August 15th to 17th 2025
Our second visit to Beautiful Days festival. Having really enjoyed 2024, decided to come back again. Fast becoming our alternative to Glastonbury as it’s so nice, a great size for viewing and yoga available too!!
The line up looked cracking, something for both of us, plus the afore mentioned yoga….and I even booked in a massage towards the end of the festival to sooth my weary bones.
Initial thoughts were, I wouldn’t move from the main stage and my wife wouldn’t move from the Big Top or yoga!! But we compromised and did a bit of everything. I even took in a little bit of the Rebel Tent to see how radical the politics were (actually not far off logical human thinking to be honest).
The weather was stunning, Thursday and Friday a little bit too hot, but temperature went down a bit over the weekend. I was a little bit dusty because of this especially as you’ll find out later during a few mosh pits this ageing rocker ‘frequented’.
We get there on Thursday to get set up, find our bearings. Everything was in the same place, except, uproar that the helter skelter was not there this year and been replaced with a basketball game!! I do like a helter skelter ride (sneaked one in last year), so a bit disappointing. Reasons for absence were unclear and could have been owner decision not to come, health and safety or something else….
Last year we glamped it in a bell tent, with a ever deflating blow up bed, so this year hired a campervan and had a blast! Our plan as normal was to watch lots of music, take in some yoga and enjoy the days and must visit the Bimble Inn too – which we did on Thursday to make sure we made it!
‘Peggin’ seemed to be the big thing this year. We did get pegged once last year, but noted from social groups some were obsessed and took design to a whole new level! We were very politely asked by a couple of Millie Mander fans if they could peg us (hand to us). We gladly accepted and mentioned we were going anyway, to which I also got a fridge magnet 🙂 Honesty always the best policy!!
Beautiful Days 2025
What a few beautiful sunshine days it was! looking forward to some great bands old and new and we weren’t disappointed with this years line up. Yoga and massage at Kanga Wellbeing was also planned….but for now, a bit of music feedback.
Friday
Frank Turner, Terrorvision, Millie Manders and the Shut ups, Pete Doherty, Penguin Cafe, Julie Fowlis and The Deadlians
Saturday
Sex Pistols, Kula Shaker, Kid Kapichi, Panic Shack, Girlband!, Mercury Rev, John Grant, Nick Harper and Ruby Kelly,
Sunday
The Levellers, of course, Spiritualized, Therapy?, The Bluetones, Mad Dog Mcrea, The Meffs, Young Knives oh and the Bar Stewards of Val Doonican
As always with festivals, some things have to give, you can’t do it all!! The Beauty of Beautiful Days is you can either park on a chair or get between stages relatively quickly…a 3 minute walk from Big top to Main Stage an d one more minute to the Little Big Top. So getting a bit of everyone’s set works really well.
Friday
A good first night in a camper van – it was however, immediately obvious we needed a better mattress if we get one for ourselves! Cooked a nice bacon sarnie and a couple of good cups of coffee started the day off well. A very hot start to the festival, so the couple of frozen 2 litre bottles were working well as an added freezer store in the coolbox. Being off grid for the festival meant we weren’t able to rely totally on the fridge.
Anyway, the van is for chilling and sleeping – off to site we go, tickets exchanged for wristbands at the main gate and in we go! Compared to Glastonbury it’s a short walk through the campsite and feels so much more relaxed and friendly. Everything seems to be in the same place as last year – but hang on! – where’s the helter skelter gone!?! Rumours abound from health and safety to new owners not wanting to do it this year….we never got to the bottom of it – but I was looking forward to a traditional ride! Maybe next year it will be back.
We walked a few yards further taking in the great shops and art work on sale, picked up a quick pint of Otter ale (it’s nearly 2pm) and on to the Big Top for The Levellers Collective, mainly the Levellers with some guest musicians. I sat outside in the sunshine as the tent was packed and just people watched for a bit, before I popped over to the main stage for some more rocking noise!
