Lolo Zouaï by Raia Maria Laura

Lolo Zouaï by Raia Maria Laura

Lolo Zouaï by Raia Maria Laura

Lolo Zouaï by Raia Maria Laura

Lolo Zouaï by Raia Maria Laura

Lolo Zouaï by Raia Maria Laura

Lolo Zouaï by Raia Maria Laura

by Imogen Clark 

The post Glass exclusively goes backstage with Lolo Zouaï during her tour first appeared on The Glass Magazine.

Mola Chill Club is a global members club that puts on a series of music-led events across the world. They have gained a name for themselves by putting on exclusive events featuring the world’s top musical acts in small music venues. 

Honey Dijon poster for Mola Chill Club.

Last year, they put on acts like Rex Orange County, Central Cee, Weezer, Slowthai and they have great plans for next year. As for upcoming shows, Mura Masa is due to play a show in London’s cool 150-capacity music venue, Amazing Grace, followed by another live experience later this November from the legendary Honey Dijon.

The lifetime membership offers a financially smart solution for those who enjoy attending concerts but struggle with rising ticket prices. 

In order to join, members will need to buy a one-off lifetime pass that gets them into shows all over the world. Not only will the pass be your gateway into a number of immersive shows, but it will also act as an NFT.

The pass offers an effective way to get music lovers into the tech world without having to buy cryptocurrency. Members have the option to pay in their local currency or in cryptocurrency. 

The Mola Chill Club Genesis Pass is priced at $400 (£340) and enables members to attend any Mola Chill Club event around the world at no extra cost. For more information on how to join, visit their website here. 

The post Mola Chill Club is the new music members club you need to know about first appeared on The Glass Magazine.

The thought of queuing for overpriced beer, not showering or walking miles to see your favourite band is something you’ll never have to deal with. In fact, many choose to arrive at the beginning of the week as part of the Settlers ticket, where they take time exploring the Glanusk Estate whilst soaking in the mountain views. 

Musical acts are diverse, and headliners are always cult favourites rather than chart-topping acts. And then there’s everything in between. Cardiff singer-songwriter, John Mouse, kicked off things in Green Man style with his Baxter Dury-esque comedic musical dialogues. “This isn’t John Maus”, I heard one festival goer proclaim. Another person who looked equally confused checked their programme before clarifying “oh its John Mouse not John Maus”. They watched in confusion for a few minutes before uniting for a boogie. 

The Mountain Stage

Yves Tumor & Its Band brought the energy to the Mountain Stage with their experimental genre-spanning songs just in time for indie favourites, Metronomy to headline. Thursday nights at Green Man are usually on the quiet side but the crowd made the most of the birthday schedule and found their way to the tucked away entertainment such as the hidden cabaret bar and Round The Twist – a small chaotic disco tent. 

The best part of the festival are always discovering the smaller acts. Manchester quartet Porij played on Green Man’s smallest stage (a tent selling records and merch), and managed to gather a crowd that began spilling into the adjacent beer tent. 

You’ll also find yourself getting lost in areas such as Nature Nurture or Einstein’s Garden, which is full of interesting science-based interactive stands. Whilst walking around, I stumbled into Jonathon Ross, who was filming a documentary about nature and culture for Channel 4. He too enjoyed strolling around and peeping into various exhibitions and stalls. 

The Green Man structure

Sustainability and the environment is a huge driving force behind Green Man, and it always has been. Each year, an array of reusable branded Green Man plastic cups are circulated in the bars, and straws are not seen on site. Guests tend not to litter, and by the end of the weekend, campsites are left empty.

Eco protest

Eco highlights include an interactive experience displaying an overview of how Welsh weather has changed over the years along with a mini protest from people dressed as Elon Musk and Richard Branson riding missiles which read “obscene wealth”. 

By Friday evening, there was a buzz in the air. This was fuelled by Kae Tempest’s moving set along with Welsh favourite, Cate Le Bon, headlining the Far Out stage. Over at the main stage, German techno legends Kraftwerk put on a wonderful 3D show which saw beams of colour shooting into the crowd. 

