This years Greenman Festival promised a lot more than the inaugural event; more stages, more bands and spread over two days it had been much anticipated. On the strength of last years performance the tickets had sold out and not many could have been disappointed with the glorious setting of the old hall surrounded by the luscious green hills on the Welsh/English
border. Also known as the home of the Baskervilles, a family made famous by their run ins with a mythical hound known to lurch out on the nearby moor and whose true ancestral lineage survived only through the clinical intervention of Detective Sherlock Holmes and the treacherous Grimpen Mire. Of course no undertaking of such gravitas should go by without being accompanied by the splendid Dr W. and I was not without mine.
At last years event one of the standout performances undoubtedly came from PIP DYLAN who only played a solo set due to one of the listed acts pulling out. Looking down the line-up for this year's event it was a surprise to see his name not listed. So, imagine our delight upon arrival during preliminary investigations at the Folkey Dolkey stage set inside the hall to find PIP reaching the end of another impromptu set, once again due to someone pulling
out. We would have been a bit more annoyed at missing the majority of his performance but for the fact that we manage to catch arguably his three best tunes; 'Lazy Boy', 'Lavender Moon' and this reviewers particular favourite 'Awr my Dog'. Bluegrass at it's best, peppered with little asides during the songs, which involve and entertain the audience. His brothers King Creosote and Lone Pigeon join him for 'Lavender Moon' and they deliver some of the
sweetest harmonies to an already aching paean. Quality moments and an excellent start to festival proceedings, I just hope that next year he gets his own slot by rights so as not to deny the festival goers one of their most enlightening and endearing performers.
The next act we see is over on the main stage, which is set inside a large tent outside of the hall. THE FENCE COLLECTIVE is made up of a group of artistes from Fence Records, a micro indie label based in Fife. Fronted by Label creator and the John Mayall of the Folktronic scene KING CREOSOTE, it's the first time I've seen them with a traditional backline of bass and drums. He's joined by his brothers PIP DYLAN on his wooden beatbox, LONE PIGEON on backing vocals, acoustic guitar and star jumps, PICTISH TRAIL on
backing vocals and tambourine, JAMES YORKSTON on acoustic guitar and backing vocals, SUPER SHITBOX on electric guitar and two other guys who's names I didn't hear on bass and drums. They kick off with 'Harpers Dough' and the stirring multiple harmonies inviting us to "rise above the gutter you are inside". Things go up a gear for the upbeat folk/country of Hamish Imlach's 'Cod Liver oil and the orange juice' preceded by a full on jam incorporating
'Summertime Beeswing' and 'She's the One' both of which are firm fence favourites. Kenny leads the band through 'Lonely Vagabond' once again bringing the Anderson brothers harmonies to the fore and this morphs into 'Waterfall' another live standard from the Fence collaborative canon. The next song they play is 'Steady Hold' penned and sang by THE PICTISH TRAIL, with one killer of a walking bassline and which for me was the best song of
the weekend in the category of songs I hadn't previously heard.
He's got a great voice and is another to emerge from the Fence crew to keep an eye on. The Static Caravan label are soon to release a reckid by 'GANGPLANK' a new band consisting of PICTISH TRAIL, KING CREOSOTE and HMS GINAFORE which will
include some of his songs, so seek it out. They finish with a raucous beatlesesque sing-along called 'Happy' which they succeed in making most if not all of the large appreciative crowd with their efforts. Two nil to Fence then!
A bit later on the main stage we see ADEM who released his debut album 'Homesongs' on Domino this year to good reviews. He is another member of FRIDGE' to have found acclaim on his own (the other being FOURTET, more of him later). He starts off with 'Statued' the first song from the album, his voice delicate and slightly cracking in places over an acoustic wash of sounds that include a double bass and a multi coloured spinning xylophone
like instrument, which is brilliant in itself. Next is 'Everything you need' which with the aforementioned appeared on a 7" for the 'For us' label. It's a tad more upbeat and not unlike label mate James Yorkston for it's modern and updated take on trad folk, making it more accessible to a wider audience. Last single 'These are your friends' comes next, bringing with it the percussive elements of an electronic education and ticks and tocks along beautifully. It's an assured performance covering most of his album that hopefully will bring him many new friends on his forthcoming tour through
the UK in October; buy your tickets now.
