[2017 - How was it for you?]

Yes it's a shame the dickheads continue to spoil it for the rest of us, I especially love the ones that push their way to the front only to leave after three or four songs. I also think that if smoking is allowed in the outside venues there should be sections where you can smoke and ones where you can't. Even outside when your standing next to someone the secondary smoke rule is a concern when it's blowing right in your face.

Another continuing issue is the sound problems that spoil a lot of sets. The garden stage seemed to be the worst this year with Julie Byrne's set completely ruined by it. Courtney Marie Andrews' set though not nearly as bad could have been better. Kelly lee Owens in the Big Top suffered from too much reverb which seems to happen a fair bit. It's frustrating when you know that the sound can be amazing as it was with Nadine Shah and The Jesus & Mary Chain.

Apart from that and the Sunday weather it was another memorable festival with many highlights.

Still looking forward to 2018 and hoping...

[Top 5 Performances 2017]

My top 5 this year were.

1. Jesus & Mary Chain - wasn't particularly looking forward to seeing them but right from the start they blew me away absolutely phenomenal performance  perfect sound possibly the best I've ever seen at the festival.

2. Nadine Shah - saw her a couple of years ago had some sound issues so was not too impressed but this year good sound big improvement stronger material exceeded all expectations!

3. Mac DeMarco - Missed him last time but decided to see him instead of Lucinda as I preferred his new album to hers. I love his sound there was a great atmosphere I loved it until the strange ending which I didn't love.

4. Pixx - Love the look love the sound love the fact we share having the same favourite Joe Jackson track!

5. The Moonlandingz - A great start to the festival a glorious glamfest mess that put a smile on your face.

Also kudos to a majestically reformed Slowdive, the spikey pop of OMNI and Ultimate Painting who I didn't see enough of.

[EOTR 2015 - so how was it for you?]

This is my fourth time at EOTR and as usual there was the good the nearly good and the very not so good

 

THE GOOD:

Laura Marling...not a huge fan but I thought she was brilliant and every song stood out

Future Islands... they seemed a bit overgigged but they still gave a sterling performance

Saint Etienne.... lovely nostalgia a party atmosphere and a really huge balloon

Sleaford Mods... only knew one song but they were joyously anarchic and kept playing the one song

Frazey Ford...... A surprise but a delightful one with her easy groovy sunshine folk

Jacco Gardner... It was late but worth the wait a great set and a great tache on keys

The Unthanks...  gorgeous harmonies lovely arrangements and some very nifty foot work

Django Django....never thought I'd like as much as I did but it was fun and infectious

Mammut..............the very first band on thursday and what a start it was like Bjork was good again

 

THE NEARLY GOOD:

Alvvays................some great pop songs in there but there short set still wasn't quite short enough

Nadine Shah.....   great powerful voice some good songs but maybe the big top sound let her down

 

Jane Weaver...... not such a powerful voice but better songs but maybe .. (see above)

Ryley Walker.......perfect sitting down music but the long gaps between singing were a little snooze making

 

THE VERY NOT SO GOOD:

Slow Club...........should have been great they have the songs but unluckily they also have a bass player

Wand..................they think they're good we think they're good but you have to know when to stop the song

Jessica Pratt.......waited 2 years to see her stayed for 4 songs destroyed by echo and the sound man

Marika Hackman....has someone ever seen her with a band has she ever had a band does she know what a band looks like

 

YOUR HAVING A LAUGH:

As mentioned some of the sound mixing was atrocious and ruined quite a few acts mostly with the bass being far too loud and drowning everything else out. Balloons are fine in some acts but not all the time it's distracting and can spoil the mood. Too many dickheads that won't stop talking is a recurring problem not sure what you can do about them.

 

A PLEA:

Please don't increase the attendance any more or the magic will start to stop

 

WILL I GO AGAIN:

In the words of a Sleaford Mod you ******** bet I will