As I didn’t attend the Friday night I was well pumped up for a bit of Cast and Starsailor on Saturday.
It has been a good 25 years since I’d been to Bower Fold in Stalybridge, a youth player called Shaun Wright-Philips was just breaking into the City Reserves. I was looking forward to how this Festival was going to be welcomed by the locals. When I got there I was greeted by very friendly staff, in fact they were great for the whole day. Very helpful. When I do new festivals I’m always a bit apprehensive of how things will pan out because I need access to shoot pics.
The first act I saw was Chris Helme. There are a couple of songs I was familiar with, Love is the Law and Blinded by the Sun. I dont really like acoustic sets but when you have two great songs to sing along too it’s fine with me.
Next was Oasis Supernova. Cover bands can sometimes be scoffed at by die hard music fans but I’ve always found them entertaining. With an Oasis tribute you are guaranteed a full set of classics.
They dont have to be convincing to the eyes, just sound similar and Oasis Supernova really entertain and I enjoyed them.
When Nigel Clarke did his set I had a wander around to get a beer and check out the atmosphere. Lots of people chilling in the sun and a few bits of entertainment around the place. The 2 stiltwalkers had my sense of humour, wandering around doing risque selfies with the crowd.
The kids were treated to the ‘giant bubble’ making couple. Did I see them during Starsailors set?
Cast. What can I say, its between them and James in my eyes as the best ever Festival Band. They really are a good example of how good the Brit era was in the nineties.
This would have been probably my 7th time I’d seen them and they may be over 3 decades old, they are still as good as always.
Tunes like Sandstorm, Walk Away, Finetime, Alright and Free Me are always favourites at their gigs and festivals. They were absolutely brilliant.
Last of all came Starsailor, another band that dont disappoint. James Walsh walked on stage with the band and played one of my favourite songs immediately………Poor Misguided Fool.
Alcoholic, Four to the Floor and many more…..They closed with Good Souls.
Stalyfest was a great and inexpensive day out with some great music. The crowd and staff were very friendly and very easy to get to and from. In fact I waited 2 minutes on Mottram Road for my bus home and was at home, editing with a Kebab before 11.The only gripe I had was the time between bands. Between Cast and Starsailor was an hour and was too long in my opinion.
Lots of fun had and I really, really hope it happens again next year. My suggestion is get James and absolutely fill out that ground.
Words and Photos by Philip Goddard
