Keith Carne – Ruth4Truth

Lucky Just To Be Here

25/02/202325/02/2023ruth4truth1 Comment

Lately I’ve been trying to find the positive in things. Sometimes good things come through effort, other times through luck.

I had bought tickets to a couple of gigs over the past year but ended up selling them on due to either difficulties with the logistics of getting there or a reluctance to be in large crowds. I’ve not even really listened to much music lately, I’ve been struggling to find anything to really get into. Also music = emotion and I’ve had quite enough of those without inducing any more. Music = opening myself up and I’ve been doing the opposite for a while. Saying that, I have BBC 6Music on in the car and on longer journeys I’ve been giving my kids a musical education with playlists from the 60s, 70s, 80s and a Beatles only special, cos, The Beatles. They like the 60s best so far, although I’m excited to make the 90s playlist next despite them objecting when I sing along. I’m lucky that they both have an interest in music and that I can share this with them. Anyway, when We Are Scientists announce a new album and tour, then you know I’m going to be there no matter what.

I think, I’m pretty sure that this was We Are Scientists gig number 20 for me. I tried to count them all (I’ve written about most on this blog but not all) and I reckon I’m at 20. I’m lucky to have seen them that many times, even luckier to have done so in about 8 towns and cities across 3 countries.

Their album, “Lobes“, came out last month. Initially I popped it on in the car and didn’t really think much of what I heard. Bit too much disco-pop all at once. Then I realised that I wasn’t properly paying attention (due to the driving) and that I had put it on shuffle by accident. I started it again, in order from the start and paid attention (also to the road, I got there safely). Unexpectedly, I got a bit tearful. Those guys. I suddenly remembered all the good music, good gigs, good people that I’ve met through this band and the good times we’ve had. I’m lucky to have that in my life.

The album is great. It’s probably the only We Are Scientists album where comparisons to other bands have sprung to mind (all good ones). It is another highly produced album, which I’m not usually a fan of. I don’t like when bells and whistles get in the way of the essence of good melody, rhythm, hooks and lyrics. Fortunately in this case the not-quite-literal-but-almost bells and whistles only enhance and complement those core elements which are as strong as ever. It’s a more consistent album than previous ones, no big surprises like Headlights, KIT, or Bought Myself a Grave. Parachute maybe comes closest but anyone familiar with the band’s acoustic work won’t find it straying too far from their wheelhouse. Actually perhaps Turn it Up is the outlier of the group. Perhaps I’m also changing my mind about this album’s consistency, there are indeed a couple of nice surprises in there… I’m lucky that my favourite band keep making music that I genuinely enjoy and keep finding new depths in.

So to gig night. I haven’t been to a gig since…well the last gig was also We Are Scientists, unless you count the Strictly Live Tour… I made the necessary arrangements for the kids and puppy and ventured into the West End to Oran Mor. I got there in the middle of the support set, a band called Bleach Lab. They were good. More confident and polished than some support bands I’ve seen. They had a solid, atmospheric sound and the singer had a great voice.

My usual gig compadres couldn’t make it so I was considering just losing myself inconspicuously in the middle of the crowd, but then the inevitable Tall Ones appeared all around, so I slinked forward, eyeing up a free space on the barrier, hoping that it wasn’t reserved for someone at the bar/loo when I luckily found people I had met at previous gigs. I secured my favoured spot and wasn’t a lonely loser.

The guys set up their own equipment, so we saw them busy about the stage then go off for a quick costume change and pause for dramatic effect. I kinda miss the days of coordinated outfits or matching smart suits but they all looked great, despite both Keith and Chris wearing dad jeans. Carne was channelling 1970s George Harrison (the hottest Beatle, obvs). They kicked off with Lucky Just To Be Here which is a bold move considering it features Keith singing with minimal accompaniment for a long stretch but it’s a great song that builds in energy and vitality. It’s my favourite song on the new record. Most days. I have trouble picking absolute favourites. Keith’s vocals are powerful and captivating enough that he could easily hold the attention of the crowd that was still warming up. By the end of the number we were thoroughly warmed and ready for more.

We got a generous helping of Lobes, the catchiest tunes from Huffy and a nice mix of older stuff. Kudos to the person who requested Return the Favor, that was an unexpected bonus inclusion in the setlist. I was not at all sorry that It’s a Hit has been ditched to make room for newer/better songs. The additional sounds of the new record sounded more funky than disco-ey live, with most of the elements being added by Carne’s Amazing Magical Effects Gizmo, that he masterfully played in addition to the usual percussion. Despite having a gazillion things to hit all at once, he still amazingly looks like he’s just having a chilled fun bash about, always under control, energetic but never frenetic. I do love that amongst all the trigger pads, loops and effects, a single orange maraca was wielded to the greatest effect. Keith had busy time of it too. With each album comes a signature guitar sound, by now after album number eight, his pedal board must have expanded exponentially and he was as frantic with his feet as he was with his fingers, and the small matter of lead vocals as well, obviously. Chris was as cool as ever. The basslines on Lobes are particularly outstanding and Chris delivered them with aplomb. We are lucky that the band love Glasgow and keep coming back here.