I was baking! So hat on, water on tap (if you count Otter Ale). The Deadlians are a five-piece band from Dublin. They had a fantastic mix of traditional Irish music, punk and rockd. Lead singer Sean Fitzgerald has a unique voice, part talking, part singing, but a definite traditional element to his singing.
I loved the dark edge to The Deadlians songs and the way some songs almost sounded like they’d lost their rhythm and then came back firing with all cylinders!! Sean’s violin playing mixed with guitars and thumping drums and bass, gave the band a haunting and fascinating sound – they went down really well with the crowd! I wasn’t sure from listening to a few tracks on Spotify if I was going to like these guys, but as I tend to find with most bands, the live sound is so much more powerful than the recorded version. I’d definitely like to see these guys again!
Next up, Millie Manders and the Shutup. Now this lady sounded pretty feisty in my festival build up listening and the band didn’t disappoint. A great mix of punk, rock and pop. One minute you could be listening to high energy Pink like vocals, the next you could be listening to an angry Skin (that’s a compliment to them both BTW).
Millie Manders and The Shutup – Millie 
Millie Manders and The Shutup – Joe Quigley 
Millie Manders and The Shutup – Pete Wright 
Millie Manders and The Shutup – Millie 
Millie Manders and The Shutup – Georgina Boreham 
Millie Manders and The Shutup – Millie, Georgina Boreham 
Millie Manders and The Shutup – Millie, Georgina Boreham 
Millie Manders and The Shutup – Millie, Joe Quigley, Pete Wright, Georgina Boreham 
Millie Manders and The Shutup – Millie, Joe Quigley
They played most of the new album, ‘Wake Up, Shut Up, Work’ and an amazing sounds. Friday was already shaping up into an excellent day for bands!
Now for one of the two I’d be waiting for today, Bradford’s finest, still going strong, Terrorvision. My we’re all getting on a little bit more these days, but Tony Wright wandered onto stage in a shiny silver suit, with band in tow suitably attired in a range of silver and rather fetching numbers! There was no way he was going to stay in that suit all through the performance was he? It’s flipping touching the mid 30s right now!! I’m sweating just standing here.
Not only did he remain in the suit, but he bounced around like it was the mid 90s all over again!!! Launching straight into the Discotheque Wreck riff, a resplendent Mark Yates in full cowboy blues attire set the ground shaking. Tony obliged with a fantastic aggressive blast through the song.
The whole band was having so much fun. Leigh Marklew on bass, Mark Yates the guitar cowboy, Milton Evans of keyboard and drum beats from Cameron Greenwood (big apologies for not knowing the two backing vocals – someone let me know in the comments please). A short set, but the whole band was having fun, Milton throwing the keyboard and stand above his head in his own silver spandex was having a whale of a time, while Leigh and Mark were bouncing sounds of eaxch other and prowling the very hot stage.
By the time it got to the slightly slower Middleman, Tony’s suit was look sodden, but still he wouldn’t take it off! A rockstar keeping his look, joking with the crowd and having such fun. Finishing with Oblivion, the fans were loving it and wanting more and those new to Terrovision were won over and off to buy the merch. Great show boys and girls!!
Terrorvision – Tony Wright, Milton Evans 
Terrorvision – Mark Yates 
Terrorvision – Tony Wright, Mark Yates 
Terrorvision – Tony Wright, Cameron Greenwood 
Terrorvision – Leigh Marklew 
Terrorvision 
Terrorvision – Tony Wright 
Terrorvision – Mark Yates 
Terrorvision – Tony Wright, Milton Evans 
Terrorvision – Tony Wright 
Terrorvision – Milton Evans 
Terrorvision – Mark Yates 
Terrorvision – Leigh Marklew 
Terrorvision – Milton Evans 
Terrorvision – Cameron Greenwood 
Terrorvision – Tony Wright, Leigh Marklew 
Terrorvision – Tony Wright, Milton Evans 
Terrorvision – Mark Yates 
Terrorvision 
Terrorvision – Leigh Marklew 
Terrorvision – Leigh Marklew 
Terrorvision – Tony Wright, Cameron Greenwood 
Terrorvision – Milton Evans 
Terrorvision – Mark Yates, Milton Evans
Julie Fowlis
How to follow that! I was soaked from dancing and moshing, so went back to catch the wife at the Big Top and a chill out with a bit of soft folk music and Julie Fowlis. I knew very little about her, but she was a Scottish singer/sonwriter accompanied by Éamon Doorley. She sang some lovely soft folk music and even played a ditty on the bagpipes. It was a lovely set and the shade of the Big Top rescued us from the sun for a little while.
