Feature: Strawberry Fields Festival 2011

This page is part of the festivals section.

Festival report: final edition

This page: festival coverage for Sunday 28th August

Our selection of the acts appearing today

Danny Greet

Leicester singer Danny Greet got the day off to a flying start on the OT Lounge stage. His good voice and set of vibrant songs went down well. Fast-paced, modern rock songs, backed with energetic work on the guitar, produced an enjoyable set.

Herra Hidro

Played on the OT Lounge stage.

Video

Under The Driftwood Tree

Welsh alternative folk band Under the Driftwood Tree on the main stage.

A group comprising a guitarist, bassist, ukele player, cajon (box drum), accordion and even a didgeridoo produced an entertaining set of songs. Delivering quite a bit of fun they quickly drew the audience into their performance. Lively and enjoyable.

Neon Sarcastic

Leicester pop rockers Neon Sarcastic playing in the SJ stage.

NS fans gathered for another party with the Leicester punk poppers. John limbers up on the stage and the band breaks into its first bouncy song. Bouncing around on the stage in his white trainers with their outsized tongues and mop of blond hair, John Willson always puts on a show-class performance. Lead singer John and guitarist Adam Abbott have been friends since they were 7. They got together with Bryce, Joe and Jamie to form one of our most successful popular music bands. Today they played many of their old favourites as well as mentioning that they have a new single coming out in January. Having recently got back from a successful UK tour, they are already thinking about their next hike around the venues.

Hugely enjoyable.

Video of Neon Sarcastic playing | Another Neon song

See Neon Sarcastic's page on Artsin.

Stephen and the Heathens

Stephen and the Heathens doing an acoustic set on the OT stage.

The Leicester trio delivered an ear-pleasing batch of their blues rock songs that would have set many a foot tapping, had the audience not been seated on springy turf. Engaging, moody and imaginative, their songs kept the stage in full swing.

Dead Slow

Leicester band Dead Slow on the OT stage

Another trio of much acclaimed artists came to the stage, brightened the day up. This accomplished band offered strong vocals and powerful anthemic songs. Shot through with compulsive rhythms they created a great atmosphere. Their new album, due out in a couple of months, is worth watching out for.

Joel Owen and the Antoine Band

Joel Owen and his band playing on the Strawberry Jam Stage.

Singer Joel Owen and his Antoine band are riding high at the moment. Their big band jazz numbers seem to be gathering a strong following behind them and today's appearance on the SJ stage certainly drew in a fair crowd of people. Their offering of folk, blues and rag-time drew an enthusiastic response from the assembly of music lovers in front of them.

What we liked about this festival was its rich mix of different genres and idioms. Joel and his group brought something to that mix with their set of attractive songs, amplified with the brass section. As a band they have support a number of big name acts such as Mumford and Sons and Noah and the Whale. Thankfully they play regularly in their home town and it is always good to get music of this quality.

Thoroughly enjoyable.

Citizen Smith

citizen smith

Back this time as a full electric band, Leicester's Citizen Smith keeping the flag flying for local talent.

Video of Citizen Smith's set | Another one

Super Evolver

Returning to the main stage for a second year, SuperEvolver was a big attraction, especially since rumours of a special guest appearance had been circulating around the festivalgoers' bush telegraph.

Superevolver on the main stage.

Lead singer Mab gave a stunning performance.

Both Mab's vocals and his guitar playing were stunning.

One of Leicester's big bands, SuperEvolver, played on the main stage with a special guest appearance from rapper J One.

On the bass was Tom Bradley, said to be leaving the band after today as work takes down to London. Well that's what we heard but this wasn't mentioned on stage. JJ Kenna was there on the drums and vocals and gave us a blistering drum solo to show off his considerable skills. We have seen them many times in small venues but this is a band that is completely at home on the largest of festival stages.

With Mab's exhilarating vocals and stunning guitar work, this was rock at its most fervent. They have it all: rock star quality, iconic anthems and magnificent performances where ever they go. Leicester's premier rockers delivered a sizzling set of songs.

Video of Super Evolver on the main stage | Second video with feature by J One | Third video | Fourth video

Superevolver's James Mabbett and Tom Bradley played a late night acoustic set on the OT stage.

