Beirut send the crowd wild on day two of Fans Strike Back

All Tomorrows Parties - The Fans Strike Back 2009 Review

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All Tomorrows Parties - The Fans Strike Back 2009

Friday 8th to Sunday 10th May 2009
Butlins Resort, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 5SH, England MAP
from £150 per person (bookings per room or chalet)

Saturday sees the main Pavilion stage take over by four alternative folk acts; The Cave Singers, The Acorn, Grizzly Bear and New York based headliners, Beirut.

The Cave Singers take to the stage early in the afternoon to an audience nursing sore heads; and certainly prove a fantastic hangover cure, with the majority dancing away to their country music by the end of their performance. By the climax of their final song, the washboard, percussion based, Dancing on our Graves, the band have won over the audience and certainly made a good step towards selling out their merchandise at the stall.

Following them are Canadian five-piece, The Acorn, treating the audience to songs from their recent album, including their highly acclaimed single, Crooked Legs. With soaring vocals and sweet melodies combined with the bands very tight performance, they also seem to win over a new wave of fans.

Over on the centre stage post-punk, avant-garde acts Young Marble Giants play a set to a small audience, playing songs that they haven't aired live for nearly 29 years, which are greeted with great cheers from their faithful fans. Following on from Young Marble Giants is heavy punk act Harvey Milk, which, despite playing a tight set, are let down by their sound man who feels that the guitar parts are much too important when compared to the vocals, which can barely be heard, even towards the front of the stage.

Back over on the main stage, Grizzly Bear, who haven't performed in the UK for almost two years before this weekend's set, treat the expectant crowd from their previous two records along with debuting new material from their new album due out later this month, Vekatimist. The band fails to disappoint, with songs that I can only describe as magical and perfect for any festival environment. Throughout their set much of the audience sings along and treats every song with the respect that they're certainly due.

Finally leading up to the headliners of the day Beirut, who are complete with an army of instruments including a trumpet, an accordion, an organ, ukulele, mandolin, glockenspiel, violin, cello, along with the typical band set up of guitars, bass, piano and vocals. The band offers something completely different to many of the bands on the bill this weekend and the crowd go completely wild throughout their set, including their most notable song, Nantes. Lead singer, New Mexico native Zach Condon, offers a treat on the vocal front, with his lyrics soaring throughout the surrounding area.

review by: Anthony Hetherington

photos by: Anthony Hetherington