Jersey Live - Royal Jersey Showground, Trinity, Jersey - 1st-2nd September 2012 (Live Review)
Wednesday, 05 September 2012
Written by Ryan Crittenden
Returning for its ninth edition, Jersey Live has already cemented its place as one of the events of the year on the Channel Island calendar. With a line-up full of big names, the 2012 event attracted just under 10,000 people who spent the weekend lapping up everything that was on offer at the Royal Jersey Showground.
As a Jersey Live newbie, I was taken aback by the closeness of the festival; with a small variety of fairground rides and Jersey candyfloss on sale it had the feel of a community fun day but on a much larger scale! The main stage dominates the site but this does not take away from the other five stages that were tucked away and spread out around the Royal Showground. As the drinks continued to flow over the course of Saturday afternoon, things really got going towards the evening and it was Maverick Sabre who got the crowd going (a little too much at times).
The Irish-English singer/songwriter controlled the pace brilliantly throughout his set, with a more soulful number like 'I Used To Have It All' warming things up nicely as the show got going. Recent single 'No-One' really highlighted the talented vocal abilities of a young man who knows how to hold his own on any stage and by then injecting more pace into the performance with a heavy rendition of 'Let Me Go', the show was flowing brilliantly. The sing-a-long track was dominated by a new wave dubstep edge that leaked through at the end of the set to give it a fresh lease of life. This heavier sound was a bit too much for some in the crowd though who got a bit out of hand; luckily, Sabre was on hand to tell them to calm down! (7/10)
Next up on the main stage was everyone’s favourite pop duo Rizzle Kicks. With a full band in support, the boys who have sold over 1 million singles since last year drew a sizable crowd for their energetic set. Jordan "Rizzle" Stephens and Harley "Sylvester" Alexander-Sule as they are less commonly known have enjoyed a successful year and with hits like ‘Mama Do The Hump’ and ‘When I Was a Youngest’ it is clear to see why this simple yet effective brand of “hip-hop” works. With Jordan bounding around the stage like an excited child, he provides a good energy to combat the relatively poor nature of some of the album tracks. The non-released tracks from their debut album Stereo Typical feel like filler tracks, and the crowd just do not respond as well. Despite some entertaining movie theme tracks taken from James Bond and Harry Potter the guitar playing Harley’s more lacklustre attitude means that Jordan has the task of picking the crowd back up for their debut single ‘Down With The Trumpets.’ A fun set but nothing to write home about. (5.5/10)
As the sun started to set and darkness covered the lively festival Professor Green made his way onto the main stage. Now six months ago if someone would have told me I would be optionally standing in a field enjoying the UK rap artists music I would have laughed but since his performance supporting the mighty Stone Roses in June, I have become more of a fan. The way the Hackney-born star carries himself on stage is admirable, he plays to the crowd no matter what kind of music has gone before or is to be played after him. The samples used in tracks like ‘Just Be Good to Green’ and ‘I Need You Tonight’ still don’t sit that well but by the reaction of the rest of the crowd they don’t seem to mind too much! His recent single ‘Remedy’ is catchy and even though it is more like a duet with his female backing singer, the rap artist is the one that makes the song what it is. His rap is typically British and why shouldn’t it be, his cockney style is appealing and this is how he has grown in stature over the last two years. With a surprising Rizzle Kicks stage invasion during ‘Monster’ where the duo clamber all over the Professor, it adds en element of light heartedness that only adds to the set. Overall, an impressive show that warms the crowd up nicely for the Saturday night headline act. (7/10)
