LIVE (Photos): Folk In The Park, 19.08.2023

When you think of folk festivals, the Surrey town of Sutton isn’t necessarily what initially springs to mind… But Folk In The Park is looking to change that. Organised by local grassroots music venue The Sound Lounge (lead by musicians Hannah White and her partner Kieron Marshall), it’s a day of beautiful live music ranging from folk and blues – with tinges of jazz, rock and indie – with a family friendly focus and admirable sustainable ethos.

Arriving at the somewhat unlikely location of Manor Park in Sutton on Saturday morning, bright and early at 11am, I feel instantly at ease – greeted by sunshine, friendly faces and the twinkling tones of first artist of the day, Holly Henderson. With songs ranging from the gently empowering ‘Sunflower’ (“for all my ladies out there!”), to the lilting energy of ‘Wendy’ (a “dog love song”), Henderson’s rich, luscious vocals flow throughout with a sparkling uplifting charm. 

Following the dark humour and gravelly blues-strewn folk of Irish raconteur David Hope, local artist (“the last festival I played took me 4 hours to get to, but I walked here in 5 minutes!”) Hannah Scott takes to the stage. Having received acclaim from the likes of Dermot O’Leary on BBC Radio 2 and the likes of MOJO, as well as having her songs featured on medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, she delivers a stirring, emotion-rich set. Reflecting on themes ranging from the complications that come with ending a relationship (‘Untangling’), to the artistic need for pain and hardship in order to feel inspired (‘Hurricanes’), each song showcases the heartfelt grace of her crystalline vocals and accompanying resplendent melodies. 

After enjoying a little bop in the sunshine to Matt Owens & The Delusional Vanity Project, it’s time for Scottish artist Roseanne Reid. Despite being confined to a chair throughout the performance due to a mysterious toe-breaking incident, she succeeds in captivating me completely. With her blues-tinged Americana and a heartfelt raw emotion, she reflects on life’s complexities, singing of love for her child and wife, whilst oozing a blissful, stirring allure. Having recently released her gorgeous second album Lawside, and counting the legendary Steve Earle amongst her fans, Roseanne Reid is a new favourite for sure; a gifted songwriter capable of crafting truly exquisite creations with a relatable tenderness and honesty. 

With a slight shift in tempo, Sheffield’s Lauren Housley takes to the stage with her band The Northern Cowboys to treat us to a joyous blast of energy. Propelled by Housley’s rich, soulful vocals and an infectious funk-fuelled groove, they have the all-ages crowd dancing along in jubilant array to their spritely country-inspired anthems. 

As we continue to revel in the sunshine, enjoying the Lo-Cal pale ale and vegan hotdogs, it would seem that Hannah White is not only a fantastic festival organiser, but a wonderful musician too. Accompanied by her own ‘super group’, including husband Kieron Marshall and Geraint Watkins, she delivers each emotion-strewn offering with a soaring, glistening energy, as her beautifully honey-sweet vocals flow with a celestial splendour throughout.

Throughout the rest of the evening, the great music and lovely vibes continue; we shimmy along to the gritty blues-rock of Dana Gillespie as she regales awe-inspiring stories of her time in the music industry (“David (Bowie) wrote this one for me”) before feeling waves of comforting ‘90s nostalgia for Del Amitri’s uplifting set closing the festival.

A truly glorious day filled not only with the loveliest of music, but a wonderful sense of community. As people of all ages come together to enjoy a day in the sunshine in a local green space, it’s hard not to feel united both in our love of folk-inspired ditties and our common desire for positive change in the world. With its sustainable ethos and friendly, inclusive atmosphere adding to the brilliant line-up of musicians, Folk In the Park is just what we need right now; a blissful escape from the everyday worries of life. A little glistening beacon of hope at a time when things might seem rather bleak. 

So, thank you Folk In The Park – we’re looking forward to next year already!

