Festival review
The Bearded Theory Festival 2024
Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud
There is no point reviewing Bearded Theory 2024 without diving straight into the mud as it were, the word mud came up constantly in all conversation over the Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I haven't heard the work Mud mentioned as often since 1974 when a certain group dressed in Teddy Boy drapes were heading up the ol' charts with a catchy number called Tiger Feet.
So let's get the mud situation out of the way early, yes it was unbelievably muddy, on arrival Friday early morning it seemed that the weekend just couldn't make it through to the other side with so many people to come and so many acts, equipment, stalls, funfair rides all having to carry on as normal. Though this is exactly what happened, though the dreaded "M" word returned often, everyone just carried on as normal against whatever the weather could muster.
Music is our saviour
With a case of what must of been similar to moon walking (though never tried the real thing) it was a challenge to traverse between stages as I had intended on some tight schedules to catch all the musical artists on a long list. If I miss out a fair few it means I couldn't always meet that tough target. Anyway it was the music that dragged us back up to a euphoric state again....
The first performance I caught was on the Woodland Stage with Swedish Guitar popsters Girl Scout, a perfect start in a fairly sparsely populated, tree surrounded glade. So early in the day that the bar had not commenced operation though a throng of beer disciples were baying for the taps to open. Girl Scout have that hidden Scandinavian vocal delivery that suits this time and place, Emma Jansson's singing does remind me of Bette Serveert though they originated further south than Sweden.
Later on the Woodland stage I got to see some harder edged punkish attitude with Liines that followed the fairly gentle songs from Trout.
The second stage being in a marquee was a haven at times on the Friday. Saint Agnes edged towards the side of Goth and threw many shapes and produced well crafted songs. Bis were bouncing from the first drum beat, invisible springs in Steven and John Clark's boots keeping them almost permanently hovering a foot above the stage.
Panic Shack introduced themselves in what may have been Marks and Spencers latest range of undergarment. They put on a great show with a different look and thought provoking lyrics.
Later The Chameleons produced a polished set, the sound was excellent and a tough slot to fill when up against the big draw across the field in Bob Vylan. Mark Burgess's regrouped compadres had new material to tempt us with and it sat right next to their early works like bedfellows.
Marika Hackman also has product in album Big Sigh and looks to be on an upward trajectory. Again a great sounding accomplished set on The Meadow stage.
Plying their trade for over 40 years New Model Army do what they do into the night, sending many back to their camps with their ears ringing and white light flashes blinking in their eyes.
I missed Bob Vylan as previously mentioned but made The Pallet Stage for Dexys, who produced a typical Kevin Rowland show that I heard some describing with dismay, I thought they were great as knowing how Kevin does his mid set inter band chat I blocked that out and rejoiced in hearing some amazing songs still delivered with class, though maybe not with the gusto and attitude of 1980-82.
Headliners on Friday were Future Islands with the fascinating stage presence of Sam Herring. He of amazing knee strength to spend 45 minutes skimming across stage with arms and legs flying in random directions that look fairly impossible at times. They certainly have an original electro sound that is totally enhanced by Sam Herring and his very personal delivery of the lyrics.
The weather Gods had listened to our pleas and Saturday bursts with added sunshine, early highlights were the lively two piece The Meffs and skapop hybrid Sonic Boom Six, both bands with boundless energy. Shoegaze masters Bdrmm sauntered on stage and eased into their performance without a nod or a wink just what looked like guitar telepathy. They are simply getting better and better, this performance was one of the moments of the weekend. Craft and control of the sound was faultless while dipping and soaring to highs that pushed the marquee's canopy to bursting. How long they were on I don't know as it went by in a daydream minute.
The main stage served up a trio of contrasting styles with Wargasm followed by Sleaford Mods and the reason many had travelled to this part of the country Jane's Addiction. The headliners sound was hard to dissect from front of stage, I am not sure how it was heard further back but it was good to see the legendary nineties pioneers back on a stage anywhere let alone right in front of us.
Sunday is the traditional fancy dress day at Bearded Theory, the theme for 2024 was Sci -Fi and the ingenuity showed no bounds, where improvisation and imagination took hold of them the outfits brightened the day in silver and foil. From Star Trek to Alien all members of the sci-fi film world came out in their wellies to display their hard work with scissors and tape.
New York band Bodega performed two slots on two stages, firstly their current setlist then a second performance of Bob Dylan songs on The Meadow stage, both being weekend high points. Les Savy Fav provided mad, bonkers, craziest stage show of the whole weekend. If you have seen them before, then this needs no explaining.. In fact I don't think words can explain that 40 minutes or so other than to say I am so glad I was there to witness it.
Florence Shaw of Dry Cleaning is fun to watch with a multitude of poses and expressions that help lift the band to a division above some of the current angst ridden songstresses, plus the songs are good. Desperate Journalist with several albums behind them creep relentlessly forwards with their development.
On the Pallet stage another band that have not been too prominent on stage in the UK recently, Dinosaur Jr are here to blow the cobwebs out of every corner of the festival site with an extremely powerful backline that towers over J. Mascis and has the power to dim the lights in the local area. They have their style of what appears little rehearsal or effort but for many this is the band to be here for in 2024.
Photographs by Dan Reddick
Review by Dan Reddick