I train up to Leeds on the Wednesday to avoid potential train disruptions for a quiet night at the Palmers residence in Otley. Thursday I’m working from home away from home and then meet Sarah for a drink and to watch the cricket where England are playing well. Friday is the real reason for my visit and Ramsay, Jo and I drive to Jodrell Bank for the Blue Dot festival. The weather forecast for the weekend is appalling but we pitch our tents in the dry and to be honest it’s not too bad over the whole weekend. What I mean is that it’s generally dry in the daytime, rains in the evening and buckets down overnight. So the place is a mud bath. That’s all regarding the weather. After pitching Poppy and Maisie arrive and are our neighbours for the weekend. We go into the arena where I stop to watch Gina Birch of Raincoats fame. It’s a great set with a lot of chat from Gina and some, obviously, great bass lines dub and reggae in parts and with that off kilter Raincoats edge. It’s a great set to start the weekend and they finish with a three bass finale. Yes, 3 basses at the same time. Blissful. I catch back up with Ramsay and Jo and variously over the afternoon with Simon and Jules, Jon and Scottie, Melvin and Linda and other random folk who I may or may not have met previously. A great set from MadMadMad then a brilliant dance set from Baba Ali with a fantastic ending of Blue Monday which certainly go the crowd on side. Then on to the big top Orbit tent to see some of Gwenno who impresses and back to the main stage to catch most of Django Django who please as ever. As over the whole weekend there’s a bit of back and forth, it’s a small arena, and stopping off at random bands and dance areas. Next Black Country New Road who are impressive as ever. They sound a bit different I guess to a lineup change. Still good though. After that it’s frenzied dancing to Leftfield who are great and then to David Holmes. Then a wander back to the tents.
Saturday we’re up not so bright and bushy tailed and after meandering onto the site past the big telescope and various scientific things then catch a bit of Henge and then on to Treeboy & Arc. Over to the big top to see Mary in the Junkyard who play a good set to a fairly empty big top and not helped by being bombarded by drum n bass beats from the tent across the way. Some stupid stage placements especially for bands that have a low fi sound. Anyway the audience that was there appreciated them and they looked like they were enjoying themselves. After that a bit of a dance at TVAM (dance) then Sorry (indie punk NYC style) then Tinariwen who all impress particularly the latter with their north African rock cross over. This has got me ready for the off beat beats of Snapped Ankles and then probably the set of the weekend courtesy of the fantastic The Go! Team. Full on high energy dance tunes delivered brilliantly and got the packed tent literally jumping and any who weren’t dancing were ordered to by the band. I then did a bit of wandering about losing people, dancing on my own, avoiding Pavement ending up at 2manydjs who play a great set.
Sunday morning is dry but the main arena has a delayed opening due to waterlogging and they aren’t letting any day passes onto the festival at all. Bit of a sod if you’ve made the trip specially to see someone like Grace Jones. We eventually come out to play the first band being BC Camplight who plays a great set only slightly marred by the noise from across the way. We loiter around to hear all about pulsars and black holes then dance to random stuff before seeing a great set from Big Joanie. Then people from Hookworms and Yard Act in the band Holodrum who are excellent and very dance worthy although the singers mixing was a bit off. Then see Teleman and a great drumming act called Nihiloxica.Then I see some random guy with an accordian for a bit then we see the end of Young Fathers who are very good. I eschew Grace Jones who I was looking forward to but it’s outside and wet and seemingly late so I go see the highly recommended Max Cooper who gives a great electronic set with fantastic 3D/AV audio visuals projected on a sort of see through screen between Max and us. Next is a great last live set by Scalping and the weekend is closed off by a great DJ set by Annie Mac. I manage to slip in the mud after this but luckily don’t go full flat on my back.
Monday is sunny! But it’s not helped the mud by the loos which is worse than at any time. We slowly pack up the damp tents and slog round to the car park field wondering if we’ll need a tow by tractor like a lot of people are having to do. The sign on the way out saying “Have your tow eyes ready” isn’t too promising. However we’re parked on some firmer ground than many in cars with wheels spinning that we pass and Ramsay expertly drives onto the metal sheets at the edge of the field and then onto the road. I’m dropped at Wilmslow station and onto the train home. A great festival despite the mud. Thanks Ramsay and Jo for lifts and tent. Thanks everyone else for making it a great weekend. And thanks to all those others I met and befriended even though they’ll never read this and I’ll never see again. Well maybe maybe not…
Various photos of the weekend some of which are mine and others not so copyright applies...
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