PROFESSOR GRABOWSKI

The job of kicking off the week-end was given to Professor Graboski. A rock blues duo from Munich. After a morning downpour where rain turned beautiful fields into mud, we had to rely on this energetic duo to get our minds of the inclement weather. What a job they did! Quirk, energy and smiles. A lederhosen wearing mad man on vocals and dirty guitar and a solid drummer bashing the skins. Interesting lyrics about girls and fun things in life in general, made this first set a perfect start to the day. A great fun effort for this band that had us parting so early in the afternoon!

MATHIEU NEIL.

Second Act is a singer songwriter from Paris. Mathieu Neil showed us some real gems. Acoustic guitar driven tunes backed by a super solid band. Beautifully textured keyboard parts and great guitar solos were the compliments to such great songs. The Solid rhythm section completed this 4 piece ensemble that “held” the stage very professionally. Could be ready for the big time radio friendly world?

FILTHY WHISKY

One thing we can say about this band is that when they walk on stage they look like rock stars. This is always a good start and they proved that they are not far from it once they strummed the first chord. These 4 lads from Camden Town in London were a classic 2 guitar, bass and drum formation kicking rock tunes with great melodies. A typically British sound with some American influences made this band a potential diamond. Catching all of us off guard with clean indie sounds and heavier riffs thrown together, they mixed these sounds with so much ease and control that they looked like they’ve been together for 10 years playing solidly. A really enjoyable band in all aspects….Just simply, a beautiful set.

S.H.E.

The fourth band started on time. A precision that only a team of German of stage technicians can supply. S.H.E. is a female fronted Japanese band so the smiles and good feelings were guaranteed. They play rock and roll and they mean rock and roll!! A splendid voice and a stage look a million times better than any female fronted rock bands out there playing the various Glastonbury or Sziget festivals. Good songs and tight playing made this 4 piece from Tokio an enjoyable set to watch. Thank you Japan!

LSD ON CIA

First trio of the day. Super heavy riffs reminiscing of Queens of the stone age mixed with Arctic Monkeys sounds (although unconsciously as the band told me backstage that it is not what they listen to and therefore not an influence) but with beautifully intricate vocal parts. Now…this is the shit! This year’s finest Danish band hailing from Copenhagen kicked us in the face with an incredibly energetic set. The bass player played with a broken foot sittin on an office chair sliding up and down the stage like a man possessed and it worked perfectly. The drummer was playing manic beats with off patterns that made it all very, very interesting. This was a super set with so much energy you could sell it to any government atomic plant. Thanks for the madness Denmark!

F.O.O.S.

Another trio but this time we are talking electronic sounds and loops used as an interesting foundation for the songs. Two guitarists and a “monster” drummer were representing Turin in northern Italy. A compelling performance from these young guys with an almost rock/dance/electronic feel and the singer was throwing himself around the stage like man taken over by the spirit of rock and roll. A weirdly wonderful combination that made this group one of the most original ones we’ve seen in ages and contributing to the cool factor that makes northern Italian bands some of the best around at the moment. Fantastic

RAG DOLLS

This is a band I saw perform a few weeks ago in Berlin and thoroughly enjoyed. The translation from club stage to outdoor stage has made this band even more eager to entertain the crowd. These three guys were all about that: entertaining the old fashion way by getting the crowd involved. Smiles on their faces and simple old fashion fun, was the winning formula for this perfect set. We’re not talking technical skill or amazing musicianship hare…..we’re talking entertaining. Were they the most fun band so far?.......probably, maybe…who knows. That’s not important. What’s important was how the crowd responded……by going nuts!

.

LeBELLE

When this girl started singing I almost cried. I had a lump in my throat and my hand was shaking trying to jot down my notes in my pad….The voice of an angel? Why does this always sound so cliché? Well, believe or not, that’s the only thing I could think of as the girl threw high notes into the air. A 4 piece from Melbourne with gorgeous songs at times reminding us of how Kate Bush and Tori Amos have influenced some women of today but believe or not, having seen both artists mentioned a few times, I can safely say that this band gave me more. I felt more. Goosebumps is something you get very rarely while reviewing bands and this band gave them to me. Wonderfully structured songs with a “full” telecaster sound spilling over the great backing vocals. A super solid drummer and a lively bass player completed the band with the angel playing piano centre stage. A tall, wonderful presence that didn’t take away the spotlight from the competent and incredible musicians forming this “ready for the big time” group. As I said, this band gave me goosebumps…need I say more?