next month in the next blog more later ,as I attempt to surge my way to the through to the barrier.

So I mingle quite easily on to front barrier before 'Josh' even belts out a note,the crowd go crazy and mainly his adoring female fans are up front, some are struggling after 'Underdog' 'Josh' is signalling to security something is wrong some girls are getting squashed in the middle and he grabs the mic and says "I'm not Carrying on until everyone is Ok" ,telling them "Look after each other".

The Person now safely pulled out of the crowd and its on with the show they play a lot of newer material from their 'Night People' album my fav track 'Room To Breathe' was played at the end of the show , Josh and co played a blistering set with his band what a great start Warrington !

                          

  Day 2- Sunday

Sunday's entertainment begins back in the tent because the lads from 'London' are headlining tonight, I'm so excited they are playing my home town I cant tell you , well actually Yes I can... I'm really excited 'White Lies' are playing my hometown I think you're all in for a treat!!!

First band on are ' When Young' they are currently playing small venues to a varied crowd apparently they are quite good ,I'm not quite sure ...I prefered 'Yonaka' but they are another female fronted 'Rock Band' females are dominating the festivals this year for sure.

Next band another band from 'Scotland' 'The Snuts' a massive following in Scotland known for their raucous blend of Punk meets Indie Combo and Scotland's version 'The Enemy vs Arctic Monkeys' ,again they seem to of brought their fan base to the Tent alongside me a bunch of lets say slightly merry and excitable blokes and girls with the Saltire flag ...all good fun !!.

Next Pop Emo Duo 'Bad Sounds' think 'Panic At The Disco' Vs 'Hot Chip', their show is fast paced from the get go,they are both wearing custom made boiler suits, they throw themselves about the stage and cause a stir with the crowd possibly trying to bring the energy 'The Slaves' would of brought to the main stage (replaced By Circa Waves) but they pulled out last minute due to band members wife waiting anyday to have her child.

'Sam Fender' was also ordered to pull out from the Tent for illness leaving a gap to be filled.

'The Amazons' arrive to a warm welcome from the crowd its getting busier now as the afternoon goes on, this band are a festival success story 'The Amazons' live show is a punchy bright, electrifying experience,the stage adorning a flash symbol turning from Blue to Orange to Red again in front of the drumkit. 

Their front man looking tall in a Tweed suit at least it looks like tweed the smoke is blurring my vision he's playing a flying V guitar I can tell you that.

The crowd clearly here to see them as the tent fills up with fast with their followers,their guitarist taking control of the stage for closing number.

Going back to the pop vibe Ireland's 'Picture This' are next on, their singer has funky dance moves he wearing a pink summer Tshirt with a waistcoat and he's got his dancing pumps on, he's clearly giving Danny of the 'Script' a run for his money. 

The crowd are clapping and joining in, he contorts himself about the stage leaning back on floor, before later stripping off top showing off his tattoos on his chest and arms putting pay to the squeaky pop image and picking up his acoustic guitar to sing a slower track, their sound quite contagious. 

Newcastle's Indie Punk pioneers 'The Futureheads' are next they've got the patter with the crowd 'Barry Hyde' who took a break from the band a few years ago to train to become a chef .

Returning and playing songs from the ground breaking debut album 'Heartbeat Song' and 'Decent Days & Nights' ,'Beginning Of Twist' I was loving what this band brought to the stage I was jumping and dancing about to them they were amazing they finished with 'Hounds Of Love' a hit from  2005. 

So it was now time for the penultimate act 'Kate Nash' shes playing an extended set though why they didn't just let the boys do a longer slot I don't know ??? I started off not a Huge fan of Ms Nash.

She arrived onstage with her all female band on drums and guitars with a stage set from a glamourous Cafe bar show, her name up in pink sparkly lights, dressed in a satin sea green coloured box style jacket , a shorter than short skirt in similar satin design, with fishnets, her hair held back in long plaits, and Dr Marten boots.

She completely dominated the stage clambouring on the speakers her Pro-women speeches was engaging her energy quite astonishing I remember the video for 'Foundations' I was nothing like the 'Kate' before me tonight,she crowd surfed not once but twice, stage diving during the encore,she is a very real person under that Indie Icon Persona at times emotional this made her set all the more enjoyable, she meant what she said about image and pressure on women the politics struck a chord,I enjoyed it .

Last up on 'Tent Stage' London's 'White Lies' my band in my hometown seeing how euphoric they are onstage with fans from here that have never had the live 'Lies' experience will be special.

The boys reception was energetic, 'Harry' didnt say "Hello Warrington" he choose to say "Hello Neighbourhood" beaming smile already , dressed in Black with 'Charles' over on the right blasting out the meaty riffs on the bass on 'Time To Give', 'Jack's drumming as ever passionately remarkable.

What surprised me was the crowd they seemed to know all the words to the new songs  welcome to the club !!, this year marks 10 yrs of 'White Lies' and next track 'Farewell To The Fairground' is testament to that success, the whole crowd coming to life in unison.

Then its back to Album 3 with 'Big Tv' fav  'There Goes Our Love Again', 2 tracks from previous album 'Friends', the debut live favourite 'Death' with the crowd bouncing like not seen since the 2013 shows, and the boys have the crowd in the palm of their hands .

With their new uber successful album 'Five' the song 'Tokyo' brings the house down and mega hit 'To Lose My Life' closing with  'Ritual' 'Bigger Than Us thats it they've done it !!

The boys come forward with Keyboard player 'Tommy' taking some of the glory as they take a well earned bow,so proud of them, all 4 are satisfied with that performance and so are the packed crowd what a Rush !!!

Speaking of Rushing ...time to make a last minute dash to the main stage for the last act of the weekend  'The Verves's ,'Richard Ashcroft' I persevered and got front barrier for 'Richard' as he was playing 'Sonnet' through the thousand strong crowd, as he comes into veiw wearing silvery glitter bomber jacket and trademark shades, the sun goes down to the soundtrack of 'Lucky Man' ,'Space And Time' .

You can see the impact he has on grown men in their 30's and up ,some reduced to tears especially as 'Richard' introduces the next song track telling the crowd "This is now my song" (The rights once fought over by The Stones,case dropped and rights given to Richard and 'The Verve' for it) I'm talking of course about 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' No1 in 1997.

The Natural Rebel Nails it !!, the crowd mesmerised  by his presence and those iconic vocals that they don't want him to leave the stage shouting for more, Arise Sir Richard Messiah of  'The North' what a way to close the festival.





Shall we do it again next year... I think so.

Lmi xo

Next time we've a date on Tour with a robot from the future...yes really oh and hes about 39 ft tall !! .....