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Glastonbury: King of the Festivals by Fran Tatman
Written by Helen Way
Glastonbury: King of the Festivals.By Fran Tatman
The last rays of the soft June sun beam down on a sea of upturned and eccentrically happy faces splattered with Somerset mud, as countless smiles flash in the golden light, the screech of a guitar being tuned is greeted by thousands of contented sighs… Glastonbury has begun.
Upon entry, any newcomer is greeted by an extraordinary vista that appears to be a scene from the world war two trenches, into which have wandered thousands of people who, dress-code aside, seem to have stepped through the looking glass and who are mildly if not seriously (and certainly happily) intoxicated. Welcome to Glastonbury festival: home of the cider, the music and the mud.
Aside from the alternate-reality buzz, Glastonbury maintains that wonderful feeling of being its own miniature world, where it is perfectly appropriate for mounted police officers to don fairy wings, and for grown men to walk around in Power Ranger costumes. A world where, conversing with complete strangers is not only condoned but necessary to survive. A world you feel immediately at one with.
Of course our Glastonbury is a million miles away from its simple muddy roots. In September 1970 Michael Eavis and 1,500 festival goers turned his small dairy farm, in a tiny corner of the Somerset countryside into a music paradise. Today 180,000 people descend on Pilton to take part in the legendary magic. And yet for all that, Glastonbury retains the calm, peacefully riotous thrill it has been renowned for since those dreamy days when admission was £1 (and included fresh milk from the cows).
Needless to say music is the beating heart of Glastonbury driving the frenetic activity around the site. When Muse takes to the stage on Saturday night, the atmosphere is fully charged and electric as the crowd wait restlessly. Opening notes flood the air sending the gathered masses into frenzy. As the band, led by Matt Belamy, roar out enchantingly crafted guitar rifts twisted into crowd-pleasing favourites and incredibly convincing showmanship. By the end we are all more than a little in love. However this was not the case with the Gorillaz who relying on their overwhelming graphics, played a confusing but endless array of new material, leaving an uninspired crowd to wait somewhat bored for the end of the set to arrive for a supercharged rendition of Fell Good Inc. At Glastonbury it is always worth a wander to see what is going on, a quick meander might show Keane playing an acoustic set on the Avalon stage, a little off the beaten track or the next big thing at BBC introducing that simply sweeps you away. But all this gives way before Sunday night when a giant takes centre stage. Whether young or old, and whatever music tastes you have, Stevie Wonder is simply incredible. With songs that sweep you up and twirl you around till your singing along (whether you know the words or not).
When the last day finally draws to a close; a few short days have felt like an eternity, many people have begun to pack away broken tents and mounds of muddy clothing, an air of subdued anticipation blankets the site. As night slowly descends thousands of people voyage towards the main stages for a final au revoir to the magical world they have felt at home in for these tragically fleeting days.
Some diverge heading off the beaten track to the soft and gentle kiss goodbye that is the Acoustic tent. Others meander towards the friendly parting embraces of the Jazz Stage or the infamous John Peel Stage. The Jazz Stage is familiarly known for its subtle blend of old and new, seamlessly forged into a sleek and smooth stage for all ages, whereupon the John Peel Stage set in the confines of a warm, vibrant tent is something entirely different. Named after the late John Peel who loved Glastonbury so much, it is a flawless collection of mature and fresh music, with an underlining spark of energy that no one can deny, a force that just wills you to jump and scream and dance. The final vast crowd divides between the two biggest stages on site. Many chose The Other Stage - a vibrant decadent centre of youth and pure vitality, surrounding some of the largest bands on the current scene, a space dedicated to expressing the frequenters vivacity and love of live.
But the highlight to any Glastonbury experience lies at the centre of this tumultuous other world. The legendary silhouette throws a bold shape against a violent, vibrant sunset. The Pyramid-stage; an awe-inspiring construction nestled into the natural scenery of the Somerset fields. 70,000 people gather in the starlight on this final night. This is the heart and soul of Glastonbury, home to the world’s best musicians and a symbol of the herculean effort and love inspired by this festival, an alter at which music and the arts are worshipped by an awe-inspired crowd.
What defines Glastonbury as such a phenomenal experience is not the incredible line-ups they produce unfalteringly every year. Nor is it the sheer magnitude of the 200,000 guests. It is the life and soul that is invested in creating a wonderland, that is not only utterly believable but also contrives to feel familial, at Glastonbury you truly feel a better person, more alive than ever before.
If you've been to a festival this summer, just write us a very short review and email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we'll put it up on the website for all to see!