Afterwards I joined the merch queue to see what was on offer, unfortunately the guys themselves weren’t manning it so it was left to a poor fella who had to contend with piles of shirts overflowing on a too-small table, trip-hazard boxes all around his feet and a payment system that seemed to require manual typed entries each time, making for very slow progress indeed. He persevered bravely and eventually got through the long line of people. I picked up a deck of the tarot cards cos they have cool artwork and I really don’t need any more WAS t-shirts. Many thanks to the Oran Mor staff who luckily helped me out the locked door after they let me stay and chat after chucking out time.

It’s been tough times for us all over the past few years. We all need a little bit of luck now and again to help us on our way. All of us who secured tickets to this gig had some luck. We saw a great band have a great time playing some great songs. We were all lucky just to be there.

A gig! A weird, emotional, awesome gig.

02/12/2021ruth4truth2 Comments

We Are Scientists, St Luke’s Glasgow, 1st December 2021

I went to a gig! An actual real life, in-person, proper gig! I cried a bit, took stock and had some self-realisations and saw things through new eyes. It was quite an evening.

This was my first gig since I saw Editors in March 2020 (yep, just squeezed one in there before it all went down!) First ~~post-covid~~, wait, now there’s Omicron, first ~~post-lockdown~~ hmm let’s not be too hasty….first for a long time! My first gig should really have been Self Esteem aka Rebecca Taylor, ex Slow Club. I had a ticket but somehow hadn’t put it in my diary, so the gig came and went without me. I was disappointed, by all accounts she’s been storming this tour and puts on a great show, but was still covid-wary so thought maybe it was for the best. Then the date for We Are Scientists drew nearer and nearer. I’m still super covid-wary, I’ve been doing indoor stuff only when strictly necessary for work, I went to a restaurant for the first time just last week and we all had an LFT pact prior to meeting up. But it’s We Are Scientists!!! I don’t need to tell you how much I love this band. If I do, just search for previous posts and you’ll quickly get the idea. Even still, I swithered up to the last minute then decided to go for it, thinking I would most definitely regret it if I didn’t.

St Luke’s is a beautiful venue, a converted old church. The last time I was there was a very different affair, an all-seated show featuring Nerija as part of the Glasgow Jazz Festival. Unfortunately this time I arrived too late to catch all of support band Coach Party, I only heard their last couple of songs but they were really good and worth checking out if you haven’t heard of them. Once in, I initially lingered near the back thinking I would hang there, near the well ventilated door with the other masked people. I was there solo due to my usual gig buddies having other commitments or being not quite ready to delve back into gigs yet, so I felt a bit awkward at the back on my own. Then the Tall People made an appearance and I remembered why I usually go down the front. I didn’t want to spend my first gig in almost 2 years looking at the back of people’s heads. Or shoulders to be more accurate. I carefully crept forward wondering how far I would go, loitering here and there until a spot opened up on the barrier and I unashamedly grabbed it. Oh well, back in familiar territory!

I got speaking to 2 girls next to me, who were at their very first We Are Scientists gig. They were only 18 years old and had recently discovered the band. I thought that was incredible and was delighted for them. They thought it was incredible that I’d seen WAS 15 times over 10 years. (edit – it’s actually more like 18 times over 13 years. Yikes.) We agreed that new album Huffy is one of their best and they couldn’t wait to hear the songs. I promised them they’d sound even better live.

It was weird being in among a crowd of people again. My natural unsociability plus covid has meant that I’ve been even more solitary than usual of late, apart from my 2 kids. Sometimes that’s an active preference that I’m fine with, but sometimes I realise that it’s doing me more harm than good. I wrote a bit about this last year. Even those of us who aren’t gregarious or touchy-feely need some human contact. I hate crowds in any other place but am quite happy being squished on 3 sides by fellow gig-goers. It was nice to hear the chatter all around me of what gigs people had coming up, how they hated LFTs but would suffer the discomfort if it meant getting out again, how bloody freezing it was and can you believe it’s December already?

