Bingley Music Live, Day 2, 05.09.15

After a relatively early night courtesy of Premier Inn (thank goodness for not camping) and a breakfast big enough to feed a small army, It was a short bus journey back to Myrtle Park for round two. As festival sites go, this one has a very fortunate setting. Surrounded by trees, the park is just big enough for festival goers without it feeling disconnected. Due to Bingley Music Live’s popularity, everyone seemed to have flocked earlier than expected leading me to, for the first time, think next year a bigger site might be needed.

Kicking off the day for us all was Leicester based band, Clubs. Unaware of another band hailing from the county to have ever graced the stage at the festival (partly because they are so few and far between) it was great to see Clubs included on the bill. So far this summer, the band have performed at T In The Park and a countless number of festivals during their time together, so were in no way strangers to a festival crowd. With a normally sold out home crowd, my expectations were high. Slightly quieter, the Discovery Stage played witness to tracks taken from the band’s latest EP Wild Alive but it was older track ‘Bleed’ that really caught attention. A well rounded and solid set, nothing outstanding but great nonetheless.

Setting up camp for the afternoon by the Discovery Stage, seemed and proved to be a very good idea. Surrounded by food stalls (including one that sold very good fish finger sandwiches) and a real ale tent, the cold weather wasn’t going to put anyone off having a good time. Having supported the likes of Jesus and The Mary Chain, Hull four pieces Black Delta Movement were next on the Gigslutz hit list. Slightly heavier than anything that had previously come, the band were a pleasant momentary change from an overruling flood of Indie bands. They really have a very individual edge, especially when lined up against artists so utterly different to them; it draws your attention even further. Dressed in leather jackets and soaked with grubby guitar riffs, BDM ploughed through an intensive set (not appealing to all) but peaked with standout track ‘Butterfly’. There is slight a bit of confusion attached to this bands style. Although you would class it as rock, you cant help notice that they have a more gentile side that very often floats in when you are least expecting it. Whether or not this is entirely the thing they were going for is very much to interpretation but I do feel it is important for them to stick and build just the one brand.

With the release of brand new album Anthems For Doomed Youth just a nail bite away and an unexpected string of UK tour dates crammed into this week, The Libertines’ Carl Barat took time out of his incredibly busy diary to perform with his band The Jackals. Due to The Libertines full timetables, I was expecting that the set would be pulled, but as Saturday came, we were all very glad it hadn’t been. With a set consisting of some of Barat’s best solo work as well as tracks taken from his side project, Dirty Pretty Things, his raucus set provided a necessary face lift for the main stage. ‘Bang Bang You’re Dead’ was most definitely the bounce along track. However, something just wasn’t quite right. Unfortunately it soon became clear: the band were on fire but the crowd just weren’t feeling it. I think to fully appreciate the spectacle you have to be aware of Carl Barat’s musical past; for the younger illuminous paint covered and bandana wearing audience members gathered at the front of the main stage, it just didn’t click.

An unlikely favourite for myself this summer was next on the line up to see. Having recently released her longly anticipated debut album and also just named as the new face for Emporio Armani, everything is falling into the most perfect placing for Ella Eyre. The crowd hadn’t seemed to have been this excited to see an act all weekend as the main stage was soon packed as it was Eyre they were all really waiting for. Known as the day that Pop music takes over, Saturday’s at Bingley never disappoint when it comes to atmosphere – it is always the best moment of the weekend. The party like vibe provided the ideal setting for Ella Eyre’s upbeat, hip-hop infused sound. The whole set never crippled under time constraint or energy. New single ‘Good Times’ was packed full of everything that is great about Eyre’s catchy songwriting but was no doubt over shadowed by the crowd reaction of ‘Together’. Teenagers bounding around is a key element of live music whether it’s in a tiny, sweaty venue or a massive field in Yorkshire and Ella Eyre really knows how to work this kind of frenzy.

Deaf School

With 10 albums under their belt dating back to their first in 1976, an unplanned addition to our schedules were post punk band Deaf School. Although it did mean missing the majority of Labrinth’s headline slot on the main stage, it did become some of the most fun we had all weekend. There isn’t much more for me to say other than Deaf School are simply a good time you can’t help but dance along. Musically on point and oozing enthusiasm, all it missed was a tambourine solo…
Rachel Young
@_Rachel_young