This also gave us a chance to eat at our favourite food vendor at Beautiful Days, Thyme and Tide. Their gourmet fish dishes from Cornwall go down a treat. A big fish sandwich for me and a salmon salad bowl for the wife. Smashing! Of course, washed down with another Otter ale 😉
We stayed around for a while longer for Penguin Cafe. I’m not sure how to classify their sound as it was a mix of instruments playing orchestrated folk music. Some traditional, some in a modern style. A mesmeric watch. From what I gathered, the leader of the band was Arthur Jeffes
Birth name Arthur William Phoenix Young Jeffes, who was behind the keyboard/piano. He’s an English composer, musician. He formed the group to play the music of his father’s band, the Penguin Cafe Orchestra.
Really enjoyed some time chilling at the Big Top. The beauty of the festival is you can choose between so many different styles of music, or listen to political talks, or head off to the Wellbeing fields for yoga, massages and other treatments. But that was enough of soft music for the day, back to the Main stage for the excitement of the headline act Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls.
We popped over to The Bimble Inn for a quick drink and couldn’t help but stop at the hidden woodland bar too.
We caught the last couple of songs from The Mary Wallopers, who sounded like a fun traditional Irish folk band, set up the chairs strategically stage left, high up the middle bank, not far from the beer tent (what?) and in line with the bins for easy access back after I’ve been a moshing with Frank and the boys.
For me the main event today was Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls. Seen the guys a fair few times now and never disappointed with the live show (The 3066th show as Frank pointed out). The boys rocked up smart as ever, in black shirts rather than white for a change. A fair bit of moshing and crowd interaction from Frank, he seemed choked he was on the same poster as The Sex Pistols (more on them on Satirday’s write up). Frank smashed through pretty much a greatest sing along hits set, with some stories along the way. Must admit, Setlist doesn’t have the set list and I was too busy dancing to think about it, but defo played things like, If Ever I Stray, The Road, The Next Storm and Photosynthesis.
What a great start to the festival, little bit of yoga, some great weather and even hotter music. Loved that Terrorvision still had a high energy rock feel, like the rest of us aging rockers! Some great new music to listen to from Millie Manders and the Shutup and The Deadlians.
It wasn’t quite over for the day, as we wandered back towards the camper van, we popped into The Big Top one last time for a couple of songs from Pete Doherty (he of Babyshambles and The Libertines), great to see he’s got the lust for live performing again and his rambling, melodic rock was sounding back on form…..but we’re two tired old things ready to chill out with a glass of red back in the quiet of camp…..and it is a surprisingly well behaved camp site.
Saturday
We started the day off with a walk to the top of the hill for a bit of yoga. Beautiful Days isn’t just about the music. There’s loads of entertainment for the kids, shops, a record store, bars (obvs) and of course the Kanga Wellbeing Village.
Today was a nice calm session of stretching yoga (Yin). This practice involves holding poses for a few minutes at a time to get the full benefit of the stretch and the relaxation. I don’t profess to be an expert and hold the poses is tricky, but a very enjoyable start to the day. I’ll be back in the village towards the end of the festival for a massage too.
Girlband!
It’s already another hot day. What better way to kick it straight off with a lively 3 piece of feisty girls (today IS feisty girl day!!)
Girlband! smashed out a set filled with “rock, punk and roll songs”. Flipping woke the crowd up this early in the day. I need to check back, but I feel like I’ve seen these guys before at Teddy Rocks? but I’m not positive…..