After this we trundle back over to the Folkey Dokey stage to see KING CREOSOTE perform in his own right. He plays one song on guitar before welcoming PICTISH TRAIL on stage and delivering a discourse on his distaste of insects that have a yellow and black striped backend! He is of course referring to the wasps that unfortunately had also decided to attend the festival en masse and descend on everybody's ale. It's a funny moment, which he also incorporates into the next song. His voice as strong and distinctive
as ever, it's a welcoming sound and that coupled with the massive audience that had gathered you could be mistaken for thinking this was a 'home game' (do you see what I did there?) They follow that with a song from the forthcoming GANGPLANK release on 'Static Caravan' and it's another drifting and tuneful Pictish interlude He welcomes PIP DYLAN on stage, again performing on his wooden homemade beatbox, KC by now favouring his accordion
allowing PT to take care of guitar duties. They play a song about the film 'Grease' starting with the line "I've seen Grease 8 or 9 times and still waiting to see those summer nights" and an excellent reworking of "You're (not) the one that I want" line from said films soundtrack.
It's around about this time that KC's daughter BETH joins them on stage uninvited, for the remainder of the show. She's only wee (about 5 or 6? Maybe 4? Too many beers for me!) and is sporting her red wellies. Putting KCs and his compadres patience to the test she provides some great entertainment poking fun at her Dad whilst he plays, this really was a home game after all! 'Circle my demise' is next and encapsulates the swirls of sounds and
melancholy sea inherent in KC's songs that never fail to set the scene. He introduces the third member of Gangplank, HMS GINAFORE onto the stage and they perform another song from their soon to be released single with her on vocals. It's sufficient enough in both sincerity and feeling to avert Beth from working on her dad to swaying peacefully side to side, obviously preferring the softer lilt of her voice. 'So Forlorn' comes next; a one time
single on 'Bad Jazz' with the funk guitar sample line played on accordion instead with the acoustic covering the rhythm .It gets a massive reaction from the crowd, as does the eastern Jerusalemic vibes of 'Space' and song for daughter on the stage 'Favourite Girl'. Triumphant times for the King, who looks like he's having a great time with the family of Fence. The mood changes for 'Friday night in New York'; everyone hushed by the eerie strains of the accordion as it plays a different melody to the one on 'Kenny and
Beth's' but just as welcomed. The air of sincerity is abound until Beth puts some sticky tape on KC's nose, it's that kind of gig.He finishes with 'She means nothing' and 'Love you present' which was released on a 7"with 'Lavender Moon' on the 'For Us' label. Its another fantastic performance from the Fence Master, helped along the way by his label mates and they get better every time I see them, the Beta Band might be dead but long live the King. In the meantime lets hope that it's not too long before the King
manages to free himself from the evil clutches of his twisted doppelganger twin Kwaing Creasite who has him imprisoned somewhere in East Neuk! For all things Fence checkout their website: www.fencerecords.com
We hurriedly depart from the Folkey Dokey stage in an effort to get a good speck at the main stage for JAMES YORKSTON. Unfortunately we are not alone in this and even though we get there with time to spare the tent is rammed so we have to stand at the side. James takes to the stage by himself and plays one song before welcoming the rest of his band, the Athletes on stage.
They treat us to two new songs 'Heron' and 'Shipwrecked' from his
forthcoming second album 'Just Beyond the River' both picking up from where 'Moving up country' left off. So no big change of direction it seems for that difficult second album which I have to say I'm pleased about, after enjoying the first album so much there was always going to be room for a sequel if you like. The band are tight and the sound is smooth and clear, the crowd which appears to include everyone at the festival do their best to keep things as quiet as possible so no problems there. After the new songs there's a bit of interaction with the crowd, he mentions the Baskerville angle to which someone shouts out 'watch out for the hound', that leads James to ask the crowd if they could show their appreciation of the next song by howling. He then asks if anyone was present at last years event, to which someone shouts out that not only were they there but also got on stage with him! Of course anyone who was there last year could not forget this bloke who was invited on stage to provide the percussive element for the
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song 'Cheating the game'.
James is on good form and says that he might invite the guy who he christens 'Nutty Man' on stage with him later.. They then go on to play '6.30 is just way too early' (after which everyone howls
their appreciation) and 'Moving up Country' both of which sound amazing. I've only seen JY without the Athletes before which was great but to hear these songs in their fullest form takes some beating. He then plays 'Rosemary Lane' from the 'Someplace Simple EP' before introducing another new song called 'Surf song'. It's another cracker; and another tale of drinking and love forlorn, it has a great break with a distorted harmonica sound adding a little edge. Next they play 'This time tomorrow' with Doogie on banjo before once again inviting 'Nutty Man' on stage for 'Cheating the game' and human percussion duties. This is Yorkston at his very best as he changes the words to "the opportunity's there for you, if you're a nutty man" and the crowd are quite simply loving every minute of it.
