Orbital

Up north to Otley as is traditional at Easter. A bit chillier than last year when we slid down waterfall into a deep pool for wild water swimming as any natural pools seem to be termed now. This year snow on the hills. Drop kids off at the rock n roll accountant's residence then the two couples bus into Leeds. Swift pints and after negotiating slight discount with tout get tickets for a pricey ton for four. O2 Academy just the right size and we enter to the banging sounds of Japanese Pop Stars who are impressing the audience, and us, with a great mix of dance floor tunes setting the scene and warming us all up for the main act. To be honest JPS were worth half the entry fee alone and I could attempt to categorise them but they have a great span so go see them.

After a unreasonable wait, given the crew only had to plug in a few cables or maybe it's harder than I think, the signature light eyes of Orbital appear behind the stacked synths and computers, we're off! Building up from atmospheric and fairly laid back tunes albeit with a rhythm to keep you moving the boys build us up from head nodding into an anthemic head banging beat frenzy before launching us off from the late 90s and right up to date and into some dubby steppy breaks before veering toward the centre of the sun to finish with a great jump around hands in the air finale. Back for an encore to get us up and at it again before spewing us out into the cool northern air. We compare with last time we saw Orbital with Dr Who at Glastonbury 2010, consensus is that whilst open air gigs are great especially for big dance bands like Orbital the intimate surroundings and being so close of the Academy probably win out. Certainly what we feel after tonight. And what a night. Having said all that we all agree that we need to see Japanese Pop Stars at a festival - if you closed your eyes during their set you could've been in the west dance tent surrounded by two thousand over hyped up trancers. Bus back into Otley and a last drink at the young rockers bar brings us back to reality - not a sun drenched festival weekend in Avalon but a cold damp bank holiday weekend in Yorkshire.

Not that I'm complaining... next day we and the nippers trek up the ravine that is Trollers Gill inspiration for Conan Doyle's Hound of the Baskervilles and you can tell why with the abundance of rotting dead rabbits strewn along the path. Nice. And the girls taking the part of Moriarty and snowballing me and Ramsay posing as Holmes and Watson. Sun comes out for picnic lunch before we leap into deep snow pits. Next day we flaggingly stagger round the car boot with few bargains to be had except for 2nd hand bras which the girls decline. Mind you, we've used up all our bargain hunting luck this weekend with those 25 quid Orbital tickets. Another great weekend in the northern provinces. Back again in just over 3 weeks for Live at Leeds...

Sanctuary after surviving Trollers Gill