By Saturday, crowds were moving visibly slower and the queue for the bloody mary stand was bigger than the one for coffee. Nathan Caton injected laughter into the crowds with his comedy set at the Last Laugh tent. Cult duo Arab Strab attracted the indie heads, and by the time the sun had set, the top of the Mountain Stage was lined with baby trolleys and seated parents while the standing crowd swayed to the sound of Beach House. Although the Beach House set was brilliant, the lineup seemed a bit jumbled as the headline stage seemed too relaxed for a Saturday night.

Bicep at the Far Out tent

Bicep clashed with the headliners, so there was a clear split between the festival. The wide-eyed crowd missioned to the Far Out tent where Bicep delivered a rave-fuelled set of tracks. Phones are rarely used to record sets at Green Man but they came out during the duo’s viral track Glue followed by its success on TikTok. 

BCUC

South African seven-piece, BCUC, slapped the tiredness out of crowds with their non-stop high-tempo tunes. The lead singer delivered a series of powerful speeches over music. “The power has changed between men and women. The men no longer have it easy as the woman is now equal. The women have suffered for years and now the men are struggling to accept that”.

Later in the set he guided the crowd through a minute of silence to send a message to the ones we’ve lost. Tears were shed before he eventually brought the pace up again and had the crowd chanting “there ain’t no party like a Green Man party” before wrapping up. 

Ralph “The Mushroom Man”

Welsh culture plays such a large role in Green Man’s ethos, so it’s always great to bump into locals and talk to those who have been attending for years. Take Ralph ‘The Mushroom Man’ for example. He is seen whittling wood into mushroom sculptures every year in the same spot. He’s proud to be sharing his knowledge of the estate and local nature with attendees. “All of this wood is from trimmed branches in the area”, he explains before continuing to carve wood. 

Local Welsh beer and cider is served throughout the site, and bar staff are extremely knowledgeable about what they are serving. In the main beer tent, the staff can be seen dancing behind the bar, and they’re always offering samples to help you navigate through their huge selection of drinks. With artisan pints averaging at a fair £6, sneaking tinnies into the site is not necessary. 

Michael Kiwanuka’s headline set

Michael Kiwanuka soothed us into a state of calm during his headline set, belting track after track. Kiwanuka is a man of a few words but he paused to explain “Green Man has always supported me and 11 years ago when I released my first music, my name was at the bottom of the lineup and now I’m headline, so thank you for that”. 

In those few words, Kiwanuka summarised what Green Man means. Good-natured organisers who respect and support artists through their journey. It’s a rarity to find. By purchasing a Green Man ticket, you feel as if you’re contributing to something more significant. 

by Katrina Mirpuri

Photo credit: Oliver Boobier

The post Glass reviews Green Man Festival 2022 first appeared on The Glass Magazine.

“THIS is our fifth time headlining Hyde Park. The first time round you could get in for free!” proclaims Mick Jagger with a cheeky grim.

He’s referring the legendary ‘Stones in the Park’ gig of 1969, in which an estimated half a million people crammed into the iconic London venue to see one of the biggest rock bands of all time at the height of their powers.

The Stones in the Park concert in 1969

Times may have changed, but the band’s enduring power lives on in 2022. On a fittingly beautiful summer’s day, the park is flooded by Stones fans young and old – with excitement for the main event emanating from each of the plentiful bars and food pop-ups that surround BST Hyde Park’s ‘Great Oak’ Stage.

It’s not easy opening an event of this magnitude, but Geordie singer-songwriter Sam Fender is more than up to the task. Coming fresh off a rapturously-received headline slot at Glastonbury, he rips through choice cuts from his second album Seventeen Going Under – including the poignant ode to his father Spit Of You and the anthemic Get You Down.

His music comes straight out of the Springsteen playbook and provides perfect warm-up for the main event.

An anxious wait ensues, with the atmosphere reaching a fever pitch once the iconic figures of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards arrive on stage. Flanked by long-term guitarist Ronnie Wood and an extensive live band, they launch into an opening foray of classic cuts – including 1972’s Tumbling Dice and fan favourite Angie.

There are sing-a-longs aplenty throughout the early proceedings. You Can’t Always Get What You Want is defiantly belted out by the 80,000 strong crowd, while a rare cover of Bob Dylan’s ode to the band ‘Like A Rolling Stone’ catches everyone off guard.