When the band came on the roar of the small crowd was better than music to my ears. Until the actual music started of course. They jumped straight into Huffy with “You’ve Lost Your Shit” and the girls I’d been speaking to lost their shit. I loved their reaction and enthusiasm. As the elderly veteran that I am, I forgot what it’s like to be new to the We Are Scientists experience. I’m always asking them to play more new stuff and ditch the older tunes (It’s a Hit can be canned first IMO) although I realise that they are likely wedded to playing Nobody Move and Great Escape at every show for all eternity. After 18 (19?) times I’m ready for the new songs, but seeing these girls utterly ecstatic at hearing the classics for the first time reminded me not to be so selfish and let the crowd enjoy the experience they came for. It was infectious and after scolding myself I sang along with the rest of them. It was enlightening and refreshing to witness the show through their eyes. And of course they agreed with me that the songs sounds even better live.

We got a good sampling of Huffy, some good old classics – Scene should be spared the oldies cull and in fact should be played at every gig – as well as some surprises in the form of KIT and Lousy Reputation. KIT was gorgeous and I’m glad it got an airing. They played Five Leaves and I almost lost it at that point, but managed to hold it together, just. The encore brought us the absolute delight that is Bought Myself a Grave. Honestly, if WAS decide to move entirely to country-rock ballads I’ll be there for it. Chris on vocals was awesome, for some reason Keith was cracking himself up laughing through the backing vocals towards the end, I’ve no idea why but it just made my grin even wider.

The crowd got quite lively as the gig went on, apparently there were shirts being removed behind me but I decided I could do without witnessing that spectacle. I loved how everyone sang along to all the Huffy songs, and my new friends gave it laldy singing the guitar parts too which amused me greatly.

It’s obvious to say that the last almost 2 years have been hard on everyone. We’ve all got our personal troubles and challenges and no-one knows what anyone else is really going through. While the lockdowns and restrictions etc have had their upsides – I’ve had some fantastic quality time with my kids – but I’m a single parent and one of my kids is going through a whole heap of things just now that makes it extra challenging for all 3 of us. Most of my time and energy is spent dealing with that and I’m exhausted and mentally drained all the time. The kids go to their dad’s every 2nd weekend and that used to be my “me” time, well after the housework and my coursework etc etc….but I used to go for cycles, play drums, meet friends, do projects around the house or garden. A few weeks ago I had a “free” weekend and realised that I couldn’t focus on anything, had no interest in anything and was just zoned out and disconnected from everything I used to enjoy doing. I made a decision to try to turn things around before I really spiralled out of control. I made some plans with friends, arranged to borrow a dog for the afternoon to go for a walk and started planning out my time to incorporate actual rests and time to recharge.

I’m not going to get back to my old self overnight, but small steps are important and going to this gig was a pretty massive step. I felt at home, I felt relaxed and for the first time in ages I could switch off from the worry and the to-do list and the frustration and just enjoy myself in the moment. I needed that so badly. And it had to be this band. This band who are so familiar, who always come through, who can make me laugh and cry and want to throw my arms in the air like I’m also 18, not 42. Immediately after the show, the reality of what I’d just experienced hit me. I couldn’t help but get a bit tearful. It’s a good job I was driving home, having to keep a clear head and eyes to focus on the road. If I’d been on the train I’m sure I would have been a blubbering mess.

Before I left I stopped by the merch stand and bought some We Are Scientists socks. Well, obviously I need them to go with my We Are Scientists underpants.

We Are Scientists, SWG3 Galvanizers Glasgow, 5th December 2019

06/12/2019ruth4truth1 Comment

So it’s practically the law that I have to see We Are Scientists play live at least once every year, so I’m pleased to say this has now been accomplished in the dying weeks of 2019.

When the gig was announced it was part of their With Love and Squalor “50th Anniversary Tour”. It has actually been 14 years since their first (well, first official) album was released but I guess 14th anniversary wouldn’t necessarily draw in the crowds. On the real 10th anniversary the band played 2 special album-in-full gigs in New York and LA, then a one-off in London. At the time I wasn’t bothered about missing out on these. Whilst WLAS is a fantastic album that I still listen to now and again, I feel like I have heard pretty much all the songs live many a time and I much prefer seeing their newer stuff performed on stage. I’m not generally a fan of anniversary tours, preferring not to dwell in nostalgia but rather look forward to what’s next. However, a WAS gig is a WAS gig and as it has been a whole 16 months since I last saw them, a ticket was duly bought.

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The day of the gig saw Glasgow drenched in rain and battered by winds. Lovely. I had dropped my kids off and headed into town, forgetting that SWG3 doesn’t really afford the same opportunities for mooching around before a gig as the city centre venues do. So I sat and waited in my car as it got buffeted by the wind. Thankfully the rain eased off before the short walk to the venue so I didn’t arrive dripping wet. Been there, done that too many times. Often in June.

