Teifi Roc 900 was organised to celebrate the 900th anniversary of Cardigan, a small coastal town in West Wales. A simple, rural affair you might think, but with Goldie Lookin Chain, Krafty Kuts, The Blockheads (of Ian Dury fame) and The Beat headlining, I just knew I had to get involved.
Midday approached the Cardigan Showground and it was as grey as your granddads arse hair, and just as windy. The giant smudge of grey cloud gave the atmosphere a slightly surreal feeling but the wind just made you cold. I’d managed to blag an Access All Areas badge knowing I wouldn’t need it until the headliners arrived, so I stuck it to my camera case so I could pretend I was important. I had a good look around the festival initially, just to get in the spirit of things. I had my palms read, bought myself a ridiculous hat I’d never wear again and drank an obscene amount of Chai tea. Sadly though, no banging festival food, just a couple of glorified chip vans and a crépe man. What a girl wouldn’t do for a nice, warm falafel.
I had the unexpected pleasure of meeting a few of Goldie Looking Chain during the day whilst they were slumming it with the people. They were more than happy to oblige for a reel of snaps whilst swapping CD’s for Blue Rock T-shirts with the beautiful Glam Rock Ladies.
I got a sniff from a security guard that Goldie Lookin Chain were going on a good hour before schedule, so legged it backstage. True to form, GLC’s VIP backstage area was a 6 berth caravan with a canopy attached to it. The place looked like it was sponsored by B&Q. A garden furniture explosion, but with booze.
Earlier in the day, attire had been toned down, but just as they were due onstage, GLC emerged, sunshine in tow, a primary coloured shell-suit bonanza complete with compulsory Gold(ie Lookin) chains. Eggsy with his neon sunnies and P. Xain with his Factory Shop carrier and half finished bottle of cheap red…I was impressed.
The gig was a tasty blend of old and new. Each track slipped seamlessly into the other and the GLC have electric stage presence. The beats were overtly much heavier than on their albums… beefed up for the show, and the crowd loved it. The entire festival stopped functioning for an hour as everyone, stallholders and security included, jumped and danced and chanted their way through the set. Outstanding!
Krafty Kuts pulled a good crowd and rinsed the lot of them out with a decent jump-up, Beakbeat set. The Blockheads were brilliant and pulled the majority of the festival in to watch, helping some re-live a forgotten youth, if only for an hour. If I’m honest, by the time The Beat came on I was too drunk notice but I was told it was really worth waiting for. Ultimately though, GLC were the clear highlight for me. They completely owned the stage and the crowd lapped it up. It was real music, made by real blokes. I highly recommend going to see them. There’s a party in their box…and you are all invited.
Lara Herde
Links to GLC website: http://www.youknowsit.co.uk/beta/index.htm
P. Xain tour blog: http://glctour.blogspot.com/
Glam Rock Facebook page: http://en-gb.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1848994469
Bring back blue rock not this shit
Ha ha, brilliant comment
Blue Rock was good but had its problems. Too few good bands, too many goons running the show. I got manhandled so many times for taking photos and I had been given access all areas pass as I was doing a lot of publicity on the festival. Too many straight people on the pop and spliffs with no concept of real freedom. Looked the part but lacked substance.