It would be remiss not to mention that Jagger is no doubt grateful for the audience participation – his voice certainly lacks the same power it once held, and he struggles through cuts like Paint It Black and Honky Tonk Women that require him to do more of the heavy lifting. He allows himself a short break for Richards to take over the lead vocals, whose intimate, soulful delivery on ‘You Got The Silver’ and Happy acts as a nice mid-set change of pace.

The show culminates in a predictably thrilling finale. You can’t go wrong with songs as powerful as Gimme Shelter, Jumpin’ Jack Flash and Sympathy for the Devil, and each brings a triumphant roar from the audience who clamber onto each other’s shoulders and throw their arms aloft. It’s a strict 10:30pm curfew, but there’s just enough time for Richards to launch into the iconic opening riff of ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’ to bring the night to a close.

Celebrating their 60th anniversary, it is hardly unsurprising that the Rolling Stones do show signs for their age – but their ability to play shows of this nature well into their senior years is not something that should be sniffed at.

They might not be doing this for free anymore, but tonight’s show was undoubtedly worth the price of admission.

The post Glass reviews The Rolling Stones at BST Hyde Park first appeared on The Glass Magazine.

The years that followed saw a litany of iconic artists travel south of the Thames to perform at the Bowl – with iconic concerts including a Sex Pistols Jubilee performance, Bob Marley’s last-ever London show and a Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band bank holiday double-header. The last time it saw any action, however, was with a pair of Coldplay shows in 2005.

The newly branded South Facing Festival brought the venue out of retirement this summer – and tonight’s headliner, The Streets, is well aware of the Bowl’s history. He jokes throughout an enigmatic headline set that the stage in which he is performing was in fact built by Bob Marley all those years ago.

First to take to the stage however are The Skinner Brothers – a compelling rock and roll outfit whose presence here feels a little odd considering other acts on the bill. They prove, however, that they are a band of real potential – with a short, fiery set that will surely have gained them many new fans.

Greentea Peng. Photo credit Picture: Lorne Thomson

It’s then the turn of Greentea Peng to entertain a crowd which grew rapidly by the time she arrived on stage. The South London local released her debut album Man Made in June of last year to much acclaim, and a compelling performance proved just how well her brand of self-proclaimed “psychedelic R&B” translates to the festival circuit. With a sound that feels entirely her own, albeit with some hints of Lauryn Hill and Miss Dynamite, you feel that Aria Wells has a very big future ahead of her.

Having spent much of the pandemic baiting the government and chasing viral fame with the release of protest song 21st June (Who’s Got The Bag), it’s great to see The Streets back doing what they do best. Some artists may feel a weight of expectation performing on such a legendary stage – but Mike Skinner and his UK Garage outfit seem intent on making some history for themselves with a set that encompasses their long and fruitful career.

Mike Skinner of The Streets

Naturally, much of the material leans on Original Pirate Material – The Streets first, and best, studio album. Opening with the thrilling Turn The Page, the likes of Let’s Put Things Forward, Don’t Mug Yourself and Has It Come To This are deployed with delicious intent. There are moments that focus on newer material, too. Greentea Peng joins the stage for I Wish You Loved You as Much as You Loved Him, while Tame Impala collaboration Call My Phone Thinking I’m Doing Nothing Better provides another standout moment.

A hit-packed encore represents The Streets’ at their prime – it’s hard to imagine three songs that better encapsulate a British night out than Weak Become Heroes, Blinded by the Lights and Fit But You Know It – and each are met with rapturous applause. The set closes with Skinner’s new calling card 21^st June (Who’s Got The Bag) – a reminder how lucky we are that events like this are even possible.

There’s some work to do on-site to give South Facing the sense of escapism you get from other day festivals – there’s little to explore outside of a few food vans and a small VIP bar – but it’s great to have music back on at the palace. Here’s hoping the venture continues next summer.

by Daniel Jeakins

The post Glass reviews South Facing Festival 2021 first appeared on The Glass Magazine.

Having originally started 38 years ago as a classic music charity event, Henley Festival has grown and continued to offer a rich cultural lineup of food and entertainment while remaining as a non-profit organisation which still supports local and national charities. 