Glastonbury: King of the Festivals by Fran Tatman
Written by Helen Way
Glastonbury: King of the Festivals.By Fran Tatman
The last rays of the soft June sun beam down on a sea of upturned and eccentrically happy faces splattered with Somerset mud, as countless smiles flash in the golden light, the screech of a guitar being tuned is greeted by thousands of contented sighs… Glastonbury has begun.
Upon entry, any newcomer is greeted by an extraordinary vista that appears to be a scene from the world war two trenches, into which have wandered thousands of people who, dress-code aside, seem to have stepped through the looking glass and who are mildly if not seriously (and certainly happily) intoxicated. Welcome to Glastonbury festival: home of the cider, the music and the mud.
Aside from the alternate-reality buzz, Glastonbury maintains that wonderful feeling of being its own miniature world, where it is perfectly appropriate for mounted police officers to don fairy wings, and for grown men to walk around in Power Ranger costumes. A world where, conversing with complete strangers is not only condoned but necessary to survive. A world you feel immediately at one with.
Of course our Glastonbury is a million miles away from its simple muddy roots. In September 1970 Michael Eavis and 1,500 festival goers turned his small dairy farm, in a tiny corner of the Somerset countryside into a music paradise. Today 180,000 people descend on Pilton to take part in the legendary magic. And yet for all that, Glastonbury retains the calm, peacefully riotous thrill it has been renowned for since those dreamy days when admission was £1 (and included fresh milk from the cows).
Needless to say music is the beating heart of Glastonbury driving the frenetic activity around the site. When Muse takes to the stage on Saturday night, the atmosphere is fully charged and electric as the crowd wait restlessly. Opening notes flood the air sending the gathered masses into frenzy. As the band, led by Matt Belamy, roar out enchantingly crafted guitar rifts twisted into crowd-pleasing favourites and incredibly convincing showmanship. By the end we are all more than a little in love. However this was not the case with the Gorillaz who relying on their overwhelming graphics, played a confusing but endless array of new material, leaving an uninspired crowd to wait somewhat bored for the end of the set to arrive for a supercharged rendition of Fell Good Inc. At Glastonbury it is always worth a wander to see what is going on, a quick meander might show Keane playing an acoustic set on the Avalon stage, a little off the beaten track or the next big thing at BBC introducing that simply sweeps you away. But all this gives way before Sunday night when a giant takes centre stage. Whether young or old, and whatever music tastes you have, Stevie Wonder is simply incredible. With songs that sweep you up and twirl you around till your singing along (whether you know the words or not).
When the last day finally draws to a close; a few short days have felt like an eternity, many people have begun to pack away broken tents and mounds of muddy clothing, an air of subdued anticipation blankets the site. As night slowly descends thousands of people voyage towards the main stages for a final au revoir to the magical world they have felt at home in for these tragically fleeting days.
Some diverge heading off the beaten track to the soft and gentle kiss goodbye that is the Acoustic tent. Others meander towards the friendly parting embraces of the Jazz Stage or the infamous John Peel Stage. The Jazz Stage is familiarly known for its subtle blend of old and new, seamlessly forged into a sleek and smooth stage for all ages, whereupon the John Peel Stage set in the confines of a warm, vibrant tent is something entirely different. Named after the late John Peel who loved Glastonbury so much, it is a flawless collection of mature and fresh music, with an underlining spark of energy that no one can deny, a force that just wills you to jump and scream and dance. The final vast crowd divides between the two biggest stages on site. Many chose The Other Stage - a vibrant decadent centre of youth and pure vitality, surrounding some of the largest bands on the current scene, a space dedicated to expressing the frequenters vivacity and love of live.
But the highlight to any Glastonbury experience lies at the centre of this tumultuous other world. The legendary silhouette throws a bold shape against a violent, vibrant sunset. The Pyramid-stage; an awe-inspiring construction nestled into the natural scenery of the Somerset fields. 70,000 people gather in the starlight on this final night. This is the heart and soul of Glastonbury, home to the world’s best musicians and a symbol of the herculean effort and love inspired by this festival, an alter at which music and the arts are worshipped by an awe-inspired crowd.
What defines Glastonbury as such a phenomenal experience is not the incredible line-ups they produce unfalteringly every year. Nor is it the sheer magnitude of the 200,000 guests. It is the life and soul that is invested in creating a wonderland, that is not only utterly believable but also contrives to feel familial, at Glastonbury you truly feel a better person, more alive than ever before.
If you've been to a festival this summer, just write us a very short review and email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we'll put it up on the website for all to see!