I’ve been to SWG3 twice before, once for Belle & Sebastian in the outdoor area and once for Major Minor Music Club gigs for kids, which I think was in the TV Studio. This time we were in the Galvanizers. I used to go past what is now SWG3 on the train all the time and remember seeing the actual galvinizers yard in operation, so it was pretty neat to see the building repurposed in this way. Once in, I found a couple of friends, then settled on my barrier spot.

The support band was Marsicans who I seem to have heard/read about a few times but never actually seen or heard properly. They were lively, energetic, fun and succeeded in bringing the crowd in without it being forced or premature.I like a support who proves their worth, and these guys put on a good solid show, with some nice tunes, interesting turns and gave off a really positive and uplifting vibe. I’m not sure I’d seek them out specifically again, but if I saw them as support or on a festival bill I’d definitely be interested.

In between bands I got to thinking about how often I’ve seen WAS now. By my reckoning and a quick consultation of this very blog, I think this gig was number 17 or 18. Since 2008, as I came “late” to the party and missed the original WLAS tour. If you are thinking that’s still a lot, I know some people who run into the 30s with their count….

So the WAS show was split into 2 parts – the WLAS album in sequence, then after a short break they came back to do a mixed set from their other albums.

The WLAS part was a lot of fun. The crowd were clearly there for it, and everyone was singing along. My fellow barrier buddies and I sang literally every single word and it was great to share in that collective experience. Although I would gladly ditch songs like Callbacks, Cash Cow and It’s A Hit from any and every future setlist, I still sang and danced (wiggled my ass off if you like) and punched the air on the chorus high points. The Scene Is Dead, Can’t Lose and Textbook are still among my favourite WAS songs ever and it was particularly special to hear Lousy Reputation (that bassline, ooft!) live, it doesn’t often make a normal setlist.

On to the second act. I was actually looking forward to this part more. It was nice to see Ghouls make a reappearance as the opening song, and Chick Lit sat nicely in there too, although I was happy to see plenty songs from Megaplex and Helter Seltzer.

They played KIT!!! Wow. It was beautiful, Keith’s voice so clear and strong over a muted but driving bass and drums. Keith commanded the attention with his vocals but it’s always worth checking out Chris and Carne during these songs, they are always doing something interesting and often unexpected. I actually preferred it without the whistle/flute/whatever over the top, that always reminds me of Orange Walks and makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. Anyway, KIT was the high point of the gig so far for me.

Until they played No Wait At Five Leaves. What is it about that song that gets me every time??? If I was open-mouthed enthralled during KIT, I was welling up during Five Leaves. The stage lights were low and moody, the song resonated around the huge, high-ceilinged room and the frequencies somehow met my own and swept me into the song and the song into me and I was overwhelmed. This. Band. These. Guys. They are doing it again. I love it and I love them.

They finished part two with Nice Guys then a short encore of Dumb Luck (yeah I could also so without either of those in any future setlist, sorry) and we were done. Afterwards we headed towards the merch stall. There was an impressive array of cat-themed items for sale, including a tea towel and a babygrow. Between waiting to get paid for some freelance work and the amount of WAS merch I already own (off the top of my head – CDs, vinyls, 1 mug, 2 tote bags, posters that are now in drawers, 3 setlists, 1 lyric sheet, badges, a wristband, 2 pairs of underpants, numerous t-shirts, 1 hoodie and quite probably other items that are stowed away) I felt that I should pass this time round. I did however have a good catch up with Carne and said a quick hello to Chris, although unusually couldn’t think of a thing to say to him. He did, however, tell me that they were working on new material for next year which was good to hear.

Comedy moment of the night – when a group of girls at the merch stand were urging Chris and Carne to draw a “boaby” on their posters. Then explaining to Chris and Carne what a “boaby” is in this part of the world. For the record, Chris went for an abstract approach with a worryingly angular boaby and Carne went full-on realism with a little more attention to detail than was strictly necessary for a boaby on a cat poster.

Sweet moment of the night – when a burly security guard approached Carne asking for a copy of their record, then shyly asked if he could have it signed.

So I’m still not sure about the whole anniversary gig thing. Whilst it was good to hear some of the lesser-played songs from WLAS, I would much rather have had them randomly thrown into a regular setlist. Saying that, judging from the proper tour bus and the bigger lighting rig they have on this tour, if it hadn’t been marketed as such then this tour likely wouldn’t have happened and we wouldn’t have been treated to a rare 90 minute long WAS show. I’m still much more interested to hear what they have to offer us on their next album, but it was good to catch them at least once this year.

