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Aug 2017 - p.8
I hope you all managed to see the hilarious
recent video footage of champagne
environmentalist Sting sat in the audience at
the Polar Music Prize while José Feliciano
murdered Every Breath You Take It really was
deliciously excruciating!
As Mr Sumner carried out what can only be
described as a “tantric squirm” it was hugely
satisfying to know that he may have finally
realised how many of us have felt listening to
his output for the last thirty years
Mind you this is the man who fails to
acknowledge that his jet setting consumerist
lifestyle might possibly help cause global
warming…
Well the festival season is in full flow with the
weather being pretty kind overall I’ve been
lucky enough to have already played at a couple
this summer but can’t help but feel exasperated
by the recent trend of tribute bands creeping
onto the bill at some of the decent ones that
should know better There are already plenty of
fake fests out there for those who like that type
of thing (probably the sort of people who go to
STING IN THE TALE
gigs and talk through a band’s set until they
hear the song they’ve heard on the radio
suddenly transforming themselves into their
biggest fan…)
No offence intended to the trib acts
themselves but I see it as yet another kick in
the teeth for songwriters and original bands
I’m sure the idea would never have been
entertained a few years ago and I won’t be told
there’s a lack of great artists doing their own
stuff out there who are in desperate need of
exposure Believe me I’ve seen them!
If that’s not bad enough I’ve noticed a couple
of the festival applications now ask grass roots
acts how many facebook likes and twitter
followers they have Now we all know they can
be bought or abused by those artists who
appear happier online rather than on stage but
surely it’s the headliners and reputation of the
festival that attract the punters? Perhaps it’s
just their way of skipping listening to the
submissions…
“Get yourself a priority ticket… All you need is
either the right credit card or phone contract
Who said rock n roll’s dead?”
News Trash
News Flash
FIELDMUSIC
Well firstly what an honour it is to step into Nick
J Townsend’s shoes for a month (size stilettos if
you were wondering) with a bit of music news and
a rather juicy bunch of gripes He certainly deserves
the break I thought he was starting to mellow !
Introducing guest columnist...
Ian Passey
aka
The Humdrum Express