'Sweet Jesus' follows this before they play the last newie of the night 'Banjo #1' which has a slightly darker feel to it and a wicked banjo hook most of the way through played by James himself. After this comes 'Tender to the blues' which starts off on the piano before Faisal powers up the harmonium and the rest of the Athletes join in. It's that good that I'm forced to make up my
own word to describe it, Sumptuousity, it's what I wrote in my notes (next to effin brilliant!) and I'm sticking with it.
They finish with 'I know my Love' inviting King Creosote, Pictish Trail and Fourtet (who produced) the new album on stage. He announces that it's 'Hammer Time' and they quite literally take off in every direction imaginable, it's rock n' roll and a fantastic finale to a magnificent show that will be remembered for some time. He thanks everyone for coming and that's the other thing with Yorkston is that you believe him, such is his humility and shy demeanour. He goes out with the athletes on tour through the UK in October, the new album is out on September 20th and I for one cannot wait. For all things Yorkston check out his website: www.jamesyorkston.co.uk
FOURTET brings the day to a close at the main stage, with his eclectic mixture of electronic beats, samples, grooves and sounds. He starts off with 'As serious as your life', from his acclaimed album' Rounds', which contains an excellent looped electric guitar line, heady stuff and needless to say it gets everybody bopping. After this the night starts to blur and it's not long before we're in the darkness making our way back to base to reflect on what had been a truly great day. Obviously we take care not to wander off on to the mire and thankfully the hound stays silent..
Sunday on the main stage saw the turn of THE EARLIES who surprisingly were down to play earlier than we expected! This turned out to be due to other gig commitments the following day, however things were a bit delayed because of a few technical difficulties largely down to the fact that when these guys play there's eleven people on stage and a whole shitload of things to
sort out!
They eventually kick off with 'Morning Wonder' and we are treated
to the power of the at least three part harmonies singing "Mother Mary and the morning wonder take me home" invoking in places the Beach Boys and in others Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young who also like The Earlies combined the voices of the USA and UK rather well. Where they differ from the latter is in their tendancy not to overcook the harmonies, instead they are well rounded to suit the more expansive nature of The Earlies sound.
Next up is 'One of us is dead' and a dreamlike falsetto weaving in and out of the dreamscape. Now anyone who's ventured onto the bands website will have seen on the message boards some of their fans distaste at the endless comparisons to certain bands! I am of course referring to Mercury Rev, Flaming Lips and The Polyphonic Spree. So while I'm not advocating that they do strictly sound like these bands they do serve a purpose as an obvious point of
reference. (How do you like those apples?). Certainly the next song 'Wayward Song' invokes memories of an earlier 'Carwash Hair' era Rev but this is more to do with the falsetto vocal style, the wind instruments and their inherent ambience than the sound in total.
In other places I'm more minded of Manitoba's bleaker soundscapes and their ability to reconcile the dejection/reflection to always emerge triumphant. There's chill out/light jazz cross over potential evident in the piano laden'25 Easy Pieces' even more apparent in the brass attack of 'Devil's Country' which comes on like a 'Heavy Axe' era Axelrod and that although lacks some of the groove it has on reckid sounds dirtier and more in yer face if that's possible. The percussion section is exemplary and adds the necessary twists to a lot of the tunes making them sound all the more impressive from being able to see what goes into making a lot of their sound. 'Song for #3' is announced as a quiet air song and it gently swathes along so no arguments there.
The four part harmonies come back for 'Bring it back again' one of their catchier tunes with it's simplistic electronic beat before the massive sonic surges of brass and sequencers of 'Dead Birds' bring things to a close with "Mother Mary." making another appearance, is it religion or Macca? Either way it's a fitting finale.
I can't help but think that they were a bit stifled by how early on in the day they were playing but it was still later than church would have been. Still a great show but looking forward to seeing them at a later time, once they've had the benefit of a few more bevvies, something tells me these guys might like a drink! For all things Earlies check their website at: www.theearlies.com
Ok so that was this years Greenman, sure there were other acts and some of them pretty good but these were the highlights and there were enough of them, blimey you've got to draw the line somewhere! Massive thanks to Jo and Danny for organising a magnificent event and looking forward to next years and my third helping of kibbe. Watson, the needle..
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