Set at Darton Longfields Cricket Club, this years M-Fest has returned to its roots. There are five stages dotted around the huge grounds. The main stage is massive, and the first one that you see as you enter the arena; the acoustic tent provides a chilled out atmosphere to the escape the occasional showers; the Burn Down the Disco stage heralds top quality indie bands from around Yorkshire; the Love Music Hate Racism stage provides an eclectic mix across most of the genres , and the Alternative tent is the perfect zone to get your mosh on.
The week leading up to the event this year couldn’t have been more glorious weather wise. Bright sunshine and blistering heat gave all a sense that the day would be a hot one. However, this is Barnsley, a town nestled in the Pennines, and it almost has it’s own micro-climate. The sixth of August dawned over-cast and chilly with occasional showers threatening to dampen spirits. It didn’t though, as a rainbow of wellies and umbrellas filled the Cricket Club. An absolute plethora of over 30 bands kept spirits warm with their constant stream of quality live music.
We concentrated our efforts around the Burn Down the Disco and Main stages, with the occasional visit to the acoustic tent – generally whenever a shower threatened...
Kicking off proceedings on the Burn Down stage were cover band Finton Stax, whose rousing versions of Oasis, Green Day and Stereophonics classics got the audience going excellently. Meanwhile, on the main stage, Stellavision got people really moving their feet with the perky disco beats.
Up next over on BDTD, the Veletones pulled in a large crowd with their enigmatic live sounds and electric performance, while Shamble Street on the main stage chugged out their brilliantly relaxed indie rock.
In the acoustic tent, Move it like Friday performed a beautiful stripped down session before their main set later on the LMHR stage, and Leon O’Doherty strummed out his bluesy folk numbers to people sprawled out on comfortably on the grass.
The rain returned briefly during the South View Juniors set on the main stage, but they still rocked it with their Oasis-esque riffs and slight Smashing Pumpkins style vocals. In the meantime, though, a slightly astonished Bam Morgan benefitted from the sudden shower. It was a good thing though, as this acoustic artist has a sweet voice and a charming style which definitely deserved to be heard.
Back over on the BDTD stage, Northern Swagger played their set to a good crowd of people, even though lead singer’s Matty had to substitute two guitars after strings broke on both of them, and The Kicks played a beautifully loud and chilled out set – the perfect place to be if the heavy rock of Rok.Ink on the main stage wasn’t your thing.
The Silents followed on from The Kicks, and played one of the best sets of the day. Lead singer, Adam’s soulful vocals coupled with the melancholy guitars filled the entire arena and pulled people over like a magnet. While on the main stage, the party was really beginning to start with their funky drums, upbeat rock and inexplicably catchy hooks.
At this point, a mix of the wellies and excellent music pouring from the main stage, we decided to stay put and soak up the atmosphere. As well as that, more and people were heading over to catch another exciting three piece rock band, Penguin, who would be playing one of their last sets for a while, due to the fact that guitarist Matt would be heading off on tour with 30 Seconds To Mars less than a week later.
Up next were the incomparable Dirty Jeans; a quartet hailing from Barnsley who play an astounding set each and every time with their atmospheric yet catchy alternative tunes bringing the sun out. Male solo act James Worton followed on as the main support for the event, with his cleaver mix of his own catchy acoustic tunes and covers ranging from James to Michael Jackson – each of which was heartily sang along to by the large gathering now in front of the main stage.
The headliners this year were Manchester’s Daystar, and they bought with them a palatable excitement. Daystar have been gaining momentum over the last few months, since the release of their debut self titled album. With guest appearances on ESPN sport shows and being played on Radio 2, as well a feature about them and their stylish clobber on a national newspapers website, the Mancunian five piece are more than definitely moving in the right direction.
Even though their set was peppered with the odd idiotic heckle, they performed a brilliant set. Simon’s dry Manc humour introducing every song with an apt explanation... ‘This next one’s a new one. It’s called Roundabouts... It’s about Roundabouts’, being a fitting example. Their sturdy drums and catchy riffs give the band an admittedly ‘manc’ sound, although Simon’s clear, bright and slight soprano vocals give them a fresh edge which no doubt will take them places. On stage, they’re very commanding and provide if not a spectacle for the eyes, then an engaging energy.
All in all, day one of M-Fest was a huge success, and was not only an enjoyable family festival with activities for the little ones throughout the day, but also a very good cause. The money raised from this spectacular event will be donated to two of Barnsley’s most needy and worthy charities, Barnsley Hospice and Bluebell Wood.
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