Girlband! is a Nottingham-based three-piece band (well, Mansfields finest to be fair) that blends punk and pop influences with a bit of Elvis like nostalgia to boot. The tracks that stood out for me were, “Heartbreak Town”, “Not Like The Rest” and “Talk Me Down”.
The crowd reaction to Girlband!’s was great, they really took to these guys. The band’s interaction with the audience was a key, helped by their powerful songs and infectious energy. I’d felt like the drummer Jada had turned up late and didn’t have time to sound check? (I’d love to know if that’s fair comment or not?). Anyway as the band got going, it was clear her drum rhythms were key to the whole should and fantastic energy. Hard hitting drumming and melodic bass from Kay gave a great backing track to the Beautiful rock voice of Georgie (with tones of Elvis and Chrissie Hynde in there). They have previously supported Jake Bugg and The Happy Mondays. I’m sure they will get more gigs off the back off this stellar performance.
Girlband! are: Georgie How (Vocal and guitar), Kay Dawson (Bass guitar and vocals), Jada Mullings (drums and vocals)
Ruby Kelly
Ruby is a welsh singer songwriter with a voice to die for. Another chill out listen this one. Ruby was joined by a rhythm guitarist, Raevennan for what was for us, sit in the shade and listen to some lovely tunes.
I’d heard a couple of tracks in the lead up to Beautiful Days, but the sound live was something else, so talented! “The Roots” and the beautiful “Hometown” stand out as tunes. I could hear Roddy frame frame singing these songs….so that’s two superb musicians! Check this lady out, a great listen.
Nick Harper
Another singer songwriter before we get back to feisty ladies on the main stage 😉
Mind you, Nick’s lyrics can be pretty feisty. Nick plays a mix of folk music and is highly talented. Someone in the crowd told me his dad was the legendary Roy Harper, which I didn’t believe as people say all sorts at festivals. Anyway, apologies to the fella, as it’s true!!!
The sound he got out of one acoustic guitar was like a whole band supporting his singing, really fascinating voice and music. I felt bad as I only listened to 3 songs, before heading off back into the far too hot sunshine…
Panic Shack
Now I’ve seen these girls before at Teddy Rocks 2023, so had a rough idea what was going to happen next, which is why I wanted to see how they were getting on.
Cardiff’s punk-pop firestarters. They’re raw, riotous, and ready to give your ears a feats. Self deprecation, comedy and agitation but all delivered with comic confidence. Oh, and some nicely choreographed moves too!
They’ve developed a phenomenal individual sound. Hard to categorise, but close your eyes and mix in the chaos of The Slits, the zigga zig zag of The Spice Girls, and the snarl of Billy Joe Armstrong and you’ve still not quite got that superb energy!
Their sound? Like a group chat gone rogue: chant-along choruses, jagged riffs, and lyrics that roast beauty standards, dating apps, and TikTok trolls. Most of the tracks played are from the self titled debut album.
I didn’t see a set list, but they got through, “Gok Wan”, “Girl Band Starter Pack”, “Jiu Jits You”, “Tit School”, “Thelma & Louise”, “Do Something” and “Pockets” and more.
Live, they deliver classy punk punchlines, feminism with foot-stomps. Brilliant!!
Kid Kapichi
Time for the feisty boys up to follow that performance!! Catching these guys again after gigs at Glastonbury (stunning!) and The Blue Boar in Poole (acoustic album promo tour).
There’s been a bit of a line up change in recent month, so stalwarts Jack Wilson (Vocal and Guitar) and Eddie Lewis (Bass and Guitar) are now joined by Miles Gill (Drums), Lee Martin (Guitar). It’s always interesting to see how personnel changes affects the vibe of the band.
Not one jot seemed to be the answer. Eddie launched straight into a thumping bass sound for Artillery and we didn’t look back after that. Jack belted out some fine, angry, considered and opinionated lyrics. Kid Kapichi delivered an electrifying, high-energy set.
This was another fine performance and the future looks bright. New single “Stainless Steel” went down well and I love the the way “Let’s got to work” builds up. Finishing with an loud, aggressive rendition of “Smash the Gaff” and they were gone! 10 out of 10 boys!