Chaka Khan performing at a previous Henley Festival

Spread across the weekend are musical performances from singer-songwriter James Blunt, pop princess Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Sara Cox on the decks and ska heroes Madness, who will open the festival with their headline slot on The Floating Stage on Wednesday. On the smaller stages, there will also be a variety of jazz and swing bands to keep the tempo up, with a selection of folk musicians and world music artists gracing the stage.

If you fancy seeing some local talent, then the BBC Introducing line up is a must as Berkshire’s upcoming talent have been hand picked to showcase their music to the Henley Festival crowds. You might get to see the next Ed Sheeran!

Fine dining at Henley Festival

Henley Festival thrives when it comes to food and drink, and the return of michelin starred chef Angela Hartnett MBE means that Henley will yet again have Europe’s biggest field restaurant up and running. This means a bespoke menu comprised of fine dining and fresh ingredients will all feature on the exclusive Henley menu at the Riverside Restaurant for guests to enjoy.

In addition to this, there will also be a large number of pop-up restaurants including Garden Bistro by Jimmy Garcia, Green Box, Oink, BBQ Club, Hotel Chocolat, Jessecco Prosecco, Black Cab Coffee Company and many more. If you’re looking for something more quick and casual then there will also be a selection of street food stalls to choose from.

Festival goers enjoying the outdoor areas

Whether it’s the music, comedy or fine dining that you’re interested in, Henley festival caters for everyone and offers a family friendly option for festival lovers without the stress of camping. 

See the full lineup of music, comedy and arts below:

MUSIC:

MADNESS 

JAMES BLUNT

SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR

SARA COX PRESENTS JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH 80S

DISCO CLASSICAL WITH KATHY SLEDGE OF SISTER SLEDGE

CLASSIC FM PRESENTS CLASSICAL SALUTE 

FEATURING THE ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA CONDUCTED BY STEPHEN BELL

COMEDY: 

MATT FORDE | ANUVAB PAL | MILTON JONES | AL MURRAY | CHRIS STOKES

SIMON EVANS | SHAPPI KHORSANDI | OLGA KOCH | KEN CHENG

EDWARD ASKHAM-SPENCER | ADA CAMPE | KIRSTY NEWTON

TOM HOUGHTON | SOPHIE DUKER | RORY BREMNER | JUSTIN MOORHOUSE JONNY AWSUM | LOST VOICE GUY | CRAIG HILL | MARK SIMMONS

ROBERT WHITE | WITT ‘N CAMP

JAZZ & SWING:

THE BONESHAKER BAND | MOSCOW DRUG CLUB | JAZZ DYNAMOS

NATTY CONGEROO & THE FLAMES OF RHYTHM | GROOVE UNDER THE SEA

AUREUM SAXOPHONE QUARTET | THE HAWKMEN

WORLD & FOLK:

JULU & HEG | MARTIN HARLEY SOLO

HENRY WEBSTER & ELLIOTT MORRIS | NICOLA & JIM

CHARLOTTE CAMPBELL | THE GASLIGHT TROUBADOURS | MAX PASHM

PAPRIKA | THRILL COLLINS | NAMVULA

BBC MUSIC INTRODUCING BERKSHIRE:

RALEGH LONG | DARSHAAN | ROZ FIRTH 

 OLLY CHAMBERLAIN | TABI GAZELE 

VISUAL ARTS: 

PUNCHBOWL GALLERY| CRISTO DESIGN | HANOI ART HOUSE 

FRED GORDAN | GALLERY ATTACHÉ

The firework display at Henley Festival

by Katrina Mirpuri

The Henley Festival takes place on the weekend of July 8-12.
For the latest Henley Festival news, visit the festival website here

The post Glass previews Henley Festival’s Luxury Line Up for 2020 first appeared on The Glass Magazine.

The rapper from Croydon performed a headline slot in Thornton Heath Square alongside a string of upcoming musicians in order to raise awareness for the cause. As the Nature Needs Heroes brand ambassador, Carner announced the news of three exciting projects for this global campaign which all involve turning urban areas into more green positive spaces where locals can come together. 

Loyle Carner performing in Thornton Heath Square. Image by James North.

One of the announcements came from The National Park City Foundation and Timberland who unveiled the start of a three-month search for 50 London National Park City Rangers to volunteer and start new urban greening projects across London. 

