LIVE (Photos): Cro Cro Land, 06.04.19 (Part 1)

This weekend saw the launch of Croydon’s brand new festival, Cro Cro Land. Organised by Croydon residents Angela Martin and Julia Woollams, the festival aimed to promote gender equality in both its line-up and staff, whilst championing a number of local bands and artists, and working in conjunction with a number of grassroots organisations and charities, including Lives Not Knives.

And what a festival it was! Paying host to SO MANY incredible bands, it was not only a day filled with all the best live music, but also a completely unmatched sense of community spirit and united joy at being part of the DIY scene. As well as all the superb bands playing on the day, we bumped into so many other bands and artists there to support their peers, as well as other key members from the community, such as Caffy from The Zine UK and staff from Croydon’s best pub, The Oval Tavern. It was like a huge family gathering, filled with all the most life-affirming vibes and, of course, the best live music.

Our Jon Mo was there, along with Jamie MacMillan, to capture all the action…

First up we caught the fun-filled, punk-infused energy of Werecats on the Concrete Playground stage.

Photo Credit: Jamie MacMillan

Next, we headed to the main Town Square stage to be blown away by Tiger Mimic’s soaring rock anthems.

Photo Credit: Jon Mo

Photo Credit: Jamie MacMillan

Having ‘spun’ a few tunes ourselves at the Concrete Playground stage, we were treated to the luscious, jangly joy of Jetstream Pony‘s dreamy indie-pop offerings. And, whilst floating away on their twinkling scuzz, we also couldn’t help but notice lead singer Beth’s amazing, Croydon-inspired, skirt (made with material courtesy of local designer Made By Mrs M)!

Photo Credit: Jon Mo

Photo Credit: Jamie MacMillan

After continuing our DJ set at the Concrete Playground stage, GIHE faves ARXX blast into the packed space, delivering their unique, seething punk anthems with a magnificent sparkling power. And to see new music pioneer John Kennedy in the crowd enjoying the set really warms my heart; to see this band that I’ve followed for the last year or two grow into the incredible force of nature they are today makes me feel a bit like a proud mum – one of the most dedicated (and just all-round incredible) bands I’ve ever come across, they truly do deserve every success.

Photo Credit: Jon Mo

Photo Credit: Jon Mo

Back at the Town Square, fellow faves Berries (every band we saw on Saturday was a favourite!) get the crowd moving with their raucous whirring energy and distinctive, smouldering vocals. Oozing a raw passion (and donning band tees of other greats such as LIINES and Estrons), their infectious offerings and buzzing charisma proves this trio worthy of the highest accolades.

Photo Credit: Jon Mo

Photo Credit: Jamie MacMillan

With their unique, vibrant energy and glitchy groove, electro punk duo Feral Five fill the Concrete Playground with their soaring, shimmering offerings as front woman Kat’s glistening outfit and natural pizazz trigger dancing feet and smiling faces.

Photo Credit: Jon Mo

Photo Credit: Jamie MacMillan

As if it wasn’t enough to organise the festival, hero of the day Angela also lead her band Bugeye blazing into our eyes and ears with their incredible colourful power. Delivering their raging, synth-driven anthems with a fierce grit and vibrant energy, they dazzle us all with their contagious disco punk creations.

Photo Credit: Jon Mo

Photo Credit: Jon Mo

If you think all that sounds impressive, stay tuned for part two of our Cro Cro Land review, with more fab photos of the incredible bands who took our breath away on Saturday!

Photo Credit:
Jon Mo/@jonmophoto
Jamie MacMillan/@jamiemacphotos

Words:
Mari Lane/@marimindles

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Track Of The Day: Feral Five – ‘Pet Show’

Having previously wowed us with their unique, vibrant live show at The Finsbury, and recently supported Black Grape in Brighton, London/Kent based duo Feral Five are back to enchant our ears with new single ‘Pet Show’.

As a glitchy, other-worldly soundscape flows, ‘Pet Show’ is a wonderfully weird fusion of sounds, set in a world of illicit exotic creatures, working in underground bionic cat cafés and shady robo-companion bars. Pulsating with the deep, resonant vocals of front-woman Kat and an immense danceable beat, it’s a truly beguiling, yet slightly unnerving, work of forward-thinking art. With its whirring, electronic hooks and ethereal twinkling melodies, ‘Pet Show’ therefore showcases the duo’s innovative electro punk once again. Of the track, the band explain: “… it conjures up future subcultures and is inspired by developments in emotional AI and experimental beings, and the primal urge to party.”

 

With striking art work by leading anthro artist Strype, ‘Pet Show’ is out 7th December via Primitive Light Recordings.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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WATCH: Ms Mohammed – ‘Pandora’

A direct challenge to anyone who dares to suppress the feminine in all its forms, musician and activist Ms Mohammed has shared a video to accompany her latest single ‘Pandora’. Taken from her critically acclaimed EP Alibi, ‘Pandora’ brims with relentless riffs and thundering percussion, which reflects the strength and endurance of all the women featured in the new visuals. Among these women are Madame So, Kat Five of Feral Five and Zel from VODUN.

“We are sold limiting ideas of what it means to be female,” Ms Mohammed explains about the context behind her single and video. “The feminine is still derided in all cultures, still frowned upon, still synonymous with weakness. Truly celebrating the feminine would bring about the revolution that is so desperately needed. The Future is Femme!”

Ms Mohammed founded the Clit Rock movement in 2013 as a way of speaking out against female genital mutilation. As a champion of cross-cultural tolerance and an out queer artist who advocates for LGBT rights and visibility, Ms Mohammed is challenging prejudice through her music and we are happy to be her allies in the fight for equality.

Watch the video for ‘Pandora’ below and follow Ms Mohammed on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Feral Five – ‘I Want You’

Following the success of singles such as ‘Kiss’ and ‘Neurotrash’, and support from the likes of BBC 6 Music’s Steve LaMacq and Shaun Keavney, our favourite electro-punk duo Feral Five are back with another innovative offering.

Just in time for the festive period, ‘I Want You’ is a whirring assault on crass commercialism and a feminist call to reject the trash and go for what you really want. Filled with swooping glitchy beats, twinkling ’80s reminiscent synth hooks and soaring, resonant vocals, it’s the perfect antidote to the saccharine drivel you can find yourself inundated with at this time of year.

A gritty sonic delight, ‘I Want You’ is all you could ever need in your ears this Christmas.

 

‘I Want You’, the new single from Feral Five, is out 8th December.

Mari Lane 
@marimindles

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