Live Music - Saturday 24th June 06 - Urban Artz Festival at East Park (5/5) By Michelle Dee Photo Gallery by Mo and Tony

(1/5), (2/5), (3/5), (4/5), (5/5).

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So to SideWinder on the main stage. Every one was bathed in glorious sunshine as the youngest groupie you ever did see marched to the front and proceeded to have a chat with Christian lead singer. Due to a sound engineering issue his vocal wasn't quite right; it's getting to be quite a habit this, not getting a decent sound out of P.A. systems. The crowd around me were enjoying SideWinder's individual sound and to the left on the hill a certain Somerfields manager was enjoying my dancing. The popular three-piece treated us to a couple of new songs including Twice in a weekend that features a sweet bass flourish from Knocker that stands out over the guitar.

Over time I think this song could grow and develop with different layers and harmonies to fill out the sound.

The harmonies on Taxman and the Union were cracking. Nightclubs and Bars went down particularly well and seemed to capture people's imagination; perhaps they were thinking about going out later on, I know I was. Satellite races away with precision timing and has leanings of the pop Indie nature. 5678 shows us that the band can not just play but are also adept at counting too. SideWinder are still as cool as a refrigerated slice of poloni (a kind of processed sliced pork) but where as they used to play to hundreds and hundreds, their audience of the past few years have all gone and developed a serious case of responsibility.

They have proper jobs, as do the band, and have to juggle work, child care issues with a slowly vanishing social life. SideWinder need to attract new fans younger fans perhaps, the new direction may well encourage the new breed to come to gigs. Some of the comments the band received were heartening, absolute quality performance said one, at one point it was like listening to Kurt Cobain said another you was very entertaining said a third. So all is good in the SideWinder camp, watch out for them blowing into a shore near you soon.

To round the day off Someone and the Somethings did an encore, a special half-hour set that I thoroughly enjoyed. As to what songs they played I can't remember. I do know a pile of people were up dancing in the sunlight to the powerhouse of percussion and soaring vocals. I remember dancing with an old friend Goth Phil to Ghostbusters which was just the perfect way to end a brilliant day. Then I was kidnapped by him and his friends. To be continued....

Photo Galleries By Mo and Tony www.thepeasants.co.uk www.myspace.com/sidewinderband www.myspace.com/djsupercharge www.myspace.com/oraclehull

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