CARLING STAGE - AFTERNOON ROUNDUP

There have been many notorious performances on the Carling Stage in the past few years, names like Arctic Monkeys, The View and Franz Ferdinand, have all filled it to bursting in the last few years. So any band that has people left outside to contemplate their relative tardiness should count themselves as having formally arrived. Please join us then in wishing Blood Red Shoes a long stay.

 

There may only be two members in the band, but their angular guitar frenzied attack is far too much for most to handle, especially with songs like “It’s Getting Boring By The Sea.” Those who were there, congratulations you witnessed something special, those who weren’t, start weeping!

 

Back to the main stage now and those Arkansas punk superstars The Gossip. Trundling onstage ten minutes late, the band are forced to drop a few songs from the set, but that still leaves time to fit in “Jealous Girls”, “Yr Mangled Heart” and of course, a triumphant “Standing In The Way Of Control.” Beth Ditto will also find time to drop in snippets of Haddaway’s “What Is Love” and Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” and unfortunately that’s all the time there is. Be on time next year guys, it’ll be detention otherwise, we can promise you that!

 

Testament to the prophetic qualities of the Carling Stage is one Sam Duckworth, or as he’s billed today, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. Having packed out the tent last year he’s moved up in the world this year to the roomier confines of the Radio 1 Tent. Not that it makes a difference to his performance mind. A dusting of new songs, a beefed up brass section and he’s in fine form, loving the fact that songs like “I-Spy” and “War Of The Worlds” are sung back to him on masse. Next year it’ll be the main stage!

 

Tom Goodwyn