Well, I guess that it’s definitely pretty much done for the local festival season, but unlike last year, which was a good all rounder, this year had some very good and particularly bad moments. This blog will just go around them with some personal and very unproffessional thoughts, though don’t take them to heart, I just felt like writing about the overall impressions of the actual events, rather than making any sound, balanced appraisal on what is essentially a lot of hard work from a lot of people.
Disconick is going to shave off his beard, Big Oz is running around and so is everyone else. It could be a bout of madness, but the team at Beatdown and the Sno bar have never thought any clearer and have teamed up with Radio One’s Introducing for the greater good. Welcome to Livezone, most probably the biggest charity gig in Milton Keynes this year, with every penny going to Willen Hospice, with 2 stages (Introducing and Marshall), a mighty lineup of twenty-six bands and, most importantly, a good cause.
Day two! And I quickly learned that I was the sole cause for any lack of sun by lying down, so apologies for that. But the weather is fantastic and we’re due another good lineup for the day, along with the volleyball and skateboarding going on. Backstage it feels a little more in control too. There’s not much more to say than the day feels it’s going to be a good one and MaD look on top of things. By the time I get to the stage The Vision are already sound-checking, skater kids are about and a small crowd has started to form, roll on Sunday!
When I first heard that 2008′s Musik 4 U would take place in Station Square, I was worried that maybe there wouldn’t be enough room, but the sight of a volleyball pitch (complete with sand!), halfpipe, full sized stage and enough room for more than a load of people on the grass quickly dispelled any negative thoughts. Getting a press pass was a mission but you have to appreciate how much organisation there is involved once you see it. Before too long the line-checks are complete, the first DJs have played and it’s time to start.
It’s day two of MK4U 2008 and it is muggy as hell, but a veggie burger and hot chocolate soon sort things out and I make my way to the Create Tent for some live bands The lineup is decidedly more chilled out this time around, leaning towards a few alternative and acoustic acts that seem to compensate for the amount of metal bands on yesterday, fingers crossed both the weather and the music turn out alright on this not-so-summery day.
MK4U was quite a blast last year, being organised with the youth in mind. This has it’s pros and cons though, and so a careful balance needs to be made with what the kids want and the possible variety. Mind you, it’s a sunny day and that’s always the sign of a good festival, we even find our favourite food van and the milkshake stall looks ever so tempting, let’s see if MK4U can follow up from last year…
Day two, waking up and moving my tent over to the Firetone lads, the morning turns into a mission for bacon butties, a jam with two talented young lads from Northampton and curiosity of questionable camping debris. The morning passes too quickly though and I receive word to meet my buddies Kate and Steffi at the control room, we meet up and I just catch the Terrapins before they set up.
If I had a choice between working in the kitchens or camping (that’s right, kids, I’m a chef, not a writer) then I know what I would choose. In fact, I did have the choice when Togfest came up for it’s first run of two days and a campsite. After setting up it’s a case of waiting till six for the music to start, a bit of a wait but better than work. Meeting my partner in crime along the way, we managed to have a bit of a look around before the bands really started.
Sunday, however, turned out to be very different, the sun is actually out and judging by my lobster-red arms at the end of the day, with a definite vengeance. Still, at least this time I get to the festival on time and meet up with Steffi under a tree while we sit in the shade as a bright sun shines down, the breeze picks up, we have a look at what’s on and Linda Watkins, the first act of the day, tunes up.
It’s just crept into the afternoon on Saturday and I’m running late, not too sure where exactly to park and texting Steffi that I’m on my way, it’s a bad start but the arrival to a festival with muggy weather doesn’t do much to start the day off.