Words: Mari Lane / @marimindles
Photos: Paul Dawes / @pauldawesart

mariangelicalaneLeave a comment

LISTEN: GIHE on Soho Radio with Maria Uzor (21.08.23)

Tash and Kate were back on Soho Radio’s airwaves playing loads of new music from some of their favourite female, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ artists! Mari offered some of her “musical musings” too. Tash talked about their excitement for Yeah Yeah Yeah’s performance at upcoming East London festival All Points East, whilst Kate shared memories of her day at Bloodstock Festival a few weeks ago. Artists featured on the eclectic playlist included Lauren Auder, Deyah, Kelly Lee Owens, ALT BLK ERA, HAVVK, Mykki Blanco and Gender Chores.

Tash also caught up with Norwich-based electronic artist and GIHE fave Maria Uzor to talk about her upcoming debut album, Soft Cuts. Set for release on 13th October via Castles In Space, Maria spoke about the inspirations behind the tracks on the record, including her latest single ‘Ventolin’. Maria will be playing a headline show at The Windmill in Brixton on 18th October. Tickets are available here.

Listen back to the show below:

We’ll be back on Soho Radio on Monday 18th September from 12-2pm!

Tracklist
The Breeders – Cannonball
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Spitting Off The Edge of the World
Boygenius – Without You Without Them
Kelly Lee Owens – Throwing Lines
Lauren Auder – the ripple
DROWND – Sinner (KANGA Remix)
Melanie Charles – Petty
Deyah – Heart Status
Amaroun – Dopamine
ALT BLK ERA – Misfits: SOLAR
ZAND – Deliverance
Witch Weather – Don’t Need
shaene – sad
Frances and The Majesties – All Of Time
Mary Lovett – Seven
Maria Uzor – Ventolin
**Interview with Maria Uzor**
Emily Winng – Leave The Grass Grow Wild
GENN – Calypso
Baby Rose – Stop the Bleeding
Hinako Omori – cyanotype memories
Pet Snake – Jacket
Mykki Blanco – Holidays In The Sun
HAVVK – Expiry
Gender Chores – Dysphurious
CHROMA – Woman To Woman
Noga Erez – Quiet
HAIM – Want You Back

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

GUIDE & PLAYLIST: Supersonic Festival 2023

Event: Supersonic Festival

Where: Digbeth, Birmingham, UK

When: 1st – 3rd September 2023

Ticket Info:
Weekend ticket: £160.00 / Day tickets: £40.00

Full info about other ticket options available here

General Info:
To mark 20 years since its inception, Supersonic Festival have put together another exciting programme of alternative music and events for their 2023 line-up. Described as “championing experimental and adventurous music and creating an inclusive and joyful space where all are welcome,” the team have organised three days of art and events for festival-goers to immerse themselves in.

Alongside the music line-up (which you can read more about below), Supersonic have a vast selection of extracurricular activities to get involved in. There will be workshops, guest DJs and Do.om Yoga, as well as a roof-top takeover by Decolonise Fest (a DIY collective organised by and for punx of colour). BBC Radio 6 Music’s flagship experimental show Stuart Maconie’s Freak Zone will be in attendance, with a pub quiz hosted by Stuart, plus there will be film screenings from labels including Ipecac, The Flenser, Thrill Jockey and Constellation Records.

There will also be ‘In Conversation’ events with Eugene S. Robinson of Oxbow on his book A Walk Across Dirty Water and Straight Into Murderer’s Row: A Memoir, and with John Robb on his book The Art Of Darkness: The History of Goth. Finally, Supersonic will be hosting exhibitions of artwork by Black Lodge Press in collaboration with Dog Section Press, and by skateboarder and artist Richard “French” Sayer celebrating the Home of Metal, and a special celebratory display in response to the festival’s archive by artist and designer David Hand and friends.

 

Who’s Playing: Check out the full line-up here

There are so many excellent bands playing Supersonic this year, it’s hard to pick favourites! At Get In Her Ears, we focus on female, non-binary and LGBTQ+ talent, so beneath the official line-up poster below, there are some in depth recommendations about artists who we think you should check out.

You can get to know them all better by listening to our accompanying Spotify Playlist at the end of this feature too.