Set List (I think)
- Artillery
- Get Down
- Let’s Get to Work
- New England
- Can EU Hear Me?
- Stainless Steel
- Rob the Supermarket
- Smash the Gaff
Rianne Downey
Huge mention here for Rianne Downey and a massive apology that I missed her show! The major clash annoyance of the weekend was Rianne v Kid Kapichi (sorry!). On a positive note, my wife watched her set and is a massive fan, not only of Rianne, but also Paul Heaton. She reported much amusement when Rianne confessed she wasn’t going to sing the rude version of “Don’t marry her F)£k me” (“which Paul won’t be happy with).
We think the setlist was something like…
- Sunblind
- Lost in Blue
- The Song of Old Glencoe
- Wild Mountain Thyme
- Heart of Mine
- Home
- Good in Goodbye
- Rotterdam (Or Anywhere) (The Beautiful South cover)
- Don’t Marry Her (The Beautiful South cover)
Sleeper
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Sleeper before, they sort of fell into a nice pot of 90s Britpop music which I enjoyed, but didn’t follow that closely. So today, we’re going to see what i missed out on!
The sun just will not go away. This was a well polished, easy listen, with well crafted infectious riffs. A couple of fantastic cover versions thrown in. Blondie’s “Atomic” was brilliant and the surprising, but went down well with the crowd, Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart”. The latter not heard live very often so a pleasure to hear it sung so well.sale of the Century” and we were very impressed. A great set.
Set List
Kula Shaker
I’d seen Kula Shaker at CarFest 2024 and they we’re pretty good. Frontman Crispian Mills, seemed pretty stoked to be here and was loving every minute. Straight into a fan fave of “Hey Dude” and the crowd were basking in the sun and dancing straight away. I didn’t get round to taking any photos as I was so chilled in my chair three quarters of the way back, stage left…..I sort of forgot!
Crispian chatted away to the crowd and told a few amusing stories about Knebworth along the way. It was very much a Britpop couple of hours with Sleeper too. The unsual sitar sound and indian singing with psychadelic jams, was great fun.
A great tribute to Ozzy Osbourne (who passed away in July) with “War Pigs” riffs mingled into “Narayan”. The amazing Tattva soon followed before a crowd singalong on “Govinda”.
The weekend of sunshine and music just kept giving…….
John Grant
John Grant had been on my radar for a little while. While researching his music before the festival I’d formed a bond with his dark tones and dry wit. I was looking forward to this one, but there was another clash problem, with Shed Seven on the main stage in half an hour!
John played my fave “GMF” (not sure Rianne would sing this one either as it stands for “Greatest Mother Fu(k$r”). I think he also played “Where Dreams Go To Die” and”Queen of Denmark”. I must start taking a note book so I can remember setlists.
Anyway, we were enjoying his set so much, we stayed until the end. We didn’t make it over to Shed Seven (another soz). They could be heard over the hill and certainly sound like they were having a great performance.
Sex Pistols Feat. Frank Carter
It’s not 1976 anymore, so I’m not 11 and The Sex Pistols aren’t quite as vicious as they were way back when. Even so, many bands here this weekend had made it clear this was what they were looking forward too – and so was I.
The set looked amazing in yellows and purples, with a few nods to the beloved QPR football team. Tonight was full on reminisce of the “Never Mind the Bollocks” seminal album.
Today, I wore my Dennis the Menace style top, just as a cheekie reminder that those punk stars, The Damned started punk in ’76 with their first single “New Rose”.
“Holiday in the sun” starts the extravaganza off and our first chance to see how Frank Carter (Vocals) fits in with the Sex Pistol royalty that is Steve Jones (Guitar), Paul Cook (Drums) and Glen Matlock (Bass). Not bad as it turns out!
Frank, famed for his work with The Rattlesnakes, Pure Love and the brilliant Gallows, had a phenomenal voice and bellowed out the lyrics and attitude. He made no effort to copy Johnny “Rotten” Lydon’s style, but brought his own aggressive and slightly more melodic tone to the band. I’d left my wife at Spell Songs and was going back to join her for a bit of Mercury Rev later.