With a 45-minute gap between Professor Green and the main stage headliners Chase and Status, it created a good chance to head over to the tiny JT tent where Australian indie quartet Last Dinosaurs were set to play their second show of the day. Having played a set earlier on over at the Main Stage, this more intimate environment appeared to suit the four-piece better. Their style is undoubtedly right out of the alternative indie mould, with their twangly guitars and up-tempo tunes there is always going to be comparisons to other bands that fit into the same genre. However, despite the lead singer reminding me of a young Robbie Furze (looks only) it would be unfair to label them alongside other bands of that nature. Showcasing songs from their debut album 'In a Million Years' the band held their own, getting the small tent rocking with songs like ‘Weekend’, ‘Andy’ and ‘Zoom.’ Lead vocalist Sean Caskey produces a really strong vocal performance and with his brother Lachlan providing the catchy guitar hooks, it makes for a good sound. Highlight of the set for me was their clever cover where they blend both Spiller's ‘Groovejet’ & Mojo's ‘Lady’ into a terrific medley. With their debut album set for release in the UK and a few dates across the country in the pipeline it is worth heading along to see these boys. (8/10)
The night’s headliners Chase and Status had their now iconic “C” and “S” light-up props set up on the main stage and were ready to get the pumped up kids at the front bouncing. This was a good booking by the Jersey Live organisers to secure the dance duo that have gone from strength to strength since the release of their debut album 'More Than Alot' in 2008. Seeing the popularity of dance music both at the smaller Full Flow dance tent and the main Dance stage, it appeared that most had made their way over for this set. With MC Rage at the helm barking orders at the vast crowd, Saul Milton (Chase) and Will Kennard (Status) powered their way through a hit filled set full of energy and enthusiasm. Highlights included an angst-filled ‘Hypest Hype’, hit single ‘Let This Go’ and the truly fantastic ‘Blind Faith’, which is likely to please festival crowds for many years to come. Having seen this set a few times previously, the only gripe is the longevity of a show that features many guest artists that only appear on the big screen behind the dance duo. Despite the presence of an MC it feels like they need a more permanent fixture at the front stage to lead them into pastures new. Saying this, the reaction of the crowd right up until the end of the set might not support my point. (7.5/10)
With more gloomy looking clouds over the Royal Showground on the Sunday, it felt like Jersey Live was going to becoming yet another UK festival to fall foul of the British summer. Spirits were not dampened and festival goers continued to drink through their hangovers and keep up that spirit from the previous day and it is maybe this attitude that kept the rain away. Unlike the Saturday, the line-up on the main stage certainly had more of a rockier feel to it.
With the sun now shining as the evening closed in, it was vintage punk outfit The Stranglers who emerged on stage to an audience of all sorts. Young and old arms were aloft throughout their 45-minute set as the reasonably sized crowd looking to be enjoying the wide array of hits the band played. Frontman Baz Warne has been with the band since the turn of the millennium and the bald headed Geordie looks very comfortable fronting the band which still includes members from the 1970’s; bassist Jean-Jacques Burnel and keys player Dave Greenfield. JJ Burnel provides a thudding bass throughout and it is more prominent than ever during ‘Peaches’ – one of the most brilliantly vulgar songs I have ever heard live. ‘Always the Sun’, ‘Something Better Change’ and ‘No More Heroes’ are just a few of the more popular numbers that got the crowd singing along and with two giant beach balls flying around the front of the crowd, spirits are high. About half way through the show, the legendary harpsichord intro to ‘Golden Brown’ made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It has to be one of my all-time personal favourite songs, it was performed brilliantly and for that, I thank the band. To close, a marvellous rendition of The Kinks’ hit ‘All Day And All Of The Night’ with good interaction with the crowd throughout, it really was a great show. (8/10)
With a gap between acts on the main stage, an exploration of the festival sight saw me bump into a 72-year-old man with his face painted like a lion and that was before a trip to the new “vaudeville-flavoured” Par 4 field. This little area had a touch of Glastonbury about it, a group of hippies playing drums, another free-loving man with a bike powered sound system and then the face painting tent were I assumed the elderly lion man had been before me. On my way back to the main stage I bypassed through the dance tent, as like every other dance tent it was hot, sweaty and full of people having one hell of a time.