 

DIVIDE AND DISSOLVE

The gargantuan-yet-graceful sounds of this heavy duo will definitely be a festival highlight on Saturday night. Their doom-ridden instrumentals are designed to erode the foundations of colonialism and liberate the land for indigenous communities. Saxophonist and guitarist Takiaya Reed and percussionist Sylvie Nehill have been honing their unique form of noise in order to help cauterize the wounds of colonialism since the release of their debut album BASIC, back in 2017. The patience and empathy that underscores their creativity inspires a deep sense of awe and respect. Read our interview with Takiaya here, and check out our review of the band’s latest album Systemic here.

BACKXWASH

Supersonic will be hosting genre-blending rapper & producer Ashanti Mutinta aka BACKXWASH’s first and only UK show this year – making this performance totally exclusive. The Zambian-Canadian, Polaris Music Prize-winning artist will unleash her hip-hop, horrorcore and industrial sounds on festival-goers on Saturday night. The poetic and cathartic qualities of her seething lyricism are enhanced by the visceral, corrosive soundscapes she has built around them. Her latest album, HIS HAPPINESS SHALL COME FIRST EVEN THOUGH WE ARE SUFFERING, is well worth your attention.

TOTAL LUCK

Birmingham-based post punk trio Total Luck will be performing on Friday night. Switching between spoken word and loud, punk vocals, the band create noisy, brooding cacophonies that are are sure to linger in your ears long after they’ve finished playing. Listen to more of their sounds via their bandcamp page here.

ELVIN BRANDHI

If festival-goers want to witness some truly chaotic, intense, experimental noise, then Elvin Brandhi’s set on Saturday is a must see. Described as “an improvising lyricist, producer and sound artist who builds aberrant beats from field recordings, tape, vinyl, instrument and voice,” the Welsh artist will provide her listeners with an unusual, visceral performance. Check out her latest album Drunken Love, here.

TAQBIR

Blending activism and abrasive music together to encourage and empower North African women to express themselves freely, Moroccan punks Taqbir will be a live force to be reckoned with when they play on Saturday night. The five-piece pay homage to the female pioneers of the UK punk scene such as X-Ray Spex, Bona Rays or The Slits, and use their own music as a vessel to unleash their anger and frustration at the systems that oppress them. Check out their bandcamp page here.

SILVERMOTH

On Sunday, Supersonic will be hosting the debut live performance of atmospheric noise-rock collective Silver Moth. Comprised of Stuart Braithwaite (Mogwai), Elisabeth Elektra, Steven Hill and members of Abrasive Trees, Burning House and Prosthetic Head, together they create genre-blending, evocative aural ruminations. Listen to their latest album Black Bay, here.

LANKUM

Admired for their captivating live performances, acclaimed Irish contemporary folk quartet Lankum will be playing Supersonic on Sunday night. They were first recommended to us by Dublin-based trio Bitch Falcon, and we’ve been assured that the atmosphere at their shows is completely magnetic. Listen to their latest record, False Lankum, here.

DEERHOOF

Festival-goers will be able to enjoy the idiosyncratic sounds of acclaimed alt-indie band Deerhoof on Friday night. Their melodic-yet-noisy infusions are not to be missed. Check out their latest record, Miracle-Level, here.

MORE TALENT

These artists are completely new to us, but we recommend you check them out too: un.procedure, BIG|BRAVE, Jessica Moss, MC Yallah & Debmaster, Ashenspire, Blue Ruth, Agathe Max, Matana Roberts, The Seer, Ondata Rossa, Ragana, Josephine Foster, Sirom

 

For more information visit Supersonic Festival’s official website

Check out our Supersonic Playlist below, featuring some of the female & LGBTQ+ talent playing the festival this year!

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

LIVE (Photos): Deer Shed Festival, 2023 (Day 3: 30.07.2023)

Having fallen in love with North Yorkshire festival Deer Shed when I attended for the first time last year, I was super glad I got to go again this year. Highlighting a real family focus, whilst hosting an incredible range of exciting new artists, it oozes the warmest of vibes and – being smaller in size than most other festivals – creates a space that feels comfortingly intimate; an inclusive safe haven for artists and fans of all genres and ages. Whilst providing a child-friendly environment (with an array of activities organised specifically for them), this does not take away from the quality and array of performances on offer for everyone to enjoy. Although I’d say I’m in the minority of attendees who does not have children (or isn’t a child themselves!), I in no way feel this to be hindrance – it is still very much an ‘adult’ festival, just one that happens to also be a safe and fun environment for kids to be in too! And, amongst those performing, a fantastic amount of female, non binary and queer performers are represented, which makes for a pretty dreamy time. I was lucky enough to catch lots of these over the weekend – a good balance of artists I already knew and loved, and those who I had not had the chance to see before.