The tracks came fast and furious, Frank introducing the band members as thought they were hisheroes and rock giants (which indeed they are!). Steve Jones powered out the opening riff to “Pretty Vacant” and the crowd went wild. Well, as wild as 60-70 year ols can, but their children and younger followers made up for our back issues and limit athleticism!
I hung around for half the set, sang along to “Liar” and “god Save the Queen” making my exit midway through “No Fun”.
It was never going to be 1976, that moment has passed, but to hear these icons play in person was something special. I’d sort of be siding with John Lydon, although it’s certainly not karaoke! These are fine musicians doing what we all want to do and live out our dreams for as long as possible. I certainly wasn’t feeling the full on punk force, but I wasn’t “cheated” either. These guys change the world and music – Thank you. Great to see you legends and a great fit with Frank up front.
Mercury Rev
It’d been a long old day from early yoga, so wasn’t likely we would be out much longer (a glass of red back at camp was beckoning). I’d seen Mercury Rev once before, back in the dark ages of 1999, so nice to finally catch them again, was great.
An atmospheric mix of sound and lighting, with their indie, psychedelic rock sound with a bit of folk thrown in, made them a great booking for The Big Top and alternative to the brash Sex Pistols. This all made for a large crowd already at the tent, so we slotted in on the edge of the tent, stage left for a quick exit when required.
The remaining founder members were, Jonathan Donahue (vocals, guitar and keyboard – and a couple of cymbal bashes)and Sean “Grasshopper” Mackowiak (Guitar and all sorts of other intruments). They were joined by newer members Marion Genser (keyboards) and Jesse Chandler (keyboard, sax and bass).
I recognised “The Funny Bird” and “Opus 40” from The Derserter’s Songs album and “Empire State” is another fave. Just the sort of ambient end to an evening we required. It was still pretty hot, so to sit and relax for a while was great.
As we walked back to camp, with the hum of Mercury Rev in the background, we were surprised what a great day it had been. Dunno why, it’s proving to be a superb festival.
Sunday
Once again, so lucky with the weather. There’s a little bit of breeze today, but still roasting and it’s only 10:30am when we roll up to The Big Top once more for a band we missed last year, so let’s put that right! 🙂
The Bar Steward Sons of Val Doonican
We thought 10:30ish would be early enough, but we couldn’t get in the tent as it was already over flowing. Again a flipping hot day so we were glad to find a seat at a table under a canopy.
The Bar Steward sons are from Yorkshire and best described as a traditional folk band in brightly colour tank tops, who specialize in “Bar-Stewardizing” songs. This leads to a very funny set!
They start of with “Get Messy” (a parody of Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky”) and on to “Crazy Crazy Golf (Yep, you’ve got the idea – Kiss) and fter a fair amount of laughter and joy, the unashamedly took on The Levellers classic, with “The Devil Went Down to Barnsley” – brilliant. Thoroughly recommended as a fun opening act for a Sunday Service.
Having too much fun did mean I missed both Grandma’s House and Heavy Lungs. This is always the problem with a good line up at a festival.
Young Knives
I wasn’t going to miss Leicester finest – Young Knives. Describe as the “Greatest rock and roll band from Ashby De La Zouch”. Currently residing in Oxfordshire. The band of the brothers Henry Dartnall and Thomas Bonsu-Dartnall (the latter also known as “The House of Lords”). Joined by Mike Monaghan on Drums. Pretty sure they played “Turn Tail” but wasn’t so aware of their other songs. Another one to check out further!
I’m not sure how to class this music? A bit punky, bit electronic, bit funky, a bit rock and indie. Anything goes really. It’s quirky and fun. With some great guitar riffs. It seemed very appropriate that i was stood next to a blue shark whilst watching these guys. The shark would also play a big part in the days entertainment!
The Meffs
I’ve been looking forward to these guys all weekend and although moshing wasn’t high on my agenda with my bad back, age and apparently being grown up…stuff it….let’s go back in time. Hahaha (I would regret this day tomorrow).
