Star
rating - 8/10
What could be better than a festival on a Bank Holiday
weekend just a bus ride from home - not much in my book. Sounds From The Other
City (SFTOC), now in its 9th year, is an eclectic celebration of new music by
local live music promoters, using some wonderful lesser used venues and spaces
around the Chapel Street area, and is quietly making lots of waves.
There was literally too much going on to get to all the
wonderful venues, but the main activity centred around Islington Mill was
great. The courtyard was bustling with busking and food (lovely falafel burgers
- thanks), and the Hey! Manchester stage was definitely my favourite. Denis Jones
was interesting, but I do draw the line at artists performing in their socks.
Rozi Plain's music was delicate and pleasing.
But the Treetop Flyers were really superb. They are from
London but we won't hold that against them, and they transported the crowd to
the West coast of America in the 60's. Lead singer Reid Morrison has a powerful,
beautiful voice which is reminiscent of Neil
Young. My favourite number from their
set was Haunted House, which had
tones of Dire Straits' Sultans of Swing
in there somewhere. Their lovely harmonies on Is It All Worth It were a treat. Their debut album The Mountain Moves, is just out and I would highly recommend it. They
are seriously talented musicians.
The acts I wanted to catch at the New Oxford pub, His Golden Messenger from North
Carolina, and Nashville guitarist William Tyler ended up having to perform an
unplanned set together. The sound system, indeed the whole of the electrics,
blew a couple of times so it was acoustic, very crowed, and sadly, almost
impossible to hear. And I have to ask what Astral Social Club were all about - everyone seemed to flee the pub holding their ears as the noise they generated was so incredibly loud.
Later on there were a lot of people wandering around in
tin foil costumes like extras from Star Trek - not sure what that was about but
everyone seemed to be having a very good time. The only thing missing was the
sun - and maybe a better sound system at the New Oxford! I will definitely be
going to SFTOC again next year to do it all again.
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