WORDS AND IMAGES DESH KAPUR
SUNDAY
AND THE FUN CARRIES ON IN THE SUN SHIIIINE!!!!
Sunday was day two of the NBHD Weekender and again the sun shone, and the people came out in their thousands to sample the musical fare that was being served up.
Gaz Coombes started my day, the Supergrass frontman dressed up in a long flowing green parka-type coat, served up a great set of his solo tracks, playing songs from his 3 solo albums ‘Turn the Car Around’ 2023, “Matador” 2015 and “World’s Strongest Man” 2018. What is self-evident when you see and hear Gaz Coombes perform like this, just him and a guitar is that he is one of the UK’s most talented songwriters.
Then I headed to the main stage, for the English psychedelic rock band Kula Shaker led by the very cool Crispin Mills, the band take the stage and launch into “Hey Dude” one of their biggest hits and the crowd bursts into life. With a shout-out to Warrington, they move straight into “Sound of Drums” and “Infinite Sun” The band keeps the tempo high with “Whatever it is, I’m against it` Crispin Mills shakes his blonde mop-top from side to side and bounces around the stage. As the songs keep coming the atmosphere at the front of the stage has a huge feel-good happy vibe, with people singing at the top of their voices and swaying along to the songs they love, the biggest cheers being for the big hitters like “Hush”, “Grateful When You’re Dead”, “Tattva” and “Govinda” It was a great set and I loved hearing the tunes that had been the soundtrack to endless summers in the nineties,
The next artist on my list is Ella Henderson and she delivers a pitch-perfect set. It is undeniable that Ella Henderson has a beautiful voice, The set showcased her capabilities and the range of her voice. She not only pulled on many heartstrings with an emotional performance but she lifts the crowd with her more up-tempo hits.
After Ella it was time for Australian alternative rock band Gang of Youths, now relocated to London they bounded on stage with youthful enthusiasm, frontman David Le’aupepe was all funky shirt and hip-shaking he instantly has the audience clapping and dancing, the Aussie frontman is engaging, and you can’t take your eyes off him from start to finish. I must say Gang of Youths are more than excellent. The band are not only outstanding musicians but they are also blessed with an unforgettable stage presence. Between the instrument swaps, amazing vocals, Aussie banter, and dance moves there were messages of love and brotherhood.
The next couple of bands were at the big top so that’s where we headed, first up are Sheffield’s guitar heroes, The Reytons. The band bounced onto the stage, to a fully packed-out big top and right from the very first bars of their opening song, it was obvious that The Reytons are a tight outfit who have honed their skills playing live. The Reytons play lad Indie Rock with attitude and are taking no prisoners along the way. There are shades of The Artic Monkeys circa “Favourite Worst Nightmare”, but they are an Indie band from Sheffield, after all. They have their own style and sound, heavy and fast-paced, delivered with self-belief and passion. Lead singer, Jonny Yerrell, paced from one side of the stage to the other, singing and preaching to the packed crowd in front of him. The band bounced, the crowd bounced, and the tent vibrated with pure adrenalin as the Reytons ripped their way through their set of old and new tracks
Manchester quartet Everything Everything was next eclectic, eccentric, and explosive they took to the stage all dressed in white and launch into their very own brand of experimental art pop They’re tight, dishing out pop banger after pop banger, each one reinforced by the dynamic voice and amazing stage presence of frontman Jonathan Higgs. his vocal range is something to behold,
With two bands/artists to check out it was to the main stage for Rebecca Taylor’s Self Esteem, and you know it’s going to be special and special it was, and this sets evidence, Self-Esteem’s star is only going to shine brighter and brighter the show is amazing. Taylor delivers thought-provoking music, wrapped up in lush pop.
My last performance of the day was going to be the effervescent Ann-Marie. And the Essex singer-songwriter was a constant delight she certainly knows how to put on a show. She seamlessly blends pop, garage, and grime, and the energy she brought to the stage is just brilliant, a great show.
P.S Apparently Pulp played the main stage
FOLLOW GAZ COOMBES
FOLLOW KULA SHAKER
FOLLOW ELLA HENDERSON
FOLLOW GANG OF YOUTHS
FOLLOW THE REYTONS
FOLLOW EVERYTHING EVERYTHING
FOLLOW SELF ESTEEM
FOLLOW ANN-MARIE
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
