Carling Weekend (Leeds)
OK the weekend before this festival I was at The V festival with the intention of that being my last festival of the year. However never assume anything when it comes to festivals and me. Pepsi had mentioned that their were a couple of people thinking of going to the Leeds festival. They were trying to convince me that if I went it would mean I had gone to all four of the main music festivals. Even though that was a tempting thought Could I really go another weekend without any proper toilets and not much sleep, well at the time I just laughed it off and said I very much doubted that I would be going to it.
Well after the V weekend had finished and I got home My mind had been convinced and I felt like I had to go to the Leeds festival. So come Tuesday evening my Ticket had been booked and I was going to another festival and this festival meant arriving there on the Thursday because it was a three day festival. "Well it was my duty wasn't it, I couldn't let some embraceboarders go to a festival without Balco could I "
So Come Thursday I was on a train once again traveling up to Leeds for the festival which would end my summer of traveling around the country making friends and listening to great music, what a great way to spend a summer off work. "Thank you Barclays"
Right the first things I notice when I get to the campsite is the lack of watch towers in the camp site just one in field and the fact that the toilet block has a high metal fence around it. I Cant remember seeing drinking water either, I'm sure there was some, just not sign-posted. The other thing that concerned me was the fact that unlike the other festivals I don't think I saw fire equipment visibly available around the site.
Right I suppose at one of the festivals we had to get rain for long enough to make the whole place really muddy, well outside of the arena that is and this was that festival which did that. After leaving the arena Saturday where it had been raining a lot during the day we did not know what to expect outside on the way to the campsites and how shall I put it. Well it took us an hour to get back to the tents and on the way there we had to climb over barbed wire fences and jump over ditches to avoid huge puddles and once back at the tents our shoes were covered in mud and the bottom of Debbie's jeans were ripped from getting caught on the barbed wire. Not the ideal way to get back to a campsite is it.
why not have a look at my account of the Explosive final night of the Leeds festival.
OK the bands which I saw at the Carling Weekend
Friday
The Shining, Six By Seven, Haven, Easyworld, Alpine Stars, The Music, Guns and Roses.
Saturday
Soundtrack of our lives, Dandy Warhols, The White Stripes, Weezer, Electri Soft Parade, The Breeders, Feeder, Strokes.
Sunday
The Hives, Sum 41, Ash, Jimmy Eat World, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.
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Ok and now for the final time, out of these bands here is my top five, but remember this is Balco's personal opinion and not necessarily the views of embraceboarders as a whole.
1.The Music: Ok yeah I know they are at the top of my list again, but they are great live and Robs dancing has to be help get them to the top of the list again he just goes crazy and is great competition for Burnsey. Watch them both on the Music Tour which is coming up and I believe you will agree with me.
2. Feeder: I might not know all of their songs but they were still great live and it was one of their first performances since the tragic loss of their drummer Jon Lee. The crowd really got involved and there was a lot of (what would you call it, bouncing or jumping I'm never quite sure but you know what I mean). This was in one of the covered stages so it got extremely hot in there but it was great apart from the odd idiot, of a crowd surfer kicking me in the head...
3. The Strokes: After Feeder we rushed over to the strokes and I knew they were good live because I was right down the front at Brixton academy for them, so I really wanted to see them again. Right we weren't right down the front but we were close enough and not everyone around us were jumping, I assume that was because of the rain but I didn't care at all and was having a great time (bouncing or jumping). As I was jumping I heard someone shout balco and I turned to the side and Debbie was standing there. We knew she was there but her phone was dead so had not managed to meet up with her.
"what are the chances of meeting someone in a crowd as big as that? maybe it was my big mouth singing along or my strange clothes, who knows but we did so there!!!
4. Ash: Rumours were circulating that they may not play because the doctor had said they could only play for 10 minutes or sustain more injuries. But they were determined to play the festivals so they went ahead and played it was a great show, which just showed us why they have been around for ten years and if everything goes ok there's no reason why they cant go on for many more years if they keep producing the same kind of music as they already have.
5. The Hives: Wow the singer in the Hives is a big head isn't he? but he knows they are good and he expects you to know that as well. If not then by the end of the show he will make sure you do think that and I'm sure that they did convince pretty much everyone who was there. He certainly convinced me and I know for certain that I was not that sure about them to start.
Ok let me know what you think of my top five on my messageboard, I cant see many that you could disagree with on here, but I bet there are so let me know, go on I know you want to.
Click here to leave your opinions
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Right once you have read all of the above and also my account of the Leeds final night you may enter the photo Lounge
Embraceboarders cannot be held responsible for the actions of individuals in the photos now enjoy.