20191205_213231 — It’s hard to rely on the rhythm section

We Are Scientists, Glasgow & Sheffield, May 2018

15/05/2018ruth4truth1 Comment

New music and tour dates from my faves? Of course I’m there. We Are Scientists released Megaplex last month, along with details of an extensive worldwide tour. I grabbed a ticket for Glasgow, and, as experience has proven that 1 gig per tour just isn’t enough, I scanned the dates to see if any others would be feasible. Unfortunately logistics prevented me from going back to Berlin again, but I was due to be down in Preston the weekend that they were scheduled to play Sheffield on the Sunday. In my Scottish mind, Preston and Sheffield are practically neighbours, so that was settled. Even better was the fact that my friend Zoe, someone I had made contact with 9 years ago via an old WAS message board and had kept in touch with ever since due to a shared taste in music, tv shows and comedy podcasts, was making the trip to Sheffield from Peterborough. Sorted!

Support came from Cora Pearl (Sheffield only) and The Pale White (both nights). I didn’t really warm to The Pale White in Glasgow, but found them much better in Sheffield. They were loud and thrashy. Each song was kind of a 1-idea thing, but they played with great enthusiasm and energy. Cora Pearl I found to be much more interesting musically, with some funky basslines, intricate lead lines and they shook it up with different rhythms that kept it interesting.

Whilst I am always excited about new music from We Are Scientists, I am also more than a little trepidatious in case I don’t like it. I WANT to keep liking what the guys do, but am not uncritical and always get the fear before a new album that they will have taken a turn down a route which I will be unable to follow them on.

So it was with the usual nervous apprehension that I listened to the first public offering from Megaplex, “One In, One Out”. The fear took hold as synths started up, but to my great relief the levels remained suitably palatable for my taste and the track overall was really bouncy, catchy and infectious. As other singles and eventually the full album came my way, I was delighted to realise that I liked it all. Seriously, despite my love for the band, this is not a given. I couldn’t get into TV en Francais AT ALL until I heard it live, and I have some ongoing reservations about some tracks on Helter Seltzer. Given that I came to W.A.S. just after Brain Thrust Mastery, and had bought that and With Love and Squalor together after release, Megaplex is the first album that I have fully embraced from it’s unveiling and been able to appreciate as recorded, straight out the sleeve. That said, I was super excited to hear the songs live.

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I’ve said before that I would happily enjoy a gig comprised solely of songs from their most recent record/s, I wouldn’t miss the older ones if they got ditched. We were treated to a whole 5(!) songs off Megaplex – half of the album – and of course they proved me wrong by re-working old songs to give them a new lease of life. Your Light Has Changed makes a great show opener – upbeat, stomping and with a recurring triplet theme that I may have actually squealed at the first time I heard it. Now or Never and Notes in a Bottle both showcase the gorgeous harmonies that Keith, Chris & Carne can deliver together, but both underpinned by driving drum and guitar parts that sustain the lively pop/rock element of their shows. One In, One Out got a massive crowd reaction, deserves to be a hands-in-the-air, everyone-belt-out-the-chorus-in-unison kind of anthem. My favourite of the new songs played was No Wait at Five Leaves. Soaring, immersive, beautiful. I felt like I was enveloped in it’s wondrous, velvety, spine-tingling gorgeousness. My “moment” of the gig, both times.

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Of the older songs, I love the makover treatment that Chick Lit has been given, I was glad to see Scene still included in the setlist and Make It Easy remains a triumph of Keith’s vocal abilities, moving me every time I hear it. Both gigs also saw Keith foray into the crowd during the Textbook finale.

The set list was near identical on both nights, we got the same 5 songs from Megaplex each time, and while I was happy to hear so many at this stage, I do wish they had played Heart Is A Weapon. Also I think Properties of Perception would be a lot of fun live. Hopefully next tour….

The Glasgow gig was a bit special because it was Keith’s birthday, so he received a cake on stage, as we all sang the traditional song. I had been able to say a quick hello and happy birthday to him prior to the gig, and caught up with Carne afterwards, as well as meeting the wives/girlfriends who had been co-opted into staffing the merch stall. They were really lovely and helpful, trying to find me a Heart is A Weapon shirt that wasn’t tent-sized, failing, agreeing that they should have either extra-small men’s sizes, or ladies-fit shirts, and finding me a setlist as compensation. Thanks ladies, hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip 🙂

After the gig in Sheffield we spoke to Carne and Chris, and again had a quick hello/goodbye with Keith. It was my first time in Sheffield, (yes, really!) but sadly I didn’t get to see much more of the city than the road between the station and the Premier Inn, and was there for only around 14 hours total. After we left the venue, Zoe and I went back to our hotel, had a very rock and roll cup of tea, nattered a bit then finally had to call it a night. I had an 8am train the next day, so was up and out, on an admittedly beautiful day, but sad to be leaving and not getting more time to explore or hang out.

