FOREVER NOW FESTIVAL
MILTON KEYNES NATIONAL BOWL
After a fraught journey into the dystopian abyss that is Milton Keynes, we finally arrived at the National Bowl in time to witness the simply outstanding THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS. Is there a more apt opening song than the prophetic ‘President Gas’, while ‘Heaven’ is a mouth-watering slice of nostalgic musical bliss. ‘Pretty In Pink’ continues to be a coming-of-age blue chip hit single, and before you can say “Isn’t she”, the Furs depart stage left. A swift trot up to the second stage finds PIL in thunderous form. Lydon apologises for a streaky voice, although it sounds fine from the rear of a jam-packed second stage as ‘Warrior’, ‘Open Up’ and ‘Rise’ prove just what a live outdoor powerhouse they genuinely are. Unsurprisingly, Mr Lydon also managed to get in a karaoke Pistols dig at his former band. KIRK and STAN from THEATRE OF HATE regale a standing room only Echo Chamber with Eugene Butcher expertly steering the conversational wheel.
The Smiths’ founding member and JOHNNY MARR gives the main stage crowd an emotive and full-bloodied set. ‘This Charming Man’, ‘How Soon Is Now’, and Electronic’s ‘Getting Away With It’ are all lapped up. An acoustic ‘Please Please Let Me Get What I Want’ and the set-closing ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out’ complete an absolute masterclass in festival crowd-pleasing. THE HAPPY MONDAYS and Bez in particular bounce happily along while dropping the classic cuts ‘Step On’ and ‘Hallelujah’ before the power is unceremoniously cut mid final song. Sadly, the second stage suffered from power issues all day, leaving festivalgoers and bands frustrated, angry, and disappointed. On the plus side, I thought the festival site was well laid out, with plenty of food and drink available, and hardly any queuing. There were also plenty of shaded areas behind the bowl itself. The lack of change over time between stages and sets meant punters had to make some pretty tough choices, so sadly for me, THE DEATH CULT and THE DAMNNED got culled.
No such issues on the main stage as a leather-clad BILLY IDOL fist clenched, sneered and sang his way through a hit-laced set. ‘Flesh For Fantasy’, ‘Eyes Without A Face’ are cast aside by the made-for-MTV cover of ‘Mony Mony’. The two new cuts ‘77’ and ‘Too Much Fun’ prove Mr Broad still has plenty in the tank before ‘Blue Highway’ gets a perfectly placed Top Gun Steve Stevens guitar solo. The final duo of what else but ‘Rebel Yell’ and ‘White Wedding’ only confirm what a gem of a London via Sunset Strip showman Billy Idol truly is. Top festival, weird city, lovely day.