Belladrum Festival: Tartan Heart
Friday at
Belladrum 2006
OK, here goes, I will try to list the bands and the stages on which they performed as the information appeared in the festival rag. The festival newspaper was extremely useful and I have placed their descriptions below. There may be some errors as the running order changed slightly as bands were delayed at airports etc and I could not get to see all bands at all times - so I can't be absolutely certain!
Garden Stage:
Echo & The Bunnymen - 9.45pm
Echo & The Bunnymen are a great British band to have around and, in Iain McCulloch, have a front man to truly treasure. Eternally youthful and determinedly lippy (in every sense), Mac's lugubrious personality and partner Will Sergeant's glacial guitar cascade across a body of work that has enchanted for over 25 years. When they formed in Liverpool in the late eighties [surely the Seventies? Ed.] few would have thought that well into the next century they would still be making inteligent, creative music like their recent album "Siberia" and their new single "Scissors in The Sand" which manages to be epic without slipping into lazy pomposity. Read more...
...This promises to be one of the performances of the weekend... [It certainly was, without doubt. Ed.]
Lee 'Scratch' Perry - 8.30pm
There's some justification for giving Lee 'Scratch' Perry the award for Most Influential Mucician of the whole festival. Certainly, without his barricade-smashing production techniques, modern music would sound a whole lot less inventive. Having served his apprenticeship in the 60's studio of Coxsone Dodd and Belladrum Head Honcho's namesake (but no relation), Joe Gibbs, produced Bob Marley's first recordings, influenced King Tubby and informed Adrian Sherwood's chaotic methodology, Lee 'Scratch' Perry has acted as reggae's spirit guide and its industry's perpetual thorn in the side of over three decades. Currently based in Switzerland, his live shows are as consistently unpredictable as his highly idiosyncratic persona, but rarely disappoint. Expect absolutely everything and you won't be disappointed. Read more...
Mark Saul - 7.15pm
Recognised as one of the world's most successful and respected contemporary composers of bagpipe music, Melbourne-based Mark Saul is renowned for pushing the idiom into unprecented realms, mixing traditional instruments with modern beats and sounds. Featured on World Pipe Band Championship CDs since 1982, his compositions are continually played and recorded by pipe bands, folk groups and solo artists from around the world.
Mystery Jets - 6.10pm?
Having your dad in your band isn't usually a blueprint for rock'n'roll excellence, but somehow Mystery Jets manage to carry it off. Born out of nights hosting parties in London's pseudo-hippy enclave (and home of Pete Townsend), Eel Pie Island, they've attracted plenty of favourable attention and a slot on the NME new bands tour via an eponymous EP which crams a couple of generations of influences into a niftily modern whole.
The Cinematics - 5.15pm
Currently living in Glasgow, but hailing from the highlands, The Cinematics make spicily sophistivcated dark pop, taking its lead from the likes of Editors and Franz Ferdinand, but twisting it into brave new shapes. Particularly engaging in live performances, they're growing in confidence by the day and not without justification.
Camera Obscura - 4.20pm
Since they formed in 1996, the trio of Traceyanne, John and Gavin, have quietly built a dedicated fan base for their unique and highly original creations. One of their biggest fans was the late John Peel at whose house, Peel Acres, they played three times as well as performing at his 65th birthday party. Up in heaven he'll be cheering them on at what promises to be a gloriously summery show.
Union Avenue - 3.25pm
The Hazey Janes - 2.40pm
More soon & details on the other stages...