Video of SuperEvolver's acoustic set

The Headstarts (acoustic set)

the headstarts acoustic set

The Headstarts brought their youthful vigour and musical abilities to a short acoustic set. With 16 year old Jack doing the vocals, they came from a previous band - Kid Vicious - that had supported the likes of the Vibrators, Random Hand and McFly. Always good to see a full electric band also excel at acoustic work.

Kites

kites band

Kites on the main stage.

London band Kites put on a thrilling performance of their melodic rock songs.

The Rifles

The Rifles on the main stage.

The Riffles, from London, were one of the main stage headliners. Here they are, backstage, with singer Joel Wildgoose.

I went back stage to have a chat with the Rifles.

Dino, Luke, Joel, Lee and Kenny were in their dressing room, so I asked them a few things.

Trevor: is this your first time in Leicester?

Joel: Yea, we played in Leicester once before [at the Charlotte]. I remember it because I got my jacket nicked (a lot of laughter at this point).

Trevor: So have you done any other festivals recently?

Joel and Lee: We've been to GuilFest, Frequency [Austria, "about an hour from Vienna"], Get Loaded ...

Luke: In Austria, we were on a little bit late, about 12 o'clock

Trevor: You've got a new album coming out?

Joel: On September 19th. It's all done.

Trevor: Have you heard of any of our Leicester bands?

Kenny: Kasabian. Jersey Budd.

Trevor: yep, Jersey Budd was here last year.

Dino: He's a good mate of ours.

Luke: He's doing a tour with Turin Breaks.

Trevor: So when you go on stage tonight lads, which songs should we listen out for?

Kenny: Tangled Up In Love [you can check it on YouTube].

Trevor: OK, anything you want to say to your fans?

Joel: Yea, give me my jacket back (laughter).

Trevor: Well you never know.

I have to say I enjoyed my time with The Rifles. Really top guys and thanks for putting up with me.

The Rifles headline set on the main stage | second video |

Watch out for the new Rifles album due out on September 19.

Little Night Terrors

Little Night Terrors played in the Strawberry Jam stage. One of Leicester's prominent rock bands, they are well known local celebrities and tonight Andy Stone displayed his distinctive vocals, leading the band in their set of inspiring songs. Delivering a set that really hit home with the fans, they combined dazzling guitar playing with excellent vocals to weave a spell-binding half hour of jubilant music.

A band charged with creative energy, they are constantly spawning new songs. I noticed that members of The Riffles were at the back checking them out. Me, I was right at the front dancing along to the songs, having a private mosh pit of my own but then this was the best birthday treat I could get on this auspicious day. I don't know which was the more intoxicating, the LNTs or the two glasses of double JDs that helped get me in the mood. Either way, they did it for me.

Kick-ass rock all the way.

After the performance by the Little Night Terrors, we caught up with Nick Eversfeld and Andy Stone to give them a big hug for their set. I've known these lads ever since they were knee-high to a grass hopper and they have never ceased to amaze me.

Little Night Terrors video |

Little Night Terrors is one of our featured bands.

Read our review of the Little Night Terrors at the Festival Fringe 2011.

Get Cape, Wear Cape

Get Cape, Wear Cape on the main stage

Back in Leicester/shire again, Get Cape have a fan base here who turned out for their crowd bouncing beats and beltin' tunes. It wasn't long before the crowd were into their set. They fired off lashings of vitality from the stage that shone out like the big blue beams from the back stage lighting.

They played their song Morning Light, which can be heard on the band's Myspace page. Lots of ear caressing sounds and euphoric vocals from Sam. Lyrical, stylish and eloquent songs, finely delivered, showed what a grand band they are.

I caught up with lead singer Sam Duckworth to ask him about the band's performance on the main stage. Sam told me that he remembered playing in Leicester at the Queens Hall, now O2 Academy's second hall, back in September last year. I told him remembered it too and wrote about it afterwards. He said that the set had gone well and felt a lot of passion coming across from the crowd.

Fearless Vampire Killers

Fearless Vampire Killers on the SJ stage.

Having seen this band before I knew in advance that they would be good. FVK played at the Fly in London with The Heroes and the Rugged Sound System back in 2009. Well it was good to see them again and good to see they are still putting out their mesmerising musical treats.