The Meff are aloud two piece, Lily Hopkins (vocals/guitar) and Lewis Copsey (drums/vocals). think The White Stripes but more punky and edgy. Plus the bloke is on drums and the lady is on aggressive, melody vocals.
“Broken Britain, Broken Brains” is a raucous, vicious opening track setting the tone for what’s ahead!
Lily is just a ball of energy, dishing out high energy punk rock, with vicious thumping drums from Lewis. Lewis also has a stage presence getting up and involving the crowd at every opportunity. But it would be Lily stealing the show by not only getting the mosh circle going (yes, I was in it) but also jumping off stage into the audience and playing guitar from the centre of it.
The days had been so dry, it was like a sandstorm descended on the festival as the circle kicked up dust!…..the blue shark was off balance and took a tumble! Not a site I thought I was going to see at the festival, but a big burly fella, picked up a big blue shark and set him free back into the mosh circle. People dream like this!
Lewis was quite concerned Lily wasn’t going to make it back to stage, but she re-appeared from from the organised chaos and lashed some more great tunes. Finishing with the very apt for this world, “Clowns”, this was an immense performance, cementing The Meffs position and fast rising stars of punk. I saw Louder Than War describe Lily’s sound as “caustic six string thrills” – and it was!
I will be watching out for the next tour…
Setlist:
- Deathwish
- No Future
- So Modern
- Stand Up, Speak Out
- E.G.
- Breathe
- Wasted on Women
- Look At You
- Business
- Broken Britain, Broken Brains
- Clowns
I needed a rest. We sat at the back watching Mad Dog McRae and The Bluetones. Mad Dog Mcrea are a folk band from Plymouth and play rock, pop, folk and jazz with a bit of banjo thrown in.
A great listen with a beer and a book. We’d met up with a couple of friends too so were having a bit of a chin wag at this time too, so wasn’t paying as much attention as I could’ve done. but great tunes!
The Bluetones
The Bluetones is a funny one for me. I saw them a few years ago on a ‘farewell’ tour in Bournemouth. Mark Morriss (lead singer) was a little bit rude to the crowd at the time, griping they would still be touring if the fans had bought more of their albums. That felt a bit rich, as the guys at the gig WERE the ones that had supported the band. Anyway, they were here and I love their tunes so had a listen in for a while.
Mark was pretty self deprecating through this set but seemed happy to be back on a big stage (I wasn’t sure). Great music in the sunshine, loved “Keep the home fires burning”, “Carnt be trusted” and Slight Return”.
Youth
I had a bit of time on my hands, so took a little trip to the Woodland bar for a beer and had a sit in The Rebel Tent where there was a chat going on “From Devon to Palestine” – now if I’m honest, it was a bit heavy for me, but it gave me more of an insight into a horrendous situation for the ordinary people of the region. We should all remember our warlord leaders need keeping in check. There must be a way we can all live in harmony.
My next musical stop would only be a brief one to see one of my bass heroes (along with Paul Gray of The Damned)….Youth (killing Joke). Now this is Youth in what i think is his preferred state as an ambient DJ’r (when he’s not a bass god or a record producer for the likes of Shed Seven, The Verve, Culture Club, Paul McCartney [I kid you not] and loads more).
I’d seen him at Glastonbury with Gaudi in 2023 so knew it would be tame compared to Killing Joke. This is a fusion of dub, ambient and techno (in my amateur mind) and not what I normally listen to. But I’ve just moshed with a blue shark, I’m on pint number five and i’m pretty sure to be moshing again in a minute to Therapy? This was a great time to chill for a few songs.
Thanks Youth, I stayed around in the shade for half an hour and then was off back to the main stage.
Therapy?
So back in the late 80s I was enjoying the likes of Green Day, Guns and Roses, Nine Inch Nails oh and Crowded House. Then these young lads from Northern Ireland came along all brash and bold. Therapy?
