Not all Saturdays are like this, but in the summer months, many Saturdays CAN be like this, so this, very simply, is what happened last Saturday. Lots of pictures, and a bit of advice for anybody playing at any kind of festival - let's go!
9.30am
One the cards today are a trip to Hythe near Southampton to perform with REMbrandt (our R.E.M. tribute band) at a festival on the waterfront, and then a trip back up to Godalming to play a ticketed Americana and country music event with The Alabama Stills.
This for me has a number of problems. I’m going to be out all day, and the two bands require slightly different equipment. I don’t need to take the PA (the band sound system) for the first gig but I do need it for the second. Each gig ideally requires different instruments and pedalboards. It’s a lot of gear, and I don’t have a van, so sacrifices are going to have to be made if everything is going to fit safely in the car. That means some swift rewiring of my pedalboard to accommodate the basic needs of both bands, and some ‘jack of all trades’ instrument choices.
Days like this also mean a lot of loading and unloading of gear, navigating security personnel, crowds, and the weather, which at that time looked pretty flipping changeable. Heavy, occasional thundery showers and high winds forecast.
12.45pm
Early lunch consumed, family issues attended to, we are on the road for the hour and a half drive to Hythe. The weather as promised is pretty unpredictable, and only seems to worsen as we start to come down the far side of Southampton.
By the time we stash the car, a good few hundred metres from the stage, the weather has fortunately calmed down enough for us to make it back stage without incident.
2.30pm
This is ‘Rock The Pier’ in Hythe. The festival is organised by Hythe Pier Heritage Association and is an event that REMbrandt have supported maybe four or five times now. The amphitheatre created by the sea wall makes for an excellent little setup, and a welcome bit of shelter, as the waterfront is immediately behind the crowd to the right. Attendance is always great, maybe 300 - 400, whatever the weather, and they’ve already been drenched twice today.
3.15pm
People imagine that the backstage areas and green room for artists are glamorous affairs. On the grassroots circuit, that’s rarely the case, particularly at festivals. This year’s backstage improvements include additional green tarpaulins to keep the weather out, and a portaloo exclusively for artists use (not pictured).
3.30pm
It’s a twenty minute changeover between bands, which is not much time, especially as for the first half of that time you’ve basically got to let the band before you get off the stage. This can happen very smoothly if everybody stays calm and remains patient, which was the case here.
A pet peeve of mine in playing festivals where bands don’t respect other bands. This ‘advice’ extends to all situations, even open mic nights, where you’re sharing a stage or equipment.
Listen to the other artists play. It doesn’t matter if you don’t like what they’re doing, be respectful.
When they’re finished, let them clear the stage before you go on. Nothing is achieved with two bands on stage fighting for space.
Play your set, stick to your time.
When you’re finished, clear the stage as quickly as possible.
Thank the organisers, thank your soundperson.
3.50pm
Showtime. Only forty minutes today. The previous two bands have been very funky and upbeat. I used to worry about being different from other bands at events like this. R.E.M. can be a bit of a niche market for some events, but generally our set of ‘mostly greatest hits’ is well received, and often songs like ‘Everybody Hurts’ can be the biggest crowd pleasers.
4.30pm
As the last notes of the last song fade away, we’re already in ‘pack up’ mode. This can involve actually properly packing your stuff away off stage, which can be a bit awkward, but you kind of get used to it. Not that I do it, but I’m always fascinated by people who leave their instruments out, and pack their leads and things away first. If I drop a cable, if somebody stands on a cable, it’s probably no big deal. If somebody knocks my guitar over, it’s going to be a bigger problem. Anyway… everybody has their process.
The other comment I’d make about situations like this is, offer to help your bandmates. They might not want you to pack things away, but often an extra pair of hands lifting heavy gear, or carrying it safely offstage, or back to the car is appreciated. A singer for example, has a lot less gear than a drummer. Actually, everybody has less gear than a drummer… the point is, when your gear is safe or stowed, see if you can help everybody else. As a band you’re in it together, not just whilst you’re on stage.
5.55pm
On the road again. Back down the M27 but this time up the A3 to Godalming. The weather has almost fully cooperated all day so far, which makes the hour and a quarter between gigs plain sailing.
6.40pm
We arrive at Secretts near Godalming, where we are greeted by an empty car park and abandoned farm shop. There is event signage though! So weaving along the access roads past the glasshouses and across a muddy field, security lets us into a parking area right next to the marquee we’re playing in. Result.
Frank’s already here, drumkit ready to go, so I set the PA up. Nice bit stage at one end of a big marquee. Hay bails, hanging baskets, bar at the far end. Beyond the tent there’s a small showground where another band is playing. There are more picnic tables, food trucks, welly wanging, stuff for the kids to do, all very nice.
The other band takes a break at 7.00 and comes to introduce themselves. Somewhat ironically they are called ‘One For The Road’ which should not be confused with the duo our old drummer Cam plays in called ‘One 4 The Road’. Nice people, very friendly, with a very similar setlist to us, which might require a few off the cuff choices from us this evening to avoid too much repetition. Much of the last set is spent with James, Frank and I exchanging smirks and shrugs as more of our planned setlist gets wheeled out by the band before us. Some songs form essential parts of our set, some are more flexible. They do what they do, we do what we do, it’s going to be different no matter what.
8.00pm
Once they finish at 8.00 we do a quick soundcheck. Again, manners… we might be in a different tent but we’re not going to play over their set. At 8.10 we wade in properly.
Tonight is a special night. Kate Harding, who I’ve mentioned in some of my previous blogs will be performing with us for the first time. Three songs in the first set, including her single “Wallflower” and three songs in the second.
Kate represents another dimension to the band, which is exactly what we hoped for, and despite a few nerves, (which I hope she doesn’t mind me saying) it went really well. The crowd was great, nice atmosphere, good setting and the band played really well. It was the kind of night you wish you could always play.
10.15pm
It’s all over, and the packing up begins again, but more so this time as we’ve had to run everything ourselves. At least the car isn’t far away, and it still isn’t raining. By 11.00 we’re loaded, ready for an hour drive home, where we will then be met by the task of unloading the car again.
My wife does all this with me. <<Thank you>> All the miles, all the lifting. She does get to sleep in the car though ;-)
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