They also hope to plant 50 million trees over the next five years and together in order to promote positive change for local communities and the environment. 

Not only did Thornton Heath Square become a venue for live performances in the evening, but in the day it was taken over by Timberland and London National Park City to transform it into a large urban green space as a taster of the wider project. In the day it offered locals free workshops about Urban Growth, live music from local artists, local food stalls, trade stalls and an area to learn more about planting greenery at home. 

One of the areas benefiting directly from this project is the BRIT School in Croydon, where Loyle Carner once attended. They will receive a new meditation garden as a result of the campaign and hopefully London will see many more of these areas popping up as a result. 

Loyle Carner, brand ambassador of Nature Needs Heroes.

Loyle Carner’s contribution as ambassador also sees him present a 2-part documentary partnered with MTV UK and Timberland which sheds light on the urban greening project and  airs on MTV UK later this year with plans of as potential follow up next spring. 

Giorgio D’Aprile, who is the Senior Director of Marketing at Timberland said “Loyle is a sincere and conscious artist with a humble yet active attitude for a better social and sustainable environment. We are excited to kick off the UK campaign at Thornton Heath and greening urban areas in London with National Park City Foundation and Loyle to help make London greener, wilder and healthier.”

Loyle Carner talking about his new project and campaign.

Loyle himself stated “As someone who grew up deep in south London, I know how little love particular spots have been given. At the same time, I know how much potential these areas have. I feel pretty lucky to be part of a movement trying to bring the community together through ‘urban greening’. I’d been thinking about a project like this for a while, so was over the moon when Timberland reached out. It was clear they shared a lot of my values and didn’t want to take from the community but solely give back to it. A lot of the reading I’ve done recently shows there’s a strong connection between greenery, creativity and mental wellbeing” 

by Katrina Mirpuri

Images by James North /@jamesnorthphoto

The post Glass learns about London’s Urban Greening movement with Loyle Carner first appeared on The Glass Magazine.

Taking place at the end of the month BBC Music Introducing LIVE will see an array of emerging live acts from the BBC Introducing roster along with much bigger headliners such as Catfish and the Bottlemen, Annie Mac, Pete Tong and Annie Howard. 

Last year’s event

The event will offer a string of intimate daytime musical performances from artists such as Celeste, Easy Life, JC Stewart, Lily Moore, Maisie Peters, Olivia Nelson, Rachel Chinouriri and many more, all of which have been supported by the BBC Introducing platform. 

With tickets priced at a mere £12.50 a day, music fans can get a chance to see the next wave of big acts along with a well-known headline slot for a fraction of the price of a mainstream concert in London. 

Along with musical performances, there will also be a busy schedule of music industry panel talks and conferences which will run throughout the three days, with star studded names and huge musical establishments appearing to join the wider conversation on music.

BBC Music Introducing

Here is the schedule of what’s happening over the three days:

Day One: October 31

– Dermot O’Leary to The Discovery Theatre presented by Spotify, where he will host an audience with supremely talented UK singer-songwriter James Bay.

– Jo Whiley in conversation with Emily Eavis – as one of the world’s most iconic music festivals prepares to turn 50 next year, this is the chance to hear from one of the co-organisers.

– Blossoms will bring their famous Pubcast to BBC Music Introducing Live.

– Musicians Question Time with speakers from Festival Republic.

– Abbey Road Studios Songwriting Masterclass with Maverick Sabre, Novelist and Rachel Furner.

– BBC Asian Network’s panel Women In British Asian Music.

– DJ Mag presents EQ50 Reclaiming Space a thought-provoking talk from black women in electronic music.

– MTV Breaks presents What Do You Do?

Day Two: November 1

– Trevor Nelson will be at Tobacco Dock on Friday to talk about his incredible journey From Pirate Radio To Black Music Pioneer. 

– BBC Music Introducing LIVE will welcome legendary musician Nile Rodgers and acclaimed music executive and manager, Merck Mercuriadis, for a special discussion. In conversation with Merck Mercuriadis, Nile Rodgers will discuss the art of songwriting, his journey through the music business, and what excites him about the future of music, as well as sharing invaluable advice for the next generation of musical talent. 

