Review: LeeFest 2011

by StephenMorris
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on 14 August 2011 in Features

LeeFest started when Lee Denny threw a party for his friends in his parents' absence. Since then, it's grown to become a great date on the festival calendar, somewhere in a field between Bromley and Croydon. But while British Sea Power are the headlining catch of the festival, LeeFest is great for smaller acts.

Acts like Keston Cobblers Club whose tuba and fiddle filled songs, created some beautifully heart warming Beirut-ish tunes. Acts also like Ellen And The Escapades whose gorgeous set is filled with lilting contemporary folk.

See also Pengillys, all experimental lo-fi weirdness meets the Brodsky Quartet. Or there's Professor Penguin: also somewhere in the realms of contemporary folk, with hints of Fleet Foxes and a talent for perceptive lyrics: 'Stop making things up and start making them happen'.

Contemporary folk may be the order of much of the festival (let's not forget Lost Cavalry, whose magical set involves great vocals, glockenspiel, melodeons and melodicas). But there's a lot of louder music too; Dinosaur Pile Up's cheeky grunge fills their tent with fans instantly. At one point they say 'We're getting told we're too loud.'  Impossible. There's also Tin Soldiers with their impressive US punk tinged heavy rock. They're here promoting their new album, 'Telling Tales'.

Stagecoach also play loud music - helped by a bald mandolin player in short shorts and a sweatband around his head. Again, it's a grunge-ish affair with hints of The Hold Steady and Weezer. Self assured and gleefully chaotic.

Elsewhere, the Dance Tent has a great selection of DJs. Rattus Rattus gets the Friday night crowd going with a sing-a-long set as lights whiz over head. Later, Foamo fills the tent with a dirty remix of Mike Snow's 'I'm Still An Animal'. But all the talk is about DJ Fresh's Saturday night set. He sets the place ablaze with remixes of everything from Eminem to the 'Tetris' theme.

Friday's main stage headliners Fenech-Soler, show there is life in nu-rave yet. The platform's filled with electric keyboards of various vintages. Strangely the lead singer sounds like George Michael. But don't let that put you off.

On Saturday the big hitters hove into view. Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly has more energy than is right and proper, bouncing around, playing guitar and singing at the same time. Next, Young Knives rattle through a set of hits, including 'Love My Name' which 'turned us into absolute millionaires earlier this year. So you're lucky we're here.'

The main draw is British Sea Power, purveyors of fine, atmospheric music - plus dashes of surreal humour. All is present and correct here. They play the profoundly moving 'The Great Skua'. But the set also features a man dressed as Fantastic Mr. Fox beating the band with plastic pigeons, others dressed as robots and guitarist Martin Noble climbing up the light rigging.

After watching British Sea Power storm through some impressive songs ('Remember Me', 'Go Lucifer' , 'Who's In Control'), it's clear LeeFest has been an absolute triumph.

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