Art Is Hard Records
Written by Alice Ralph
Art Is Hard Records is a new independent record label based in the South West. Their first release, Brink Of The Clouds, is a compilation of local alternative and indie bands with a twist... they are releasing it as a t-shirt! The shirt comes with a download code for the compilation sewn inside.
Why are they releasing it as a t-shirt?
"We're trying to give people something they couldn't get just from downloading whilst also reflecting the fact people buy cassettes, cd's and vinyl without even listening to them so is there any real need to release music on a musical format?"
Brink Of The Clouds is £9 and available from their website.
A drawing by Emilie :)
Written by Helen Way
We were just emailed by Emilie with this drawing :)
Fancy getting your work up on Hubalicious.org too? Email it to us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it now, and we'll put it up in the 'Your Showcase' section!
Thanks again to Emilie for this drawing!
FREE LOCAL MUSIC MP3s!
Written by Alice Ralph
Echo
Written by St. Joel
ECHO
"The south coast town of Bournemouth is hardly what you'd call a hotbed for producing epic music, but great bands rarely appear where you'd expect and that's no different with Echo, the best band to emerge on the south music scene for years. Taking their lead from the great British bands of the past, they fuse frantic thrashing of guitars and drums with great melody and soaring vocals." - from their myspace
Echo are THE most consistently gigging - up coming - local band, in the music scene; with a jampacked schedule of shoes over the next months, including:
The Winchester, The Green Room, The Joiners, Athelstan Pub, The Joshua Tree.
Check their websites for more information, gigs and music.
Grant Barratt - Guitars
Tom Parrett - Bass
Jack Woolston - Guitars
Darren Sheppard - Drums
Not Advised.
Written by Emma
Not Advised, a 5 piece rock band from The New Forest, Southampton.
"The kind of shout-along hooks that will ensure blowing your throat out was never more fun" - Kerrang!
"These Southampton based tykes could be giving Lostprophets or Funeral For a Friend a run for their money pretty soon. With bags full of energy, enthusiasm and a plethora of shamelessly addictive pop-punk gems in their musical arsenal, we reckon there’ll be no stopping this lot on their quest for success" - Rock Sound
"Glossy pop-punk with angst-soaked vocals so catchy they beg you to sing along" - Total Guitar
"Their huge choruses are sure to implant themselves in your brain in no time."- Big Cheese
“Watching them onstage is a punch-your-fists-up kind of sing-along experience” – Punktastic
“After seven songs they’re done, and it’s over far too quickly” - Black Velvet
Not Advised Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/notadvised
You Had Me At Hello
Written by Emma
Kids Can't Fly.
Written by Emma
Kids Can’t Fly were formed when horn players Ryan Stanikk and Dave Matthews decided to start their own band in early 2006, after several years playing in a variety of south-coast acts. They quickly acquired a loyal local fanbase and before long the band undertook their first UK headline tour, upon which they sold out of their debut EP. They have since had a further 2 headline tours, and released two more CDs, both which were also available as digital release. These have seen steady sales on iTunes, and also sold well when they supported genre giants, Zebrahead, on their October 2008 UK tour. Zebrahead were so impressed with the band they asked the horn section to join them on stage each night, something that also happened at Sonisphere Festival 2009. Some other bands Kids Cant Fly have supported include The Misfits, Big D and the Kids Table, Sherwood, Go:Audio and The Toasters.
Tireless networking and online promotion has seen the band acquire a large international fan base. Boasting over sixteen thousand friends on Facebook, the band have tried their best to be as approachable and accessible as possible. By regularly chatting to and updating fans, taking promotion to a personalised level, despite their busy schedule.
Kids Can’t Fly look forward to spreading their wings even further over the next year, and continue their reputation as being one of the most hard working, accessible and talented bands around.
The Light Divided.
Written by Emma
The Light Divided is a powerful, and emotional, four piece rock band from Southampton / Portsmouth UK. The band is ambitious, determined and talented.
With driving guitars and strong vocal harmonies, The Light Divided believe in creating a large, epic sound that will capture an audience with every performance. The band concentrate on writing songs that are catchy and fun but remain musically interesting and pushing.
The band do their own design and promotion, and are always pushing themselves to be seen and heard by more people.
Formed originally in 2006 they have progressed steadily, but 2009 saw the band's greatest achievements. Recording and self releasing their own CD's, playing alongside and supporting The Blackout, Heavens Basement, Attack! Attack!, Go:Audio and more.
