The Great British Alternative Music Festival (Saturday)

So 2nd Day Saturday, yep its only the second day, but judging by the zombie like wandering of people on the way around camp maybe some are thinking “is this day 5!”  Off to Breakfast and this is an experience that is welcomed and much needed by a vast majority of the festival goers.  Welcomed by Butlins staff that 100% give you all the hospitality you would ever need and food that will leave you fuelled and ready for the full on day that is to come, amazing is all that can be said, bringing many a wasted Punk back to life.

1230 is now the time and Reds is the location for the band in question, a pretty full crowd considering how early this must seem to some.  Neck, a London based Irish Punk band, are straight into their stride with a
wonderful array of Flute playing Banjo strumming and tale telling numbers.  If you want to be awakened and set up for a long day, why not by this bunch of bouncing Irish souls. Great tunes with precision playing.

Moving over to Centre Stage (said this might be a theme).  Pete Bentham and the Dinner Ladies, winners from last years Saturday Introducing Stage, get there big stage welcome.  The crowd was defiantly built for this one, a few dressed up for the occasion is a nice touch too.  With only 1 of the Dinnerettes in tow this time, a pure Rock’n’Roll band with modern lyrics about real life.  Songs that fall back on his roots in Liverpool with mention of A Goth Postman, Vive Le Kebab and Queen Vic’s Nob, a smattering of The Fall lyrically, mixed in with some Velvet Underground style music which is fresh with an up to date twist.  Snappy guitar riffs and a dinner lady dancing around the stage give the audience exactly what they want, singing along to every word they are thoroughly entertained and also informed too. With the release of their Latest album offering Englands Up For sale they will undoubtedly go from strength to strength.

Into Reds again…

Tom Robinson is almost an elder statesman of the new wave scene and someone who, quite rightly, receives nothing but the utmost respect from those gathered in Reds to see him deliver a set of his best loved and best known songs. He’s witnessed a lot over the years, has some stories to tell – both moving and personal and, despite the quieter moments still sings every number with the same passion, feelings and anger as he has done for the last 40 years. ‘Grey Cortina’, ‘Martin’, ‘Too Good To Be True’ come early in the set and this alone is enough to indicate just how many quality songs he’s penned. 

Sadly this early afternoon slot is, for us, one of two clashes we’d rather not have happened this weekend and, after 7 or 8 numbers we leave Reds to move next door to see The Undertones.

Centre Stage has the first queue outside that we’ve seen so far this weekend. Inside the place is rammed. The Undertones are clearly high up on the list of must see bands for many. It’s a slightly delayed start but once the opening notes of ‘Jimmy Jimmy’ ring out the place starts to bounce. It’s hard to comprehend just how many perfect punk pop songs The Undertones have in their back catalogue. Not only that but the whole place knows them all. Paul McLoone, vocalist now for 20+ years, completely owns the stage. Jumping around, pausing to stare out at the crowd, quick waves and a grin for people he recognises, all the while belting out the songs with a voice not too dissimilar from original vocalist Sharkey. Meanwhile the four original members of the band simply let him get on with it, comfortable in the knowledge that people present adore this band, no one person being more important than another. An hour later and we’ve been treated to ‘Jump Boys’, ‘I’ve Gotta Get Her’, ‘Family Entertainment’, ‘Teenage Kicks’, ‘I Know A Girl’, ‘It’s Going To Happen’, ‘You Got My Number’, “Thrill Me’, ‘My Perfect Cousin’ and a lot more. Every one a superb slice of punk culture. Saturday aftenoons don’t really get much better.

As always Saturday’s Introducing Stage makes sure everyone knows it’s not just the ‘big bands’ that continue to deliver this so called ‘alternative music’. The White Ribbons open the stage today and within seconds they’ve got people buzzing. It’s not ‘punk’ in the tradditional sense of the word. Opening with ‘Dick’ (just because you’ve got one doesn’t mean you have to act like one) these are songs with melody, tunes you can bounce to. “Beautiful” one person stood nearby says. Yet their attitude, lyrics and social opinions are angry, opinionated and deliver a strong message. “Bastard” talks about Trump, Weinstein and Johnson. ‘Sophie’ keeps the memory of Sophie Lancaster alive and they are the first band to mention supporting Kids On The Streets – the proceeds from which support young people who find themselves without a roof over their heads. The White Ribbons have the ability to make you feel joyous yet emotionally charged at exactly the same time and not many bands do that to me. Add in a voice not too far removed from that of Bowie and there’s little this lot can do wrong. The White Ribbons are one of the weekend’s highlights, as is their 3 track cd which, in our opinion, should be owned by everyone who has even a tiny bit of a social conscience.

