A selection of banging beats, riddims and boppers caught across a glorious Glastonbury week. I recommend listening to them in order, which is roughly the order I heard them throughout the weekend.
I didn't intend to write something up this festival, since my last words as Snipadvisor were on Glasto 2022. But I had a bloody great time and discovered a bunch of great tunes so figured I would put together a Tune Catcher special edition.
Stick this playlist on and let me tell you about my time back in the engine room of Cal's well oiled catering machine, and boy did she purrr. I slotted right in, clocking in a hefty 48 hours of hard graft.
First though, I have been playing around with poetry recently, here is one I call Peace of the East. Not sure I quite have the rhythm, but I like it and practice makes perfect an all. Enjoy!
Slinging chaps,
Preping this and that.
Fueled with cider, darling,
rum and pineapple.
Winding up, winding down.
Keeping it loose,
to the Babylon beats.
The aches and pains,
ain't slowing us down.
The dream team,
and the prep king.
Worked hard,
We party harder.
Peace.
Cal, you facking beauty. Smashing festi lad. Big time upgrade from last years Circus pitch. Boss spot. Cracking team. Pleasure to be back.
El John, you win the funniest thing I saw all weekend.
Right then, let me talk you through my tunes, and through the tunes my weekend.
This first one came from Peace of the East. Before Babylon Uprising opened up and the festival really got started. A lovely little number.
On Friday evening Cal and I stumbled across venbee at the Lonely Hearts club. Liquid DnB, live. venbee signing over her DJing. Great way to kick off my first evening of Freedom. The video is funny.
Then next up Gentleman's Dub Club.
Epic as usual, although I have propbably seen them too many times recently. What can I say.
I just can't get enough. I just can't get enough. Of that Midnight Healing.
Lol. Nice to see them on a late night gig, Truth stage at 2.45 in the morning. You gotta love the energy they bring to their performances.
Then wow, last tunes of my Friday night. Only me, Becky and Maddie left in the mix at Blind Tiger. Heavy, flowing DnD pumpers from the lady Lens.
I was impressed. Never heard of Lens before but daym, if you like DnB she is one to watch.
Saturday morning, me and Cal were feeling a little rough. The sun was beating down while we went for a fancy French toast brekkie. After Cal retreated back to base, while I adventured on. Or rather I dragged myself to some festival shade. And I found a gem.
River Roots at the Small World cafe.
A super chill band led by a lovely couple. They had just got married last week. They were both glowing, overflowing with joy. Lil cuties.
They woke me up from my daze and gifted me the energy to get started with my day.
They even played so nice, I saw them twice.
Once at the start of my day in the Small World cafe. Before a loop that included Channel One Sound System, a delightful Mojito from up by the Park stage and a sunbathe next to a solar powered record player.
Then back to the Lizard cafe for River Roots.
They were one of my favourite experiences of the weekend.
After that it was almost time to clock in to work for the day. Although not before squeezing in an Aperol Spritz and a delicious veg thai green curry from the Permiculture place. No cakes though which was sad.
That just leaves Sunday Funday.
After clocking off at 5, I headed to Firmly Rooted Soudsystem for what I think was Hold Tight Records takeover. Either way it was a great stage this weekend, with a cracking lineup. Tons of shit I would have liked to have seen here. But you take what you can when your grafting.
I got something good. Two ladies playing a load of hip-hop, including this funky old skool tune. Even if the lyrics are a bit questionable.
After a quick trip round the rest of Silver Hayes, it was across to Barrington Lev at West Holts.
He is a top chiller, great set. Funny ending.
Then it was onwards. Dance System at Genosys Sound System. The only act that I wrote into my agenda when I saw them on the menu. After stumbling across them last year, I couldn't not.
Groovin', funkin', pumpin' beats that make you want to move your feet.
Crazy thing was, I had the sound system virtually to myself. Can't have been more than 30 people at the most, and at points it was literally just me.
Or me and Jackamo, this lad I bumped into.
But the tunes, daym. They were going off.
All round South East Corner had a similar vibe early that Sunday evening. I took a spin around and came across the Lady of the House takeover at Nowhere.
Best thing was, no sheeple across the whole corner.
Barely more than a 1000 people there I reckon. Everyone drawn to Elton John like moths to a flame.
Here are a few of my favourites.
Then of course, I had to get a bit of Elton John. Caught the last few songs at the end with Cal.
That was special, even though I was pretty far back.
Then closing out the Babylon Uprising stage. Gridlock in Parliment. B2B2b2b2b2b2b.b... 15 of them going at it.
Here's a couple I enjoyed.
An interesting selection, Babylon dropped all sorts all weekend long. Great stuff.
Finally, closing out the festival in South East corner. With the final tunes at the Ska tent, the Rocket Lounge.
A band called the Downsetters playing Monkey Man.
Here is whats left of the dream team Monday morning.
10 out of 10 festival. Loved the vibes. Great to see so many women behind the decks this year, dropping many of my best tunes of the weekend.
Oh and also, definitely want to echo Mikey Dread of Channel One Sound System. Big respect the Windrush generation. Thanks for bringing soundsystem culture to these shores.
Big love to all who brought this beautiful creation to life this year.
Cal, its been a pleasure laddy.
Peace.