System 7provide a mad-dance-trance extravaganza at OTT Spring

Off The Tracks Spring Festival 2011 review

By Phil 'The Van' Lenthall | Published: Wed 1st Jun 2011

Off The Tracks Spring Festival 2011

Friday 27th to Sunday 29th May 2011
Donington Park Farmhouse Hotel, Isley Walton, Donington, Leicestershire, England MAP
£65 for w/e inc camping; children (12-16) £32.50

Highlights of this afternoon included The Travelling Band whose breezy tuneful sound was a pleasure to hear, Simon Mandala and the Mandala-Mystics provided a contrast with their hip-hop, break-beat, bass driven rapping and toasting. BBC Young Folk Award Finalist, Lucy Ward, in the barn, however, had no amplification whatsoever due to 'technical gremlins'. Whilst the crew beavered around on stage trying to fix the P.A., Lucy took to the floor and suggested it was akin to having us all in her bedroom it was so intimate!

Unaccompanied initially, then with an acoustic guitar, Lucy's voice soared amongst us, amusing, delighting, astounding and enchanting us, holding us spellbound. We soon had to move further into 'the bedroom' to let more people in. A very special set indeed.

Los Pacaminos feat Paul Young must have been amused to see so many people in fancy dress dancing around to their Mexican inspired musical revelry. I think we won the silly hat contest. They won a few hearts.

System 7 featuring Steve Hillage were awesome... this was a mad-dance-trance extravaganza that left many of us breathless. Brilliant lighting and majestic, epic soundscapes combined to spirit us away to a place where it didnt matter that it rained a little.

Cabbage again had been providing splendid sounds throughout the evening in the barn and indeed continued to do so until 4? 5?...the memories are a little fuzzy the body a little tired nice dawn chorus

System 7

review by: Phil 'The Van' Lenthall

photos by: Phil Bull