Along the way, caught the guys at The Rescue Rooms, Nottingham and The Fire Station in Bournemouth. So an absolute privilege to see them on a big stage at last!!
The fusion between punk and metal is electrifying. Their smiles shine in the sun yet sneer like the devil. Oh no, I’m gonna be in a mosh pit again!! The bands today have got it spot on with their opening tracks. This is no exception as the guys launch straight into “Stop it You’re Killing ME” and a loud and fiery version of Joy Divisions, “Isolation” (after Sleeper covered Joy Division yesterday as well!). I joined a bit of a mosh for “Trigger Inside”. I was now broken but the moshes with The Meffs and Therapy? were two of the friendliest mosh pits I’ve ever been in!
The band is: Andy Cairns – guitar, lead vocals ; Michael McKeegan – bass, backing vocals ; Neil Cooper – drums.
Michael McKeegan is smoking his bass and looking to be loving every minute. He flicks a plectrum into the crowd and I watch it skimming on the breeze towards me and it lands just in front so I bend down and pick it up. What a nice souvenir. But! Out of the corner of my eye, I see this kid and he’s looking sad missing out. So I hand him the plectrum and say “I want to see you on this stage using that in a few years” made his day and he very politely and excitedly said “thank you” and his mum said thank you too.
Neil’s is on fire on drums and we celebrate his birthday (the day of the show) with “Die Laughing”. Andy’s searing guitar is cutting through the heat too and he looks genuinely choked by the reception the band is getting. They are sounds so tight and gritty and the crowd is loving it.
Another plectrum flies our way and I’m lucky enough to spot the flight quickest again (still got it). This time I hand it to the kid and he say “No thank you, that ones yours” and his mum says “that’s karma” – Do you know what this audience is the nicest festival audience out there.x
I’m sweating, it’s hot, it’s been a brilliant set and it ends in style with the formidable “knives” and of course, the classic churn of “Screamager” – Screw that, I definitely DO wanna hear anything like that.
That’s it, I’m done for the day. Nicola has been very sensible and sat toward our favoured location stage left near the beer tent. It’s got a straight view to the Main Stage and is near the beer tent, bins and food. Oh, and as it turned out, my penance for being down the front for so long, was to go and get her an ice cream. Certainly!!
Spiritualized
We don’t know much about Spitualized, strange as they originate from Rugby, not that far from where I lived for 40 odd years over the border in South Leicestershire, but I worked in Rugby.
Jason Pearce (lead guitar and vocals) is the main protagonist and the band’s songs ebb, flow and crescendo, in an almost orchestrated sound. The ambience and emotion of highs and lows of sound are thrilling. you’re buried in a wall of colourful sound and energy. This is such an easy listen, I’ll look further into their albums.
Levellers
We’re nearing the end of a quite spectacular festival and as is traditional in these parts, the festival organisers, The Levellers take centre stage.
The crowd moves in from the other stages and bars from around the site to pay homage to the band that set this whole caboodle up. What a great way to ensure you get a festival headline spot each year. 😉
I would also point out, from what we heard last year. The bands get to keep all of the profit from their merch sales. The festival is not sponsored, it is as far from a commercial festival as you could get – which I find refreshing.
“We know how important merchandise revenue is for touring artists, particularly at the moment with so many rising costs”
Beautiful Days website
As the sun starts to set, it’s still mid 20 degrees and had been a definite “Beautiful Days”. The Levellers played classics “Fifteen Years”, “One Way” “World Freak Show” and of course finished with the soundtrack of the whole weekend – What a Beautiful Day again.
And finally…
I’ll say it again. What a clean living bunch of festival goers are at Beautiful Days. They put rubbish in bins, they clear up after themselves and are generally a credit in a music scene that often lets itself down in Berkshire and Somerset.
As we packed up camp and left the site for our trip home, we were surprised how year two at this festival could have gone so well. Missing Glastonbury? Sure! but this is a great size festival, great music, great wellbeing, people and food. It’s the right size for us these days. One more year? Maybe 😉
Really enjoyed camping in a camper van too, so will be looking to do that again next year. But with a much better mattress!
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