Adventure over, over at the main stage despite Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds logo appearing on the screen behind the set-up it is actually Primal Scream who expectedly walk on. I say walk, lead singer Bobby Gillespie more saunters towards his microphone to mumble “Come on Jersey, let’s fucking have it!” As they launch into ‘2012’ there are quite a few families around me who aren’t too pleased with Mr Gillespie’s cussing, unfortunately for them his language was not going to be censored any time soon. With a change in line-up which sees Debbie Googe of My Bloody Valentine replacing Mani on the bass, it has to be said that she does a very good job of filling quite a sizeable Mani shaped hole. ‘Swastika Eyes’ and ‘Movin’ On Up’ go some way to pleasing a crowd who just don’t seem to want to get involved. A raucous rendition of ‘Loaded’ helps the band spark at least some excitement, and as the set continues guitarist Barrie Cadogan looks in a world of his own as amongst other moves he wields his instrument like a gun around the stage. ‘Jailbird’ and ‘Country Girl’ give the show some energy and despite quite a slow start, they end well as the sunsets and the festival nears its end. (7/10)
As the Primal Scream set comes to an end there was a bit of a rush on towards the Sobe Stage and there was a very good reason for this. Young singer-songwriter Jake Bugg, who had already played on the main stage earlier on in the day, was now in a small tent which plays right into the 18-year-olds hands. Alongside his two band mates, the Nottingham lad donning a zipped-up black coat walks onto the stage to a great response. Bugg’s voice is ridiculously good, the power behind it is so unexpected and it genuinely takes you back. The songs have a country and western feel to them but if the genre has been dragged right into the modern day. His colloquial vocal tone makes comparisons to Alex Turner or Miles Kane easy but with the minimalist band behind him it really is all about that voice and nothing else. Upcoming single ‘Two Fingers’ is an early set highlight, the big chorus is sure to spark sing-alongs. The lyrics on ‘Slide’ are mature yet naïve, Bugg is still a teenager and his lyrics reflect this but his voice is so powerful it gives the song a real quality and ‘old before his time’ feel. After ditching his coat and acoustic guitar, Bugg picks up an electric guitar and after a few songs finishes with ‘Lightning Bolt.’ The crowd are well on board with the tune, many singing along and bringing the truly fantastic set to an end, which comes all too soon. (9/10)
So, after two days of fun, music and an old man with lion face paint it had come down to the main stage headliner Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds to end what had been a really good weekend. The former Oasis man has left his less talented brother Liam in the shadows with his new project and although Gallagher’s High Flying Birds draw on material from their debut album during their hour and a half long shows it is the Oasis numbers that get the biggest response. This being said, tracks from the brilliant self-titled album are not to be scoffed at, songs like ‘Everybody’s On the Run’ and ‘If I Had a Gun’ can stand alongside even some of the best Oasis songs. You get the feeling that Noel Gallagher is writing what he wants to write and for me ‘The Death of You and Me’ was the highlight of the night, a song that highlights both his song writing ability and his strength as a lead vocalist. In terms of Oasis numbers, an acoustic version of ‘Supersonic’ is dedicated to Primal Scream and a well-received rendition of ‘Half the World Away’ are the standout songs. Gallagher himself was in fine form, if he wasn’t trying to do a terrible Jersey accent, he was laying into the crowd. Asking one man at the front why he was wearing an orange vest just one of his many quips at the big crowd that had gathered. As he set came to an end he expressed how lovely it was to be back on “your funny little island” before launching into ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ much to the joy of the audience. Post-song Gallagher and his band mates took a bow and left the stage, a great performance by a truly brilliantly songwriter. (8.5/10)
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As a Jersey Live newbie, I was taken aback by the closeness of the festival; with a small variety of fairground rides and Jersey candyfloss on sale it had the feel of a community fun day but on a much larger scale! The main stage dominates the site but this does not take away from the other five stages that were tucked away and spread out around the Royal Showground. As the drinks continued to flow over the course of Saturday afternoon, things really got going towards the evening and it was Maverick Sabre who got the crowd going (a little too much at times).
