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

Get In Her Ears2 Comments

Track Of The Day: Velvet Volume – ‘Honey’

If you need proof that sisters are doin’ it for themselves, look no further than Velvet Volume. The Danish trio, formed of siblings Noa, Naomi, and Nataja have shared their new single ‘Honey’ and it drips with youthful, fiery angst. It’s an explicit ode to the insecurities faced by vulnerable teenage girls.

In the last couple of years Velvet Volume have played international festivals including Reeperbahn, Eurosonic, London Calling, Paaspop Festival and more. Their debut album Look Look Look! was released in 2017 to critical praise in their native Denmark, and caught the attention of Nettwerk who recently signed them up for an international deal.

Talking about their new track, the band explain: “Expressed in an unrefined and very loud way, [‘Honey’] is a song we wrote back in 2013… so you can really sense the unapologetic and explicit young vibe in it.” The trio are planning to tour throughout 2019, so keep your eyes peeled for more info.

Listen to ‘Honey’ below and follow Velvet Volume on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

PREMIERE: Mesadorm – ‘When She’s in That Mood’

A gentle, evocative, charming listen; Mesadorm have shared their new single ‘When She’s in That Mood’ ahead of its official release via Babylegs Records on 29th March. The track is taken from the band’s upcoming acoustic album Epicadus, which will be released on 19th April.

The new LP was recorded live in Eype Church, Bridport, where PJ Harvey recorded Let England Shake. It features re-imagined songs from the band’s 2018 album Heterogaster and new compositions arranged for acoustic instruments.

Frontwoman Blythe was inspired to write ‘When She’s in That Mood’ after leaving her previous band Vaults in 2017. The song’s composition prompted her to think of a particular musical moment in Michael Nyman’s piece ‘The Mood That Passes Through You’ – written for Jane Campion’s award-winning 1993 film, The Piano.

Speaking about the track, Blythe explains: “After a few transcendental days holed up overlooking the Dorset coast and walking seaweed beaches in February 2017, my then boyfriend Tom jammed some chords on his guitar and I sang some lyrics I’d penned about my experience there. I later translated his guitar chords to my piano to develop it into a more complete accompaniment part…”

“The New Zealand coastline and atmosphere in that heady film, the Dorset coastline and the East Anglian coastline of my upbringing fused together in my mind as I wrote about the paradox of ‘choosing’ to evaporate the self in sex and love. I also reference a good friend of mine who inspired me with her spirit of surrender in this way – she, my muse, is dancing while I sing”

Blythe’s perceptive storytelling and Mesadorm’s collective musical precision as a whole are wonderfully demonstrated on ‘When She’s in That Mood’. Listen to the new track below, and make sure you catch the band on tour in April & May (tickets are available here).

 

Mesadorm Epicadus Acoustic Tour 2019
24th April – The Forge, Bristol
25th April – The Barrelhouse, Totnes
26th April – The Rose Hill, Brighton
27th April – St Mary’s Music Hall, London
28th April – Cobalt Studios, Newcastle
29th April – Hug & Pint, Glasgow
30th April – Secret Location , Edinburgh
1st May – Burton Arms, Manchester
11th May – Rodborough Church, Stroud
25th May – Kino, St Leonards, Hastings
26th May – Poltimore Festival, Exeter

Photo Credit: Sarah Cresswell

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate Crudgington1 Comment