Kicking off the last day of the festival at the In The Dock stage, Divorce liven the spirits with their reverb strewn, Americana-tinged indie-pop. With the luscious honey-sweet-yet-husky vocals of front person Tiger leading the way, the Nottingham band treat us to a beautifully uplifting set; oozing a dreamy romanticism alongside a subtle gritty energy, I can’t get enough of the emotive lilting harmonies and scuzzy hooks. Though I’m very happily married, I wish every Sunday could start with a bit of Divorce.

Recommended by festival director Kate Webster as a must-see at the festival, Liverpool artist Pet Snake fulfils my expectations and more with her stirring alt-folk offerings. The solo project of Evelyn Halls (Clean Cut Kid), it’s an instantly immersive and beautifully heartwarming experience to see live. As Hall starts off by making the bold claim that Deer Shed is “the nicest festival I’ve ever been to“, I may have to agree; sitting in the Lodge Tent, G&T in hand, the all ages audience captivated and swaying along as each emotion-strewn offering flows from the stage. With shades of the catchy allure of Jenny Lewis, and themes ranging from life-changing love (a particularly touching moment when Hall dedicates ‘Jacket’ to her guitarist / husband) to the struggles of returning to the outside world post-pandemic, each song tugs at the heartstrings in all the right ways. With her rich vocals and charming charisma alongside the shimmering anthemic melodies, Pet Snake has me utterly spellbound. 

One of the bands I’d been most looking forward to seeing this weekend (and one who we’d been lucky enough to catch a sneak peek of when they joined Sprints yesterday), Leeds based English Teacher take to the main stage with a set so poignant and immersive that I almost don’t notice the rain. With a subtle political drive and poetic lyricism, each song hits with a cutting post-punk power, whilst maintaining the band’s truly unique tongue-in-cheek wit and fierce raw energy. Despite their trademark no-frills approach, the band lose none of what matters and deliver each driving offering with an engaging majesty. 

Glistening in emerald green, Gwenno charms the damp crowd with her magnetising shimmering aura. Alternating between singing in both Cornish and her native Welsh, she delivers soaring pastoral odes to her homeland (and cheese – “man’s greatest invention”) with a rich celestial splendour and uplifting grace.

After warming ourselves with some delicious vegan noodles (and getting my big warm jacket from the tent), it’s time for The Big Moon – having been a fan for years now, I’m not quite sure how I’ve never seen them live before, and I’m glad the moment has finally arrived, though it seems I’m not quite prepared for the power with which the ‘moment’ hits me. With my partner taking photos in the pit, I stand alone and immediately start to lose all track of whether it’s raindrops or tears running down my face, as the searing twinkling emotion of ‘Wide Eyes’ emanates from the stage. Slightly embarrassing, but testament to the truly evocative power this band are able to create. And, with their witty banter and sunny disposition, the teardrops are short-lived (sadly the rain isn’t), and The Big Moon succeed in brightening our spirits with the joyous, lilting allure of each and every offering. As they treat us to an eclectic array of songs new and old (including an acapella rendition of ‘Formidable’ which involves “huddling together for warmth”), the pac-a-mac-ed crowd of fans new and old sing along in unity, and I’m left cheered and inspired not only by The Big Moon’s beautiful musicality, but their infectious warmth and camaraderie. And it’s awesome to see Soph repping another GIHE fave, Brighton’s CLT DRP, on her t-shirt!

The rain continues, but so does the music. Despite the downpours, nineties Scottish band The Delgados close the festival with their blissful indie-pop anthems.

So, thank you Deer Shed for another gorgeous weekend, I’ll see you again next year (not even holding it against you that I came back with Covid…)! See more words about Day 1 and Day 2 of the festival.

Words: Mari Lane / @marimindles
Photos: Paul Dawes / @pauldawesart

mariangelicalane1 Comment