Friday, May 25, 2007

Sounds of summer

Just bought my ticket to Supersonic, the left-field mini-ATP-type festival which takes place in Birmingham in July - should be a nice counterpoint to the populism and enormity of Glasto at the end of the previous month. It'll inevitably mean fraternising with the people Phill has labelled "the Custerati" - but at least I'll get the pleasure of witnessing sets by the likes of Mogwai, Om, Kling Klang, Sunn O))) and Kid 606, plus I'll be able to renew my acquaintance with Wolf Eyes. My bowels are already a-quiver at the prospect...

Much more sedate and serene is Summer Sundae, this year to be headlined by The Magic Numbers, The Divine Comedy and an acoustic Spiritualized performance. We had a fantastic time last year, but it's unlikely we'll end up there again this time around - and that's despite the lure of The Concretes, !!!, Malcolm Middleton, Gruff Rhys and (most of all) Low.

Gruff Rhys is also amongst those appearing at The Green Man Festival in Brecon. From humble beginnings, the festival founded by Jo and Danny of It's Jo & Danny has grown and grown and this year's line-up suggests it's moving gradually away from its folk-rock roots and branching out into different areas. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Battles, Bill Callahan, Fridge and Dead Meadow are among the reasons I'm itching to add it to the summer's itinerary.

End Of The Road in Dorset in September would wrap the summer up nicely, what with appearances from Archie Bronson Outfit, Josh Pearson, Howe Gelb, Midlake, Super Furry Animals and especially Yo La Tengo - but I suspect that finances will very probably dictate that I have to be satisfied with it all being capped by Sonic Youth performing Daydream Nation in its entirety on 1st September. Shouldn't complain, really...

So, how's your summer shaping up?

2 Comments:

Blogger Simon said...

Fine, thanks.

Oh, you want detail. I'm really looking forward to what will be my first End Of The Road - the bill just seems to get better with every announcement, and talking to Tim from The Daily Growl who went last year it's apparently as laid back and inventive as you'd hope for. Obviously I'm booked for Summer Sundae again (which, bizarrely, has just added Sophie Ellis-Bextor), plus a second year at Truck, which will be interesting as most of its team have changed since last year and the bill announcement has been delayed indefinitely - there's not even been the leaks and self-confirmations of last year. One persistent rumour has it that as it's its tenth year they've got the Flaming Lips to headline.

11:20 am  
Blogger Ben said...

Truck's now my local festival - just down the road. All sold out though, unfortunately. A shame, as Phill of Danger! High Postage enthuses about it. I'll be interested to read how you find it, as well as End Of The Road - both festivals I'll be looking to go to next year.

10:44 am  

Post a Comment

<< Home