bushstock – and so she thinks

Bushstock 2013 – a success

admin — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 16:35:04 +0000

Despite my best efforts of two years in my previous life, west London has never really had that buzzing music scene of its eastern counterpart. Bushstock, run by Communion records is one of the counterbalances to this, bringing music, art, people and beards to a little area left of the London middle, Shepherd’s Bush. Taking place on Saturday 1st June across a diverse set of venues – local cool pub Defector’s Weld, the fully functioning St Stephen’s Church, former underground toilets Ginglik, and beautiful if unassuming from the outside Bush Hall – this year’s festival provided a strapping line up of strong and stellar bands. As is always the case with these events, one can’t be in multiple places at once, so to get full coverage of everyone playing you may have to piece together numerous reviews, but from my perspective, in no particular order, here goes…
George Ezra sounds like he has lived through struggles and strains to get a voice that gravelly and a presence so compelling. The 19 year old captivated the St Stephen’s Church crowd tempted in from the sunshine, his blase and bristling manner a perfect wrap over the poignant and earthy tunes. Story Books and their Foals esque aesthetic were one of my highlights, brimming with energy and hopscotching guitars, but the Bush Hall audience were waiting for buzz band at the moment, Bear’s Den. Rocking their way (in the only way that strings strumming bands can) through Agape, Pompeii, and songs not ending in the ‘ay’ sound they were many people’s bands of the day, but as I personally am a bigger fan of guitars and synths, indie rock rather than folky strumming, they were never going to get my biggest smile.
The Lake Poets performed a set of vivid chords and rustling tunes, their dreamily domestic songs sincere and heartfelt, whilst Geordie singer songwriter Sam Fender won everyone over with his charming accent and pleasant plucking (mind out of the gutter please). Kaleidoscopic and intense songs from Thumpers are exactly what we have come to expect, and what they delivered, the jubilant duo igniting a rousing response. Similarly rousing with cracked vocals and tweeking and twerking guitar work was London quartet As Elephants Are, winners of best name award toboot.
All Eyes by Post War Years was one of my favourite songs of 2012, and they didn’t disappoint with either this track or any other. Thrillingly primordial, their brand of disco trips and travels, piercing drumming blossoming in a potent cocktail of fluorescent jams until its hypnotic beats drop. Final band of the night was Dutch Uncles whose shimmering guitars and convivial eclecticisms took the underground toilets of Ginglik to places they had never been before, anarchic and aesthetic.
Even if only once a year, west London is the place to be.
Heneker Photography

Bear's Den – Agape

admin — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 12:29:03 +0000

American jangle, rustic jaunts, banjo balladeering and stupefied skiffle, Bear’s Den’s five track EP Agape is a heartfelt and inspiring record. Sweet and simple, it unfolds quickly and is a seamlessly involving collection of music. Signed to Communion Records, they are completely representative of the label’s sound. Authentic and stirring, raw and dreamy, hook laden and emotional – and complete with beards.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr6G6oqDiRo]

Bushstock!

admin — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 10:54:07 +0000

A festival in Shepherd’s Bush you say. Only 10 minutes down the road. Curated by the guys at Communion. I’m there. Except, thanks to a particularly riotous IAH Friday gig to see in the Queen’s Jubilee weekend at The King’s Head (thanks Mishal Moore, Abi Murray and ScenicLife) I found myself with an inability to sit upright for more than 2 mins and so very nearly wasn’t. Eventually, loaded on carbs, we braved the 207 and made our way down the long and winding Uxbridge Road to Bushstock 2012. I would imagine that most people reading this will be familiar with Communion, but in case not (or if my Dad has decided to read this) the Communion label is home to Lucy Rose, Daughter, Mumford & Sons, Marcus Foster and Rachel Sermanni – in other words perfect music to sooth a storming head.

One of those wrist band affairs, Bushstock spans four venues, of which the Sunday Best (yes, it took place on a Saturday) at the Defector’s Weld hosted the strongest line up, but an unfortunate layout and poor sound made for a frustrating experience. When Rae Morris took to the stage early in the afternoon the room was already packed it, her strong voice astounding many, its power even more startling in contrast to her huskily quiet stage banter and the commonplace surroundings of a local pub. Whilst it is the lungs of Rae Morris that captured the room, Alessi’s Ark thrives on understated simplicity, the clipped diction and careful fretwork beautifully accentuated her wistful and smooth folk songs, and the cries of ‘I love Alessi’ and whispers of ‘wow’ suggest the crowd were just as enamoured by her short but sweet set.

We may have delusions that folk music all orginates from frolicking in fields musing on life, but today ‘where is my life going and what does it mean’ thoughts are for more likely to take place at 3am with a thumping head slumped in the club toilets, and so the converted public conveniences of Ginglik were not as odd a venue as you may think, particular highlights being Oh Burgundy and Gabriel and The Hounds.
As venues go, St Stephen’s Chutch ticks many a box. Ornate windows, tall white columns and acoustics to rival heaven, this was the perfect setting for the moody melodies of Daughter and frenetic fiddling of Bear’s Den, as well as a place of sanctuary when the summer skies opened upon us. It was Lanterns On The Lake who were the highlight – lush strings, powerful drumming, vibrant vocals and passionate delivery, combining to create something akin to an experience. Given that each of their soundscapes stretches in at least half a dozen minutes, the set was not big on quantity, but did not leave wanting on that other q. Their recent hit (in my small circles where Amazing Radio is the equivalent of the Top 40) A Kingdom was spellbinding but it was Not Going Back To The Harbour that left me with a tear in my eye, and allowed me to momentarily forget the hellish hangover. Epically beautiful and hauntingly intense, this is a song that quietens the voice and rouses the heart even on record, taken to its emotional peak in such a setting.
Other bands of note include Let’s Buy Happiness, whose were a shot of adrenalin to an until now sedately soundtracked day, and the husky vocals of Sarah Hall ensured that the boyfriend and I both left with a crush. In recent months Leicester based Silent Devices have muddied up their once slightly well trodden sound into a fast and frentic dense collection of melodies, intensely ambient atmosphere punctuated with driving rhythms. See them, and Alessi’s Ark, at a festival near you too. headlining the day were the consistently brilliant Mystery Jets, showcasing songs from latest EP Radlands as well as inducing whoops and wails for the hits.

Depending on your frame of reference, at £30 a ticket Bushstock is either expensive (the 3 day Great Escape festival in Brighton for £35) or stupidly cheap (£198 for a Reading Festival ticket anyone?), but for bringing 35 bands to a West London and carving out a space of its own in the musical landscape, and for curating a more compelling line up for the bank holiday weekend that the longstanding Field Day can’t be knocked. Chuck in the laidback feeling, impeccable timing and easy stumbling distance, and I’ll definitely be back next year.