The Light Divided's Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thelightdivided
The Light Divded's Offical Site: http://www.thelightdivided.com
New Riot
Written by Emma
New Riot's Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/newriotuk
Pump Action Radio
Written by Emma
Pump Action Radio are a pop punk band from the South Coast formed in May 2008. They put together fast energetic catchy sound with sing along lyrics.
Their new 3 track demo is now available for free! If you go onto there myspace and follow the link to download it. Their full EP can also be bought from Itunes.
Pump Action Radio's Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/pumpactionradio
Local Band The Otherhalf.
Written by Emma
In 2004, The Otherhalf (a bournemouth based band) began modestly as a band of school mates performing covers and starting to write original material. Phil Hodgetts and Dan Hammond-Smith had been playing in various band line-ups throughout their school life together. Shortly after this, Dan made the decision to switch from bass to vocals and guitar, they hunted down Sean Hines and he became the first member to join.
Additional members left due to University commitments, and in 2006 The Otherhalf found themselves at a crossroads. Cue the introduction of guitarist Mike Forbes who Phil had known from small part time jobs in the band's hometown. In this radically changed line-up, the band found a new lease of life and focus. New original material came in abundance and influx of gigs and new opportunities followed as a result. Over the years, the band have played regularly in the south of England, travelling to London and beyond. Differing music tastes, opinions and styles all combine and bounce off each other to create The Otherhalf's own brand of indie rock.
This is only the beginning of a long journey, stay standing or take a seat, either way we would love you to be a part of it.
The Otherhalf's Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/theofficialotherhalf
Alice In Wonderland Review
Written by Helen Way
Curiouser and curiouser
By Fran Tatman
‘Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end; then stop.’-The King.
Alice in Wonderland? Many of us simply think of a simpering, ditsy, golden-headed girl in a blue dress, that exclaimed ‘Oh my! Oh my!’ and stumbled after a waist coated white-rabbit through a harmless but charming land of talking animals. Tim Burton takes this Alice, delivers her a thorough good slapping, and firmly tells her to grow up.
A vivid portrayal of a beloved childhood cherished tale, transformed from the bordering-insipid to a flamboyantly brilliant portrayal of a young girl’s (Mia Wasikowska) fight to escape from a nightmare engagement and the dreadful tyranny of a tiny bulbous-headed red queen (Helena Bonham Carter) - ‘Down with the fat head!’
A cast that is so imbedded with stars cannot help but meet the strong demands of such an erratic script and storyline, Matt Lucas plays (vaguely schizophrenically) both of the quarrelsome, ‘fat boys’, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, Anne Hathaway is the psychotically adorable, eccentric, white queen - a more than slightly disturbing concoction of character traits and Stephen Fry impeccably creates Chessur the seductive, grinning Cheshire cat, who despite a vivid cowardly streak inevitably saves the day. Though without doubt the highlight of even such a gleaming cast is Johnny Depp as Tarrant Hightopp, the mad hatter. Depp devises an incredibly deep, multi-faceted hatter, aquiring an accent that slips wildly into a thick scottish brogue, and a look that just screams a-few-saucers-short-of-a tea-party. He is pure brilliance.
All in all this is one very happy camper though it does leave us asking the never-ending question – why is a raven like a writing desk?
(If you liked Fran's review, and fancy reviewing something you've seen recently, please send it on to us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it !)
Club K - Late Night Classical Clubbing Review
Written by Lady Amy
Last Saturday Danny Rampling and The BSO combined in a night of classical clubbing at the BIC with special guest DJ Gabriel Prokofiev. Mixing funky beats with one of the UK’s fore most symphony orchestras.
We’re looking for reviews and if you would like to have your review published to hundreds of people email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
30 Seconds To Mars (24th Feb 2010)
Written by Emma
30 SECONDS TO MARS - 24TH FEB 2010
30 Seconds To Mars hosted an explosive gig on Wednesday night (24th February). Full of mosh pits and jumping the BIC was energy packed. Front man Jared Leto claimed that Bournemouth’s atmosphere beat the Wembley show the American band played at early in the week.
Support bands Lost Alone rocked out the stage with their high energy and captivating performance. Energy seemed to be low in the standing crowd during the Support bands. The crowd seemed more interested in water fights and having screaming conversions with their friends than jumping along with Lost Alone.
The second support act was even worse than Lost Alone and crowd simply yelled out how they were Corey Taylor wannabes. Taking a spin off Slipknot.
However this feeling was soon cut short when Leto and the band hit the stage. Crowds of mixed ages went crazy as the band rocked out. Mosh pits and stage surfing was encouraged by the band much to securities displease. Friends and groups where split up as people got knocked out and the pushing and shoving got heavier.