Fearless Vampire Killers on YouTube

I Am In Love

Seb, lead vocalist from I Am In Love, giving it to the audience of the SJ stage.

It's been a good year for Seb and his band. Well, I think so. They have appeared at a variety of festivals and venues here in Leicester and their tour of Germany has gone really well. We have seen a few star singers this weekend and Seb's performance on the SJ stage was beltin', but then it always is.

I have followed this group of musicians ever since they started out, back in 2008 or so, sticking with them through name changes and line-up reshuffles until they have now emerged as one of the top Leicester bands. Tonight's performance was as incendiary as it always is, although, I have to say, I think I felt a touch of magic in Seb's delivery. Clearly on top form, it might have been the intimate setting of the SJ tent but I definitely felt that the lead singer particularly sparkled tonight.

They are festival fanatics. I think they get turned on by the smell of canvass and wet grass. Their set of floor filling dance songs was pulsating with the panache of a group of artists they are not just scintilating song writers but technical perfectionists. Don't think they are just a bunch of crazy dudes who go mad on stage. These guys are commandants of professionalism. I love them.

Sebastian Twigden, lead vocalist.

Video of I Am In Love | Another video | One more

Find out more about I Am In Love.

Thee Pennyhangers

Thee Pennyhangers on the OT stage.

The Pennyhangers (notice they have now started to use the extra e in their name) play good songs. I know this because I have listened to them for a long time and they have spun a set of songs that have stuck in my mind. They play with a passion and James Percy's singing is top notch and look, there's Jonny Wells on the drums, a great wielder of the sticks and Andy, on guitar, this time. Back to being a trio I think. A really solidly good band with a sensational set of songs. Great to see them again.

Video of the Pennyhangers | and another

Kelis

American singer Kelis brought the festival to an exciting conclusion.

How do you cap a festival as good as this? After three days of top quality live music, what finale can really bring it all to a resounding finish? Well, Kelis flew in from New York to do just that.

Kelis Rogers has won and has been nominated for many awards and has had nine singles in the UK top ten charts. The stylish queen of pop delivered an admirably resounding conclusion to this years festival. Her fizzing set of electro RnB had the audience's arms in the air. Reviewers have gushed about her latest musical offerings. Here's Sarah Bee writing for the BBC about her album Flesh Tone, " This is an absolute trampolining technicolor dance floor monster, a model of songwriting precision ..." Wow. Appearing like a morph of Grace Jones, Madonna and Kylie rolled into one, she showered the crowd with one big dance-throbbing number after another.

Her career reads like a who's who of the American pop industry. That a star of this stature should be on stage at a farm in Heather is nothing short of astonishing. Did the crowd like it? You bet they did.

Kelis's set song 1 | Kelis song 2 |

Today at Strawberry Fields

The weather treated us well today and the stages were in full swing, with a wide variety of acts. The two closing headline acts - The Riffles and Kelis - attracted a large crowd of people and created a party atmosphere to bring the festival to a close.

The Orange Tree Cocktail Lounge bar and stage area

A day not without its disappointments however. Main stage first act should have been Leicester's R n B mega star Luke Bingham but he was unable to attend. Happily Joel Wildgoose donned his indian headgear and stepped into the slot to entertain the crowd with his set of songs. Warwickshire band Go Primitive failed to appear in the SJ Stage; we have written about them before in these pages and they are one of our featured bands.

There was plenty going on all day across the stages. Lots of bands and artists making good music and to add a celebratory note, the remain barrels in the real ale tent were being sold off at £2 a pint. So, no excuse not to party, we decided.

Strawberry Fields 2011
Festival overview | Friday 26th August | Saturday 27th August | Sunday 28th August

Other pages you might like

Artsin's Kevin Gaughan did a magnificent job filming many of the sets at the festival; you can see his complete oeuvre on his YouTube page.

Acknowledgments

Artsin would like to thank Kevin Gaughan for his work photographing and videoing many of the acts, the press office at Strawberry Fields Festival for their help and support in enabling us to be on site for three days and to the many musicians and festival goers who shared their views with us about performances they saw at the festival.

Feature: Strawberry Fields Festival 2011

Arts in Leicestershire