Groove Armada - review by : Tim

Glastonbury Festival 1999

Friday 25th to Sunday 27th June 1999
Worthy Farm, Pilton, nr Glastonbury, Somerset, England
£83

Last updated: Wed 7th Aug 2013

Jazzworld, Saturday 26th June

What can I say? Trombones mate, sound of the summer.

If I die between now and the end of August, and if the sun is shining when they lay me to rest, I want a trombone played lightly as you all leave the graveside.

And I ain't kidding.

It was lunchtime, I was still reeling from the night before and an ex had just appeared from nowhere. But still the sun was shining, we had increasingly warm wine in our hands. I was not wearing shoes and Groove Armada were storming it.

We got there early. Not for any reason, we were just being scared antelopes. It gets like that on zero sleep. Earlier still, we had endured the worst Chinese style dragon dancing ever. Chinese style in the way that a pot noodle represents fully the mystique of the East. Still, it killed some time and we got talking to a guy with a round-the-neck type thing programme. My brother, recently on the dole, with lots of radio time, reckognised the name. I'd never heard of them but he kept going on about trombones and stuff and what else is Glasters for, if not to try everything.

Now, you see, I like that whole brass sound. There is nothing better in the world, actually, than something haunting, played by miners. And if that sounds facetious, I apologise. I am talking here about the first time that girl plays with the band in Brassed Off.

Anyway, back to it. They started well. And then got better. The tunes, though alien to me just worked and soon I was dancin'. There was a saxophonist and a bassist and the whole band thing. Not only that but vocals and bloke with buttons to twist as well. The sound is Jazzy, brassy, dancey and exactly what you need at that time of the day in that field, in that state of mind.

The set built to a fantastic climax. The tune that bruv knew is called something about a river. And there is the nicest trombone bridge or hook or whatever, that wafted easily over the field, always seeking new ears.

And it found them to. The crowd had started small but grew and grew until at the end there were people everywhere. Groove Armada have got the knack of just making you smile and then stay awhile. Then you start dancing, hands lancing the air. And where you were going, you no longer care.