Late afternoon and the screens by the Introducing Stage announce that Bad Manners won’t be playing this evening (transport problems) and will be replaced by the Angelic Upstarts who will now play two shows over the weekend. There’s some disappointment from people about missing Bad Manners whilst others celebrate the chance of an early encounter with Mensi and Co. 

What do you get when you put 3 young girls in a band, chuck them onto the introducing stage at Butlins Skegness and say here’s a huge audience for ya?  You get 3 live wires called Desensitised smashing out songs that any long standing Punk artist would probably give there Mohawks a comb for. With musical ability in spades they smashed out some loud Pop/Punk and ferocious Rock’n’Roll and did it with ease.  Songs like Wasted, All Eyes and I See Red with a stage presence that would have any major promotor clambering to get them!,  Throwing every ounce of there slight bodies around the stage and delivering pure Joan Jett style vocal and attitude at ya, your left in no doubt why they were the winners of this days Stage. 

Following an act like Desensitised might have been in hindsight something you would best want to avoid if you were a lesser band, but The Reverands are as they might say “Not Swayed”, with a huge following and music that has

Its roots back in 2010.  With line up changes along the way, now still playing Old School Punk accompanied by buzzsaw guitar, pounding drums and rasping vocals smashing full on into the set they have now pulled the crowd off therir seats and shouting along to the catchy choruses, what else more do you need from a Punk band?

Mash up a bit of punk, a bit of rock, a good dose of pop, some Bowie, some Roxy, a bit of T Rex and a tiny bit of alt funk and you pretty much get Diablo Furs. Add in a bass player who makes Iggy’s moves look tame, a band that give nothing short of 110%, songs such as ‘Pressure Don’t Stop’, ‘Hearts In Motion’ and ‘Sweet Janine’ that simply grab you and don’t let go and Diablo Furs simply smash it tonight. Being band number four on this stage isn’t the best slot to have as people are often away eating or more concerned about getting into the main stages. Those who stuck around to watch Diablo Furs got a real treat tonight.

Again today has been a triumph for all the Bultins crew, bringing music that we all enjoy and doing it with such thought and helpfulness.

So The Angelic Upstarts drafted in at short notice after the pulling out of Bad Manners, well what can be said about a band that never fails to deliver. Their North East roots brand of Punk with 100% political and social empathy, Mensi can still hold an audience and still did.  I’m An Upstart “what are you gonna do” well we are gonna dance and pogo and throw each other around is what the answer is!  Who Killed Liddle Towers, Police Oppression and all the great great songs delivered with all the love and passion that they still have for their message.

By ten to nine there’s a significant line of people waiting to get into Centre Stage and the ‘venue full’ sign is up. It’s one out one in meaning latecomers are going to miss the first part of Sham 69. Inside there’s a real atmosphere of anticipation. Sham 69 have a lot of fans here today. And having played the Skegness festival last year and the Minehead one in February they’ve a reputation for delivering incendiary live shows at these events. Tonight is no different with the capacity crowd 100% behind them from the moment ‘What Have We Got’ opens their set. From this point onwards it’s one big chant-a-long as Sham, with more than just a little help from the faithful, blast through 17 songs. ‘Ulster Boy’, ‘Borstal Breakout’, ‘Rip Off’, ‘Questions and Answers’ could, if Jimmy Pursey so wished, have been left to the crowd. At points he does just that, taking moments to just stare out into the venue. Pursey is still full of pent up anger and energy. You can see it in his eyes and the contours of his face, hear it in his voice and witness it as he crouches over the mike stand or perches motionlessly, arms outstretched, on the edge of the stage. A superb version of ‘White Riot’ leads straight into ultimate crowd pleasers ‘If The Kids Are United’ and ‘Angels With Dirty Faces’ before they leave the stage, returning quickly to rousing applause and cheers then hammering out ‘Hersham Boys’ and ‘Hurry Up Harry’.

We’ll offer our apologies here. We know Hung Like Hanratty were going to be a highlight for many but for one reason or another we gave them a miss. But if the early morning chatter was anything to go by, they smashed it as always with there brand of comedy Punk songs like “Pick up Your Dog Shit” and “The Ghost Of Jimmy Saville” and along with an invasion of the photo pit to boot.  “For reviews of what was apparently an amazing set head over to the Butlins Great British Alternative Weekend FB page. We couldn’t have added anything more.

Co Written By  Steve White

Find Mark Cartwright’s Photo’s HERE

Find Steve White’s Photo’s HERE

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