so it came off ok in the end eh?!
over 300 quid raised for the johnradcliffe kids ward (little people: big needs) and a fun day of 22 diverse local acts over two stages in 11 hrs in the smallest live venue/pub in oxford!
so it was all a bit sleepy at the start - everybody tired and beaten down in the heat of the midday sun as we set up both stages...
2pm smilex's first set: like a practice with less breaks, crowd in front & pass the parcel too!
2.45pm ben phillips entertained us with a few nicely crafted acoustic pop nuggets and a cover of g'nr's classic 'i used to love her' - very much appreciated!
3pm tristan and the troubadours battled growing pains sound-wise but triumphed with style as they showed off material from their forthcoming demo and a song written that day!
3ish luke and marius delighted us all with they melodic interplay and sweet harmonies!
3.45pm skullthrash brought the metal in earnest (plus a mannequin!) the fan blowing paul's locks around during his shredding lead solos and them valiantly overcoming sound issues are prevailing memories as the alcohol and heat start to kick in properly!
3.40pm nikki p feeling like she's hanging at death's door manages to perform a few songs for us - leaving us wondering if she was really ill or just blagging it! awesome voice!
4.15pm the fairly hot chili peppers play a titanic set taking in songs from blood sugar through to stadium arcadium to the enthusastic cheers and kiedis arm gestures from jen smilex and andy verbalkink/tagbae amongst others! faves: parrallel universe, aeroplane!
4pm chris beard shows us his organ in the best possible taste! a really stunning set taking in a rousing cover of springsteen's dancing in the dark! then ran on to run a rival gig! ;-)
4.45pm james bell makes lee's day by doing 'nothing compares 2 u' really well and puts in a high energy set including his own awesome songs 'peppermint girl' and 'chevy chase'!
5.30pm toy1 give it some bongo action with a fitting sunny cover of new order's 'true faith'!
6pm upstairs the delta frequency turn the volume and intensity up to 11 with a storming set that leaves onlookers equally impressed and deafened! one of their best sets ever!
6.15pm andy 'tagbae' douglas recovers from the excitement of the ''chili's'' set with a batch of lovely acoustic early-frusciante style folk songs - his sounds suits the day perfectly!
6.45pm babygravy, one member short tonight play a tight inventive set including a brand new song and all their 'hits' - iona looks great as usual and z has a janet jackson tshirt on!
7pm the black hats fly through on their way to a gig at the jericho to give a set that proves that their songs are every bit as good strppied down as they are full band! great tunes!
7.30pm vestibule show how much they come on in leaps and bounds every set! their spasmodic post hardcore is the most thrilling and best delivered it has ever been! heavy!
7.45pm the family machine take it all in their stride, playing 'lethal drugs cocktail' and 'floers by the roadside' much to everyone's delight and auctioning bassist fila for the cause! :-)
8.15pm the courtesy kill play a stormer! fresh from the studio, they are more well oiled than ever and deliver pop hits one after another with ease! beef gets its first mention of the day!
8.30pm tara milton of nubiles notoriety takes us on a musical vagabond's journey calling to mind cat stevens and looking every bit the iconic rock star while delivering lush tunes!
9pm the walkoff start with a sitdown chat session which should become a regular part of their show then its business as usual and all fiery industrial drum&bass hell breaks loose!
9.15pm ally craig shows us why he is currently oxford's most talked about singer/songwriter! this kid is a genius in the waiting! angular spirals is stunning as is the rest of a set filled with inventive songs and his own brand of caustic wit! again, stunning!
9.45pm verbal kink tear the prot mahon a new anal cavity! speakers topple, sweaty bodies flail and fly, the sound desk gets knocked over 3 times! waxy discharge ends a set of songs that have a rammed to rafters port singing and dancing like they were teens again!
10.30pm smilex play their second set and draw blood four times playing their forthcoming album in its entirety and playing a live game of musical statues! a fitting finish to the day!
there u go - what a load of fun! but would not have been possible without the following:
sound and stage/door hands: deadly (running the downstairs - well hobbling it! hehe! ) phill (who saved my bacon) and dave for sound upstairs and grant and liv and luke for door, filming,sound and other assistance! ally and the port for letting us run riot! thanks!
finally thanks to everyone who showed up! u made the day what is was: awesome! xxxxxxx