– Amy Lamé will be at BBC Music Introducing LIVE on Friday to discuss Grassroots Venues & Why They Matter. 

– DJ Mag will provide vital information for anyone setting out into the world of club promotion wanting to know How Do You Do It Yourself?

– Universal Music host a session focused simply on Breaking Into The Music Industry.

Day Three: November 2

– Gilles Peterson will host the Futuresounds session, introducing attendees to some of the hottest developing artists in the UK and offering a chance to find out more about the support they’ve received. He will be joined by panellists Moses Boyd and Yazmin Lacey. 

– UK Music will be presenting a session focusing on diversity within the industry. 

– One of the UK’s most exciting talents, Izzy Bizu will be at BBC Music Introducing for an in conversation session about The Writing Process.

– Funding For Music Projects with Nao and DemiMa is not to be missed. 

– Gabrielle Aplin will be at BBC Music Introducing LIVE for a talk about Being an Independent Artist where she will offer her advice and answer questions from those who want to know more.

– DJ Mag’s Editor, Carl Loben will host a Q&A to discuss the topic of mental health with Drum and Bass pioneer Jumpin Jack Frost.

Nile Rodgers at the event last year

BBC Music Introducing LIVE is a brilliant event for young people looking to start or develop their career in the music industry, as it offers first hand advice from members of the UK music industry along with independent artists. 

by Katrina Mirpuri

Tickets are on sale via the BBC Introducing website. More information on pricing can be seen below.

Day Tickets £12.50 + booking fee

3-Day Tickets £30 + booking fee

Catfish And The Bottlemen – Doors 19:00 | 16+ SOLD OUT

Radio 1 Dance at BBC Music Introducing LIVE – Doors 18:00 | 18+ £25 + booking fee

Group ticket deals are available, for more information contact: info@introducinglive.co.uk

BBC Music Introducing LIVE is produced by Get On Vision.

The post Glass previews BBC Music Introducing LIVE first appeared on The Glass Magazine.

The train journey with Great Western Railway service took me from the industrial depths of London out into the open green countryside. After settling into my seat, the food and drinks cart arrived by my side and I opted for a cold beer and a packet of crisps to get into the festival spirit. Open fields flashed before my eyes and before I knew it I was in Wales. 

Big Theif. Photo credit: Nici Eberl

I’m standing by the Mountain Stage whilst Big Thief play the third song of their set when I get chatting to a woman from Leeds. During guitar solos and song intervals we chatted about the androgynous look of Big Thief lead singer, Adrianne Lenker who sung into a microphone with a shaved head and drawn on moustache when the conversation eventually shifted to the beautiful scene of mountains and trees that surrounded us. She went on to tell me that we desperately need to start planting more foreign species of trees in order to halt predicted temperature increases. This conversation was one of many I had over the weekend about the planet. It summarised the tone of the weekend. Green Man has always been green but this year we all shared the same concerns about the world.

Although Green Man officially welcomed guests a week early as part of their settlers pass offer, the festival started on Thursday for most punters. Bodega kicked off  the party as they played to a packed Far Out tent which was made up of rock, folk and electronic fans, whilst others enjoyed documentaries and films at the Cinemadrome. Options remain open at all times at Green Man, and after live acts finish there are djs galore providing beats at Chai Wallahs and Round The Twist for the masses of party people. 

Maribou State at the Far Our tent. Photo credit: Kirsty Mclachlan

On Friday, Fat White Family returned to the festival on the main stage having previously played the Far Out tent two years ago. The larger venue worked well for the band, who had the audience gripped while folkier sorts politely watched from the back waiting for Villagers and the headline set from Yo La Tengo. Guitars were put to bed after midnight and many flocked to see Maribou State followed by an epic dj set from Greg Wilson which went into the early hours.

Jarvis Cocker’s secret DJ set. Photo credit: Patrick Gunning

On Saturday, rumours quickly spread that Jarvis Cocker was to play a secret DJ set following his talk in the afternoon. Cocker fans gathered in the Round The Twist tent in anticipation, and cheered when Jarvis appeared heroically before the decks. He played an array of tracks and talked between each song like he was on the radio before handing out a tub of sweets which everyone politely passed around to share. Although the majority of people at Jarvis were BBC 6 Music dads, this year’s lineup did see a wave of younger crowds which was largely due to Four Tet’s Saturday headline slot. 

