Festival Review: She'll Turn Once More to Sunday's Clown

I spent the weekend having the absolutely best time. How about you? I got stuck in a black hole, lost at 10-pin bowling, played pool like a bat and got pissed on by God. Butlins! It’s the best. Matt Groening, it turns out, is an affable bearded genius. He played the part of Mickey Mouse.

This all took place at All Tomorrow’s Parties in Minehead. The festival has my absolute seal of approval. Mr Groening it turns out is the curator of all curators. He offered his art work to limited edition tee-shirts and posters, introduced his favourite bands and signed bits of anything that anyone close to him could lay their hands on. The ‘get a doodle of Bart Simpson by his creator’ queue grew so long, they had to stop it. Matt would have gone on forever.

Matt Groening knows how to entertain. He provided two old clowns (The Residents and The Tiger Lillies) for cabaret, a band with seven drum-kits or more (The Boredoms), a heavily medicated manic depressive (Daniel Johnston and what I guess must be Tardive Dyskinesia tremors from anti-psychotics) and some fucking awesome ear candy (Hello Saferide, Hope Sandoval and Spiritualized). He also decided on the cinema listings and a whole TV Channel. If only I could be everywhere at once!

Minehead is a lovely little seaside town set in the hills, with quaint tacky offerings, a small harbour, and a welcoming array of shops. The beach is lovely. Butlins looms a little large, with its great white canopy, but it could be worse, far worse. All in all, it was quite perfect.

Rating system (from very best to very worst):
Fucking Awesome, Ear Candy, Thumbs Up, Not for Me Thanks, Hideously Awful

Friday, 7th May 2010

Broadcast, Centre Stage
Ear Candy
At times Broadcast were fucking awesome. This was an unexpectedly impressive set. They’ve come a long way since I saw them in London and John Peel was still alive.

Cold Cave, Centre Stage
Fucking Awesome
I didn’t stop dancing. The Cold Cave live show packs more punch than the school bully. Bleak vocals and lively tunes rule. I couldn’t ask for more.

Shonen Knife, Centre Stage
Not for Me Thanks
Shonen Knife are loved for their Japanese glam worship of our rock culture. It was cabaret with a hint of Raffi.


Saturday, 8th May 2010

Hello Saferide, Reds
Fucking Awesome
Two acts made my spine tingle at ATP and this was one of them. This is the second time that I’ve seen Hello Saferide. They were everything I remembered and more. Heart-warming songs performed with passion, belief and melody = non-stop smiling.

The Boredoms, Centre Stage
Fucking Awesome???
Blimey, what an impressive row! One drummer was carried to the stage on a litter, whilst bashing his kit in time with his pals. It got so intense, I had to leave. It’s no insult to the band that I couldn’t commit to the long haul. In this case, more of a hats off. Yes, blimey!

Danielson, Pavillion
Not for Me Thanks
They seemed nice enough, but I just wasn’t into them.

Lightening Dust, Centre Stage
Ear Candy
Lightening Dust make lovely music, and for once a female warble proves it’s worth. If only they’d held the warble back a bit, reserving it as a treat. Then, I might have stood in awe.

Konono No.1, Centre Stage
Ear Candy
I was transported to warm and humid African climes and it was delectable.

The Residents, Centre Stage
Thumbs Up
A madcap cabaret clown and some silly dark pantomime from an age old band.

Amadou and Mariam, Pavilion
Ear Candy
Welcome to Mali indeed. Mellow Mali tunes are good for the soul.

Thee Oh Sees, Reds
Ear Candy
Thee Oh Sees are jolly, enthusiastic and yelp a lot. San Francisco visited Butlins and Butlins said ‘Hello’.

Ponytail, Centre Stage
Thumbs Up
If Thee Oh Sees yelp, what do Ponytail do? They bark like a puppy with a foot caught in two jawed trap. For two tracks, the puppy’s ‘developmental disability’ status was on my mind. Then I heard a coherent sentence. After five tracks, I wanted to put the puppy down. I may have walked away, but I won’t forget it soon.

The XX, Centre Stage
Thumbs Up
I would love to say that The XX were fucking awesome, but they seemed tired and a little clumsy in their musicianship. Next time...


Sunday 9th May 2010

The Tiger Lillies, Centre Stage
Ear Candy
Fun, dark and dirty cabaret and clown number two for the ATP weekend.

Juana Molina, Centre Stage
Thumbs Up
A lovely sound, that was slightly lacking in inspiration. I enjoyed nearly nodding off to the sweet soft vocals.

Daniel Johnston, Pavilion
Fucking Awesome
We watched the Daniel Johnston documentary on Friday night, and it was very special to see him live. He’s a charming song-smith, and brave to boot. He melted the communal heart of ATP.

Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions, Centre Stage
Ear Candy
It was almost fucking awesome. When everyone left to see Spiritualized, I was rooted to the spot. The Mazzy Star veteran still looks 22 and has a bloody brilliant voice.

Spiritualized Performing Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space, Pavilion
Fucking Awesome PLUS
I soared. I soared. I soared. The album is a masterpiece and the performance was amazing. I’ve seen this band many times, but the last time I saw such a great Spiritualized show was at Hackney Empire in 1993. Hoorah.


Okay, I have one old lady style complaint about ATP. Some great acts were on really late, so I missed the likes of Liars, Panda Bear and The Raincoats. Next time...

Fabpants Recommends: My three favourite performances of ATP in ‘once upon a time ago’ recorded format...

Download MP3: Cold Cave – Life Magazine (courtesy of matadorrecords.com)



Download MP3: Hello Saferide - Long Lost Penpal (courtesy of itsatrap.com)



Download MP3: Spiritualized – Broken Heart (courtesy of achtungbaby.org)