I have come away with a deeper appreciation of Megaplex, which I already thought was pretty incredible in the first place. It may have taken me a while to catch on to TV en Francais, but once I did I was captivated by the themes and imagery in the lyrics. Megaplex doesn’t resonate thematically in the same way, but I am glad to see a return to more complex, poetic lyrics. Chris’ bass lines are a masterclass in pop/rock deceptive simplicity. The drums…well you will never hear me criticise Carne’s drumming. The lightness of touch, the themes and variations, the interplay with other parts (inset heart eyes here etc). Riffs, hooks and guitar solos aplenty, as well as the aforementioned harmonies. The whole package chimes exactly on my wavelength and I can breathe a sigh of relief that I am still on the We Are Scientists journey right along with them.

So, as the post-tour blues kick in, and I return to a reality of school runs and cleaning the gunge off the recycling bins (so glam), I try not to get too despondent. I had a really fun couple of days, hung out with someone I would not have known were it not for the band, and re-connected with some of my favourite people in the world. No, my life isn’t all rock n roll, but I’m glad it is a little bit. I might not ever go on a world tour, but I have been to places I would never have been otherwise to see this band. I might never see my band’s name up in lights above a venue, but I can try to deepen my understanding of music and play drums with the creativity, passion and sheer unbridled joy that Carne does. I can pursue my career and my studies and do something I love, which also has a positive impact on others. And I can look forward to the next tour.

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Butefest 2017

02/08/201702/08/2017ruth4truth3 Comments

I went to Bute on holiday last year, and everywhere I went, I saw posters advertising the then-upcoming Butefest 2016. I had never heard of Butefest, but looking at the line-up they had some pretty decent-sized names as headliners (Idlewild, The Magic Numbers) which I found surprising for, well, Bute. When I got home I looked it up and thought it might be worth checking out in the future. Fast forward a few months and a certain favourite band of mine, We Are Scientists, announce a smattering of summer dates in the UK, including Butefest 2017. I have to admit, I was taken aback. I couldn’t reconcile quiet, unassuming, land-of-country-estates-and-fancy-gardens-and-Victorian-Toilets Bute, with loud, energetic, New York-based indie rock. I asked around some local fellow WAS fans but no-one was keen to spend the time or money that attending a gig on an (albeit very accessible) Scottish island entails. Initially I thought I would have to give it a miss too, but there was something about the festival that was very appealing – it looked small, but with big ambitions, it gave off a friendly and chilled vibe, it clearly had a focus on music-lovers and promoting and supporting artists, rather than the commercial side of things and the location was idyllic. I explained my musings to a friend, and she said, “Let’s do it!”. Well, that was all the encouragement I needed. Childcare was arranged, annual leave was booked and tickets were bought. Operation Butefest17 was go!

I have never taken a ferry to a gig before. It added to the excitement, however, and we could tell this was going to be a special weekend.

20170728_181116 — On board the Wemyss Bay – Rothesay Ferry

Stepping off the ferry, it was still surreal to see We Are Scientists listed on the banner

20170728_182455 — Rothesay harbour with festival banner

We decided to go for the all-in festival experience and attend for the full weekend, including camping. Which, if you are at all familiar with weather on the west coast of Scotland in summer, was a choice not taken lightly. We knew we would either be battling the rain or the midgies, but not ones to be deterred by water nor wee beasties, we set up camp.

20170730_141737 — Our homes for the weekend, and a rare photo of me

Tents pitched, the festival was our oyster.

And what a gem of a festival it was!

Our first impression was that it was tiny, but there was so much going on that it was very soon obvious that it punched above its weight. There was 1 main stage, 2 tents and a campfire stage. They were all very close together, and we experienced occasional noise bleed, but due to carefully considered positioning and scheduling, this wasn’t generally an issue.

There was also a small range of food stalls, shops and campaign stalls. Shout out in particular to the owners of the cutest wee tea stand who kept us in supply of earl grey tea when the weather meant we couldn’t fire up our wee stove, and the hippie goods shop who supplied us with appropriate festival attire and mementoes.

20170728_201117 — Seriously the only time there was this much blue sky.

