Friday, March 31, 2017

Glasto goodies, soured Milk and local delights

Yesterday saw the announcement of the first wave of acts to appear alongside headliners Radiohead, Foo Fighters and Ed Sheeran at Glastonbury - and as usual the bookers have supplied ample evidence to challenge the sneering naysayers' claims that the festival is not for the music fan of discerning taste. Angel Olsen, Run The Jewels, Mark Lanegan, The National, Ride, The Flaming Lips, The XX, Solange, Sleaford Mods, Goldfrapp, DJ Shadow and Kate Tempest are among those set to pitch up at Worthy Farm for the enjoyment of those fortunate enough to have tickets. Clean Bandit and Shaggy are also on the bill, but then you can't have everything.

Meanwhile, it's a case of deja vu as the inaugural Safe As Milk - previously talked up on this site - has been cancelled. The festival, which boasted an intriguing line-up, was due to take place at Pontins in Prestatyn towards the end of April but disappointing ticket sales have forced the organisers to pull the plug on the grounds of financial viability. Following the undignified collapse of ATP, it always looked like a bit of a gamble, and this sorry situation would appear to sound the death knell for holiday camp weekenders - or at least ones that aren't a recreation of mid-to-late-90s Britpop purgatory.

There's better news here in Cardiff, where it's been announced that From Now On, the experimental pop festival organised by Mark Daman Thomas of Islet and Shape Records, will return to Chapter in May. The line-up is as yet unknown, but given that last year's event featured Julia Holter, my hopes are high. Given I'll be missing out on both Wales Goes Pop and Green Man, the announcement is very welcome indeed.

No comments: