Up From Below #4: Let's Rock Leeds and Azamiah
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In this week’s issue: we stand in a field in Leeds to listen to songs from forty years ago, and have a wonderful time.
Let’s Rock Leeds
If you’ve never been to a “retro festival”, allow me to set the scene. You’re talking endless cans of Madri being swilled in the grounds of a country house, ill-advised tattoos, Frankie Says Relax t-shirts. You’re also talking, regrettably, the odd bit of blackface (more on that later), and, most importantly, tunes.
Tunes that most of the world has forgotten, but this certain sort of middle-aged Brit hasn’t. We’re talking tunes by Soft Cell, Roland Gift off of Fine Young Cannibals, Hue and Cry, you get the idea.
These acts all have one, or at a massive push, two, songs you really recognise, but the rest of their discography is locked away, lingering in the back of the minds of this Pimms drinking class of folk that just want to put a bit of glitter on, gossip their heads off, and two-step in a field for a few hours. With the state of the country, who can blame them really?
The name of the festival itself, Let’s Rock Leeds, is a complete misnomer. Yes, it took place in Leeds (Temple Newsam, to be exact), this much I know to be true. But the amount of rock on show is limited to a glam cover of Spirit In The Sky by Doctor and the Medics.
The silly old bugger is still going though, you have to give it to him, and he made a speech about the importance of live music which could have been lifted directly from this very newsletter, so I won’t diss him too much, even if the outfit does look like it absolutely reeks.
Myself and my other half (24 and 23 respectively, and the youngest couple attending without their parents by a country mile) were here for one main reason, OMD. They fit the bill for this “retrobate” crowd perfectly, making plenty of appearances on Top of the Pops but taking a big break from the mid-90s onwards so as not to grind themselves into dust playing the big hits over and over again. That’s not to say the ever-present Enola Gay doesn’t bang, because it undeniably does, but they really shine playing the songs that unlock something in the minds of the retrobates.
It’s that moment of realisation after a few chords or the tease of a synth when they’re transported back to when they first heard the song in their mates’ bedroom in the 80s. It’s that addictive, fleeting feeling that everyone’s looking for, and it comes in absolute spades during Let’s Rock, even if it does have it’s dubious moments.
If you can stand the tired patter of Dave Benson Phillips and Pat Sharp between sets, there’s something genuinely endearing about the whole thing. If future lineups include just a couple of redeemable acts (your Midge Ure’s, your OMD’s, your The Real Thing’s), it’s worth the price of admission for the memories alone.
Then, one day, you might have that realisation yourself as you think about the white man parading as Mr. T, or just, you know, the nice day you had listening to songs from forty-five years ago in the sun.
Discovery Corner
This week, jazz takes centre-stage on Discovery Corner. Glasgow’s Azamiah released their debut album, In Phases, this past Friday, and it’s really great.
It’s all led by the ethereal vocals of India Blue, who pulls heavily from folk music and contrasts with the instrumentation to the point that you could be sat in a sweaty, smoky club but also watching as the water flows over the edge of a ravine in a glittering forest. Or something.
However you want to describe it, they do a grand job of experimenting whilst keeping firmly within the realms of “actually listenable” which some musicians just can’t help but leap out of.
Gig Recs
I sound like a broken record, but we’re pretty light on gigs again! I personally don’t fancy standing with hundreds of other equally warm folk at the minute to be fair, so it’s probably a blessing in disguise.
I simply refuse to recommend a Smiths tribute act, so you’ll have to make do until gig season comes back round in full force in the Autumn when the earth cools down, and the scene hots up.
Pet Shop Boys at First Direct Arena - Saturday 24th June
The Playlist
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