We had anticipated an easy-listening mix of folk and indie. We got that, but we got a whole lot more on top. Whoever curated the line-up has excellent taste and a keen sense of what music fans like and respond to. Whilst the majority of artists were Scottish, their music spanned genres far and beyond folk and Scottish indie. There was also an impressive range of non-Scottish acts. We heard drum & bass, ska, reggae and a multitude of fusions that I can’t even describe. There were certainly more trombones and saxophones than I, for one, was expecting. Which is definitely a good thing. The standard was exceptionally high. On a couple of occasions we drifted away from a performance, but only because the style wasn’t our taste (Russia’s answer to Coldplay, anyone?), it was no reflection on the talent on show. I would never in a million years have anticipated seeing and hearing such an incredible variety of music from 1 stage and a couple of tents on a playing field on Bute.

20170729_174358 — A rare break in the weather. Quick, take a photo!!

Despite the near-constant presence of, or threat of rain, the atmosphere was positive and uplifting, yet chilled. Those attending were clearly either seasoned festival goers, or used to holidaying in Scotland, and were prepared for the rain, mud, midgies and more. There were also a lot of locals in attendance, which was great to see. I grew up in Dundee and at that time there was nothing like this, I can only imagine how cool it is to grow up on a Scottish island and suddenly be able to attend an event like this and be exposed to live music from around the world. All the locals I spoke to were keen to find out where we had come from, why we had chosen Butefest and were set on ensuring we had the best time ever. Which we did. Citizens of Bute – you are the best.

In some down time one morning, we took a stroll down to Rothesay town and had a wander round the harbour. We also popped back down for some fish and chips one evening. Well, it would be rude not to… Everyone had a smile and a friendly nod and seemed to bear no resentment that hundreds of sweaty, muddy hippies had descended on their town.

Back at the site, we drifted between the stages, seeing some bands we wanted to check out and discovering others by chance. The stages were close enough together that you could easily hop between them if something took your fancy. We danced in tents, jigged in mud, rocked by the main stage, chilled out by the campfire and soaked up the festival vibes on hay bales (or bay hales, as they became known) while sipping tea, or something a bit stronger.

Unfortunately, Phil had to leave suddenly mid-afternoon on the Sunday, and for a millisecond we had doubts about me being alone at a festival. But we both agreed we felt safer here than we did back home. The only unwanted attention had come from a 16-year-old local who, hilariously, fled the minute he found out how old we were. Even the campsite was cool, with lots of families around.

20170730_043713 — The campsite at 4.30am. The scene even made a night time toilet trip seem pleasant.

Over the course of the weekend these artists, in particular, caught our attention:

Manran – due to the proximity of the campsite, we were able to continue to enjoy the music when we popped back for food or extra/dry clothing. We heard Manran mainly from there, and they were a lively group of folk/trad-rock, combining traditional instruments and sounds with funky beats and arrangements.

Samson Sounds – when we stumbled across these guys it sounded like drum & bass with latin sounds from the brass and sax on top, then it melded into reggae and then something else entirely. Genre-splicing, extremely danceable fun.

The Coaltown Daisies – Duo playing jaunty Americana style folk about serious topics, but with a heart and a smile. Also allowed P and I to play “place the accent”. We were close.

100 Fables – one of the few bands I had seen before I was keen to catch them again having been impressed last time. They didn’t disappoint this time around, owning the main stage and judging by the comments I heard from other punters afterwards, they won over many new fans. 80s-inspired electro pop.

The Begbies – Scottish indie rock with added sax and ska influence.

The RPMs – More straightforward indie rock, from Brighton and mightily confused by the crowd suggesting “Rothesay” as a title for their as-yet-unnamed song, the band were tight and talented and I was obsessed with the bass player’s hair.

Gluten Freaks – Possibly my favourite find of the festival. When we saw the description of “9-piece party ska” we were there in a flash. Loud, colourful, high octane and fun. We danced and danced and didn’t want them to stop.

20170728_212309 — Main stage. Although I can’t actually remember who this is on it…

Sophie Rodgers – we were walking by when we heard a Stevie Nicks-esque voice float out, so we went in to check her out. She was worth the chance – interesting vocals and melodies, beautiful but simple guitar accompaniment. Folk with an upbeat poppy feel.

The Chair – Saturday night headliners, traditional Scottish music with stomping drums. We tried to ceilidh dance but got literally stuck in the mud. Cue some inventive upper-body-only dancing.

Maxiroots – Another favourite find, another Latin/funk/fusion mix that got us dancing in the tent until the close of play.

Flog the Dog – Irish band doing a mix of traditional Irish/Scots/Celtic tunes. Had us tapping our toes and singing along. Also turns out their bass player is a massive long-time We Are Scientists fan so I got chatting to him at the main stage barrier later. He even got a request in.

