Blissfields Festival took place over this weekend and saw some of the finest acts the country has to offer alongside some of the weirdest and wonderful entertainment I’ve ever had the pleasure to witness. I arrived at the festival on the Friday despite there being a fair bit of music on offer the day before. I managed to catch up with Indie Punk band BlackWaters before their act on Friday night. The lads were so down to earth and you could just tell that it was an honour them to play at such a mental festival like Blissfields. They said: ‘We’re definitely looking to playing, it’s our firs sort of established festival and we’re playing quite late which is quite cool.
‘We’ve never been here before in our life, it looks cool, everyone looks like they’re having a great time.
‘We’re playing Reading & Leeds but this is our first one.
‘There’s new music on the pipeline but we’ve literally just released a demo titled Jarr’ed Up Generation and Zane Lowe played on Beats 1 so that was pretty sick.
‘We’re planning to do loads and loads of gigs in the future.’
The Manor stage (main stage) a saw a number of decent rock bands on show throughout the weekend and Friday was no different with Birmingham indie band Swim Deep taking to the stage before he main headline acts, Everything Everything. The lads put on an amazing show for everyone dancing in the crowd and they certainly were one of the highlights of the whole weekend for me. The indie rock band formed nearly ten years ago made sure everyone sung along and enjoyed their set. They ended on their most famous song Distant Past as an encore and it was a perfect way to end the main stage fantastic day of music. I managed to then check out the ‘Blisscotheque’ after which was basically a London red bus with some of the best DJs there is around.
The Saturday and for me the best day for entertainment saw Beans on Toast open the main stage. Real name, Jay McAllister, the political folk singer really tried to get the crowd going in the early afternoon. He sang songs such as Outlaw which really described the style of his lyrics. The Braintree singer also shared some views on legalising weed which really fit in to his controversial style of singing. I managed to catch a few words with Beans on Toast just after his set – he said: ‘I’ve been coming here ten years now it’s real pleasure for me to play here.
‘Every year it just gets better and today was no different.’
Not long after that act, four-piece post punk up and coming band Spring King took the stage and the exciting bunch of lads really showed how far they have come these past couple of years. The band are set to play at Reading & Leeds Festival in August so they just gave a small taste to what you can expect from them. Their new album Tell Me If You Like To, that was released earlier this month via Island Records, was the main the theme to their song choices however the majority of the crowd already knew most of the words to their songs which was is really refreshing to see. I spoke to the Manchester band shortly after their set and they said: ‘It went really well, it was second time playing the festival, the weather was good, we had a really big crowd, last year we played we played on a smaller stage and just felt good to come back and see the progression with us.
‘It was actually our first time playing on a main stage at a festival, we’ve played loads festivals but never on the main stage so it was a really great experience.
‘It’s definitely more intimate on smaller stages but festivals is just a different kind of vibe.
‘I mean obviously you’re playing to new people and there was even new people singing along and it was really nice to get that reaction.
‘The album has been out for three weeks and feels good, people have been responding really well to it and a lot of people messaged us really kind words about it and told us what their favourites are.
‘In five years time we’ll probably be doing more shows and hopefully releasing more music.
‘Being part of a band, from the inside you don’t see anything at all, you sort of pass through life as it is.
‘But from the outside with the media attention and that it seems different but we’re just exactly the same playing bigger shows.
‘We had to quit our jobs in September because we were recording the album and we went on a two month tour as well.
‘Seeing loads of fans coming out is just the best feeling, we use to play to like 5/10 fans so it’s just overwhelming when you play headline shows and festivals and theirs fans there that stick around.’
‘I can be a very emotional thing, I remember when we sold out a show and it was just so emotional.’
I also managed to speak to South London rapper Loyle Carter who I have to say was the nicest guy I managed to speak to at the festival. The actor and singer is signed up to exciting label Virgin EMI records and that clearly shown with his quality and stage presence. He spoke to me just before his set and said: ‘I played here last year so it was nice to come back to play on the inflatable one (main stage).
‘The festival is nice & small and tight, it’s kind of family festival.
‘I played Glastonbury last year and I’ve played quite few.
‘We’ve got a tour coming up September/October so we’ll be busy!
‘I’ve got another single that should be dropping in August and I’m going to try and finish my album off too, I’ve been putting it off a long time because I’ve been busy with other stuff.
‘I was at drama school when I was younger, I’ve not been into acting at the moment just because I haven’t had time but I’ve written play but just a rough draft.
‘I love the theatre, I’m a big fan of Shakespeare!
‘It still doesn’t make sense when people come along to gigs to see me.’
Also just after their set at The Den stage, exciting London band Screaming Peaches managed speak to me and they said: ‘It was good yeah, really fun tent and I’m we’ll be coming back, it’s a great festival!
‘We’re doing a few more festivals this year and we’ve got a new EP coming out this September so yeah keep on listening!
‘We’ve got friends and there’s a band called Glass that we are big fans of and they play tonight.
‘I think there was a few people in the crowd that knew about us so I guess in five years time you can just wish for more people like that.
‘I think the key to our band is that it’s just a group of people singing together, how it’s actually sung doesn’t always resemble our genre.
The lads were incredibly down to earth and if their attitude towards their music goes by anything then they are sure to make it big. Dub Pistols also put in another epic performance with lead singer Barry Ashworth bringing plenty of energy for the crowd to enjoy. Last up on the main stage however with rapper Dizzee Rascal and although I’m not usually a big fan of his genre of music, I thought I’d stay and watch the singer. I was surprised how good the act was however as he brought someone else on stage to sing with him. The rapper sang his classics such as Dance Wiv Me, Holiday and Bonkers.
After the main act finished, I managed to check out the stage Area 51 with Mary Miss Fairy & Mini Da Minx. A magnificent weekend was then capped off by the weird and wonderful goings on by Dance of the Dead that provided plenty of entertainment that even included a chilli eating contest. As well as this, there were plenty of tribute songs embracing the ‘gone but never forgotten legends’ by the brilliant singers on show. Overall the weekend was amazing and I will certainly go there next year.