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| Sweet Chap proves a hit at the
IoW besty |
REVIEW - ISLE OF WIGHT BESTIVAL
By DAN CARRIER
THE Bestival, set in 80 acres of rolling park land on the Isle
of Wight, is the last date of the summer outdoor music calendar.
Organised by Radio 1 DJ Rob Da Bank and based loosely on his Sunday
Best show, it features a little bit of something for everyone. The
main stage was great: reggae legend Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry,
Too Many DJs, Mylo and the Super Furry Animals got the crowd of
around 9,000 swaying.
But the highlight was the smaller stages: dotted in dales in this
gorgeous parkland were mini tents hosting big fat sound systems,
and playing in the JD marquee I found Mike Comber (pictured).
Mike, who fronts the band The Sweet Chap, lives in Croftdown Road,
Dartmouth Park, and before he jumped on stage I bumped into him
seeking some Dutch courage from a young lady with a bottle of tequila
in her hand.
“This is one of the best festivals I have been too,” he
revealed.
“But I’m a little nervous because it’s such a discerning
crowd.”
He had no reason to be: his set, which he describes as twisted electro-pop
sleaze, wowed all those fortunate enough to have been able to put
off catching a ferry until late on Sunday night.
The Sweet Chap is going places: his album, Disco for a Domestic,
is out in November while a single, Rummage, comes out in October.
Playing numbers from this LP got the Sunday night crowd feeling
fine.
He said afterwards: “Despite some problems with the monitors,
I was really pleased with how it went.”
So were the crowd, judging by the whoops and hollering he received.
He shares the same agent as Mylo – who was headlining –
and that helped him get the gig. But Mike, backed by a three-piece
band with synthesizer, bass and drums, has enough class to be pushed
further up the bill next year.
We were also fortunate enough to grab the DJ set by Sweet-Smelling
Rose, a woman you can normally check out at the Old Parrs Head in
Upper Street. Dressed as a copper, her music – in an intimate
marquee with a bar that served until 8am – mixed up break beat
with Detroit electro-funk and was so original people wandering in
did not at first know what do with themselves.
Demo of the Week – Dustin’s
Bar Mitzvah
IT has been absolutely ages and ages since Grooves uncovered
a great new punk band.
“But mister,” I hear Grooves’ loyal readers collectively
cry, “your hip and happening office is in the middle of Camden
Town – the place with all the punks and punk bands and punk
things. Surely, surely you run into great punks everyday.”
If only that was the case, sonny, if only that was the case.
Truth is, it’s been a while since we saw a decent punk outfit
swing round these parts.
Too often the word ‘punk’ is used as an “it’s
meant to be like that” description for a band’s useless
shouting and backfiring guitar.
Dustin’s Bar Mitzvah are a bit different and for the ‘keep’
pile.
Yes, the band punk vocals are a little scratchy but this is good,
honest Ramones-style rock ‘n’ roll.
Freewheeling songs like Young Pretender and Kick Him Out are carefree
but gritty at the same time, bouncing a long at breakneck pace.
If you missed them at the Dublin Castle on Tuesday night, hunt the
band down at Cargo in Shoreditch this Sunday or the Boston Arms
in Tufnell Park on September 30. More info at www.dustins.co.uk.
• CAN your band crack Demo of the Week? You reckon so? Then
send your promo to Grooves, 40 Camden Road, Camden Town, NW1 9DR.
Demos cannot be returned.
All types of music will be considered but demos which feature moaning
self-absorbed miserabalist Coldplay soundalikes won’t be included.
CLICK HERE
FOR LISTINGS
What a Guy!
PREVIEW - GUY JOHNSTON
ST GILES CHURCH, ISLINGTON
ONE of the country’s most promising cellists is appearing
at St Giles’s Church in Islington for a charity concert on
Saturday.
Still just 23, Guy Johnston has already made a great name for himself
performing on the BBC for Radio 3 and Classic FM.
He made his recital debut at the Purcell Rooms and has since performed
at the Barbican and across the country, at Harrogate, Bewbury and
Devizes.
Now he will be appearing at the Cripplegate church in aid of the
Islington Branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
He will be playing Elgar’s haunting Cello concerto, Sibelius’s
Symphony No3 and Kodaly’s Dances of Galanta.
He will be conducted by James Lowe.
For more information ring 020 7354 3195.
Autumnal notes
PREVIEW - AUTUMN SEASON
WIGMORE HALL
AFTER a dramatic summer of management changes, Wigmore Hall can
divert its attention to music as its Autumn season finally opens.
The break marked the departure of controversial musical director
Paul Kildea, and his replacement by John Gilhooly who combines the
positions of executive and musical director.
Now though familiar names are lining up to perform at the legendary
Marylebone concert venue that only last year underwent a massive
refurbishment.
So the first concert, last Saturday, featured pianist Graham Johnson
accompanying soprano Sophie Daneman and tenor Ian Bostridge in performances
of Schumann’s four duets, Op 78 and Unterm Fenster.
This week the star attraction is the Florestan Trio who will perform
Beethoven’s Piano Trios, with Variations in E Flat on and Original
Theme, Op 44, Trio in Day, Op 70, and Trio in E flat, Op. 70, number
2.
And the Singers from the acclaimed Mariinsky Academy are appearing
on Tuesday performing Russian romances by Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky
and Musorgsky.
This year also sees the launch of Wigmore’s own record label
with three releases including the Nash Ensemble, Sir Thomas Allen
and Dame Felicity Lott.
He’s a past master
THE vicar of Hampstead Parish Church will be appearing at Burgh
House on Wednesday to present a talk on Italian Opera singing.
Reverend Stephen Tucker (pictured) presents Voices from the Not-So-Distant
Past, a talk about singers such as Maria Callas and Joan Sutherland.
The event is in aid of Hampstead Church Music Trust and is in the
Music Room at Burgh House, New End Square. Tickets are £17.50,
concs £15, including wine and supper. 7.30pm.
CLICK HERE FOR LISTINGS
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