Day one…
I arrived at my third festival of the summer in danger of suffering from festival fatigue. I needed Bingley to pull out all the stops. I needed music. I needed sunshine. I needed a burrito. Two out of three ain’t bad…
After climbing an unreasonably large hill to arrive at the festival site, I emerged into the beautiful West Yorkshire sunshine just as the Lightning Seeds were closing out their set. The problem with the Liverpool survivors is that frontman Ian Broudie is a singer/songwriter who excels at neither. While tracks such as Life of Riley and Change provide a certain nostalgic satisfaction, these songs haven’t aged particularly well and the omission of Three Lions is keenly felt by all in attendance. Obviously, the world cup is over now, but Ian Broudie and co. surely could have justified one last run through of the football anthem before the festival season concludes.
Sheffield’s The Sherlocks have gone from strength to strength in recent months and end up being about as good as a band who wear their influences so completely on their sleeve can possibly be. While the whiff of the Courteeners is never far away, Chasing Shadows and Last Night are anthemic in their own right and while new song Magic Man doesn’t suggest a bold, new direction, it ticks all the boxes required to be, what the cool kids might call, a banger.
Gomez have never really fit in. They were outsiders in the ’90s music scene despite their Mercury Music Prize win and the fact that they are still going strong is testament to their undoubted staying power. The sound problems that plagued the main stage earlier in the day are well and truly resolved for Gomez who sound pitch perfect throughout. The band swap instruments throughout and Ben Ottewell’s voice is as affecting as it is powerful. Whippin’ Piccadilly is still a classic but it is Get Myself Arrested that provides the first real moment of crowd unity. The fact that many in attendance weren’t even born when the seminal album Bring It On was released is a sobering thought but by the end of a blistering set, Gomez have won everyone over.
I’m not quite an old man that music has left behind but I am fat big enough to accept that I am probably not the target audience for Pale Waves. Having said that, lead singer and guitarist Heather Baron-Gracie has a great stage presence and the band are tight. I can’t help but notice the lack of keyboard/synth player which suggests a backing track. It’s difficult not to feel a little cheated when ‘live’ music isn’t actually being played live but the kids at the front don’t care and nor should they.
Surely nobody would begrudge Shed Seven their Indian summer. The band are arguably as popular now as they have ever been and Rick Witter is clearly loving playing to bigger audiences. The York legends feel like a headline act now and that is mostly down to how engaging Witter is a front man. Tracks from latest album Instant Pleasures are well received but we are here for the classics. She Left Me On Friday and Disco Down are songs that were built to be performed live and I’ve always had a massive soft spot for Bully Boy. Chasing Rainbows closes out the set of course and it is genuinely inspiring to see people of all age groups with arms aloft, united in their weakness for a singalong chorus.
And so, at the remarkably early time of 9.30pm, day one of Bingley 2018 is over. It is a day defined by sunshine, friendship and great music. Bring on day two.