James Edwyn and the Borrowed Band – I stopped into one of the tents with a cup of tea to warm up and escape the rain, and came across these guys. Low-key folk but beautiful arrangements and great to chill out to.

Dopesickfly – Feeling a bit melancholic at this point, running through some reflective thoughts, I parked myself on a log outside one of the tents, taking advantage of the rare sun break. I was soon drawn to the performance inside the tent. Dopesickfly are a cool combination of funky beats, groovy bass and engaging vocals switching between melody and rap/spoken-word-set-to-music. Another genre-defying act with elements of funk, soul and jazz, they were just what I needed to pick me up, get me back in the moment and enjoy what I had in front of me.

Single by Sunday – I was taking a breather by the campfire when these guys came on the main stage. A bit too boyband for my taste, but they kept me entertained while I sat and replenished my energy for the evening. Lively guitar-based pop.

Elephant Sessions – excellent trad-rock on the main stage, I had a wee sway and a bit of a foot tap while I scoffed a pizza ahead of the headliners.

And, well that leaves me with We Are Scientists.

I think I’m still processing it. All through the weekend, it would occasionally dawn on me that the guys would be coming to this wonderful wee festival. Even as I saw them set up, it didn’t seem real. I wanted to secure my usual barrier slot, which had the benefit of being on a small base plate and would get me temporarily out of the mud. I quickly made some friends on the barrier, who were real fans of the band and as awestruck as I was that they were here on Bute.

20170730_223320 — Keith (Keith) and Keith (Carne) in full flow

I had expected that a festival set would be largely hits and singles. Boy, was I wrong. It was a long and varied setlist, including some songs I don’t think I have heard for a long time (Can’t Lose!!!). There was more from BTM than I have seen in recent time, and they had been given the usual tweaks and twists that the boys like to play with. Lethal Enforcer, which my Flog The Dog bassist friend had requested, was particularly nicely done, with extra funk. It may have been the gin, but I definitely uttered a few “wow”s as this band, whose songs I know inside out and who I have seen live *ahem* a few times now…continue to surprise and delight me.

20170730_232038 — Shadowy figures of Keith and Chris

Admittedly, I had had a wee drink, and it seems drunk me has a propensity for doing actions along to songs, but it was so cool to be alongside enthusiastic fans, who were not shy about belting out every word and cheering their favourite song, “Yeaaaas, Sprinkles, this is ma favourite song, mate!” was typical of the reactions. We danced, shimmied, clapped, threw our arms in the air and air-drummed throughout. One guy saw how much fun I was having and insisted on taking my phone so I could have a pic of me with the guys in the background. It didn’t really come out well, but I appreciated the gesture. The WAS-family really is the best.

20170730_233011 — Keith’s patented “Textbook” pose

In fact the crowd was one of the best, most enthusiastic I have ever seen at a WAS gig. During Textbook, Keith roved into the audience and was lucky to get out intact. There was a nice moment when he was singing with a guy I had been chatting to, who was one of the locals involved in organising the festival.

20170730_233124 — Keith, wearing luminous specs, with his new best pal Fraser

The guys, always responsive to a good crowd, looked like they were having a blast – Keith dancing and jumping around, Chris cool and steady but with his usual ridiculous stories between songs, and Carne alternately deep in concentration then grinning like the happiest man on earth.

20170730_224855 — Carne #bestWASdrummerever #campaigntokeepOtherKeith (sorry, it’s a reflex)

I had to keep reminding myself where we were, and would often look back at the crowd, the fairy lights of the festival and the night sky (if you’re the night sky…no, wait..) and just wallow in the beautiful perfection of it all.

As it was a festival headline set, it was longer than I was used to seeing, but still didn’t want it to end. Sadly, there was a midnight curfew so we ended with Too Late, which the crowd kept up the chorus to long after the band had exited the stage.

I chatted to my new buddies a bit, then was able to get backstage to have a chat with the guys. It was so nice to see them again and talk about, well mostly random nonsense and Victorian toilets, but that’s the way it usually goes. Except not usually with the toilets. Yes, I am a bit obsessed by the Victorian Toilets. Gin certainly embellishes the flow of nonsense talk. Then it was hugs all around before we said our goodbyes. I will no doubt see them again, but I doubt any occasion will compare to that.

So all in all, thanks to Phil for making our trip to Butefest happen in the first place, it was one of the best decisions I could have made. What a magical wee festival in a very special place, organised, run and attended by some very special people.

If I ever need to conjure up a happy place, Butefest17 will be it.

20170731_101310 — I HAD to purchase a festival hoodie in case I ever thought it was a dream