Fringe Attraction
Helen Griffiths writes
Glastonbury, Reading, V and the N16 Fringe Festival. All undoubted highlights of the summer music calendar and this year’s Fringe Festival was no exception. The sixth annual festival was the most ambitious yet with over 50 acts playing across sixteen different venues during the 3-day event and all in all was a roaring success.
Stoke Newington Church Street was teeming with people hurrying between the different venues to catch as much of the programme as possible – so much more civilised than wading through mud to get from stage to stage. My own personal highlight, as ever, were the acts in St Mary’s Church: its not every day that you get to sit in the pew of an Elizabethan church with a can of Red Stripe in hand watching a band. John Power, formerly of Cast and The Las, played on the Thursday night and set the tone for the rest of the weekend. The church was packed to the rafters, people were dancing in the aisles (including one slightly over ambitious attempt by a nameless individual to get on stage) and an encore was requested and duly delivered. Saturday night’s programme was similarly well received with local singer Sally Gamble performing an acoustic set – ably accompanied by Warren Neill of Soixante Neuf who managed the feat of appearing twice in one evening in separate venues and bands – followed by Charlotte Hatherley. Hatherley, formerly a member of Ash, possesses a melodic and haunting voice which was uniquely suited to the venue and, aside from the rapturous applause, a hush descended on the crowded church for the duration. Finally, according to Facebook rumour, John Power continued his gig back at someone’s house.
If you missed the Fringe make sure it’s in your diary for next year. As I said, it’s not every day…
Fringe Music Director Warren Neill writes
To kick off the Fringe at The White Hart on Thursday night were four bands who, although based in Camden, are no strangers to Stoke Newington. This eclectic line-up of Tall Stories, Melody Nelson and The Getaways was rounded off by The White Russians with their swamp blues ????
After a frantic afternoon of bands pulling out and gear not being where it should be, Ryan’s and Stage B got their programme finalised quite literally two hours before stage time. Eric Ulcer pulled us out of a hole at Ryan’s with King Salami, Los Chicos and The Sharon Tate Murder at the top of the street, while there was a more laid back, groove-based electro at Stage B with Blue House and The Nanny Maze.
Things stepped up a gear on Friday at The White Hart with easily one of the best sets of the weekend. This so-called new rave scene has finally caught up with the electro – avante pop of Plakka who hammered the place even though they started proceedings at 8.30! Soapy Love Wash and Sally Gamble both made impressive festival debuts just before the incendiary electro punkers $kull Di$ko; a true performance in every sense of the word and a head full of tin foil. Headlining were Gin Palace with Jon Free’s (ex-Penthouse) explosive blues/punk rock riffs, Stuart’s hi-hatless drumming giving a relentless feel and front lady Meaghan rounding off easily the hardest day of the weekend.
Saturday, and energy levels were at an all time low, yet we proceeded without rest to the all-dayers. The Corn Rocket Club at Ryan’s Bar is such a favourite at the Fringe that the doors had to be closed and the bar shut due to serious overcrowding. Jan’s Poetry and Open Mic All-dayer at Stage B had to shut briefly in the early evening due to too many words.
Unbelievably, there were yet more no-shows (there were many over the weekend – thanks!), but at The Lion Dan Chester with help from The Benefactors crew turned it round into a storming night upstairs.
The Horsethieves made their live debut at The White Hart followed by the always brilliant Venom Seeds. Soixante Neuf returned from their successful summer season at Butlin’s with a super tight, proper eclectic festival set of gospel/punk/angular and 70s stompers. Great Bear finished the night as deserved headliners and drew the smokers in from the pavements to witness some goodtime pop/rock and the best crowd of the weekend at The White Hart.
Thanks to everyone involved in the Fringe. See you next year.
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