Four Tet on the Mountain Stage. Photo credit: Patrick Gunning.

The Mountain Stage temporarily turned into Berghain as we soaked up the rays from the light show along with the heavy electronic sounds which bounced off the mountains. A DJ headlining the mainstage is an unusual occurrence at Green Man but it somehow felt deeply organic listening to Four Tet’s carefully crafted beats in the open air. 

Father John Misty’s headline slot. Photo credit: Parri Thomas

The choice of music at Green Man was refreshing but it also offered up the biggest dilemma of the weekend prompting what became the age old question of “are you going to see Idles or Father John Misty?”  For many this was a tough decision, including myself, a proud af gang (Idles fangroup) member and a die-hard Father John Misty fan. Like many, I considered running between the two but in the end chose Misty as he’d travelled further to be there. Joshua Tilman took to the stage along with a full orchestra before launching straight into Hangout At The Gallows. The mood was set for the night and there was a mutual sense of happiness in the crowd as Misty flew threw song after song. “This song goes out to all the babies out there,” he announced before playing Real Love Baby to a sea of people singing it back to him. The crowd was enthralled, and he took the time to deliver witty stories in between songs which added extra entertainment. 

The burning of the GreenbMan. Photo credit: Nici Eberl

As midnight drew closer, the festival slowly flocked to watch the annual burning of the Green Man along with fireworks. Green Man was a success as usual, and the flames lit the festival until the early hours. 

As I boarded the Great Western Railway service back to London, I sunk into my seat and enjoyed the comfort of charging my phone and sitting down after a weekend of standing and walking. I sipped on a cup of tea and dwelled on the conversation I had with the woman from Leeds earlier that weekend and wondered what the world look like in 10 years. Either way, I knew Green Man would stay the same.

by Katrina Mirpuri

Feature image credit: Patrick-Gunning

The post Glass reviews Green Man Festival 2019 first appeared on The Glass Magazine.

Celine Dion performing at BST Hyde Park  

Home to the legendary and the timeless, Hyde Park has hosted an incredible array of talent on its main stage year after year. It always seems that they can’t possibly outdo themselves, yet each year they carry on hosting iconic moments that withstand the test of time.

 Celine Dion captivating the crowd at BST Hyde Park

The performance by Celine Dion for BST was no exception to the above. Dion’s reputation precedes her. As the sun started to slowly set over Hyde Park, the singer pranced onto the stage in the same manner as she did while in the prime of her career. As a female vocalist, Celine Dion’s style couldn’t be further from what’s currently in vogue: that high, frail, baby voice favoured by pale women with ukuleles. Love, death, heartbreak is the overarching themes of Dion’s work and they are rarely perceived as subtle to those experiencing them. Romantic infatuation really does feel like the high notes in The Power of Love.

Flamboyant as expected with four outfit changes throughout the evening, nothing distracted the audience’s attention from her voice. Dion is never anything other than note-perfect and largely devoid of melismatic over-singing. When she is singing, her material falls into two categories. The first is big-ticket cover versions, songs you might reasonably have thought were too well-worn to support another straight reinterpretation. The second is material was written specifically for her, all immediately identifiable even to the non-Dion diehard as things you’ve heard umpteen times.

 Dion’s greatest strength was proved once more. She can make any sound her own. With an extraordinary rendition of Purple Rain in tribute to Prince, the powerhouse vocalist proved that she can make any song her own once more. Even though it’s been nearly four decades since her debut French album, the strength of her vocals is completely undimmed and engulfs Hyde Park in a vapour of emotions. 

Compared with the newer generation of divas, Dion has more in common with Barbra Streisand and Liza Minnelli: the gold suits and billowing gowns, the epic scale, and a voice as affecting in a soft register as it is in full flight.

When Dion went into her, perhaps, most famous song, Titanic’s My Heart Will Go On, it encompassed a particular type of beauty that can only be attributed to her and her alone. At the end of the day, it’s the vocals that will weather all storms. 

Celine Dion performing at BST Hyde Park  

She left the audience in awe with her final song, a tribute to John Lennon’s Imagine. “If I may, I would love to leave with this message of peace and harmony in the best way that I can.” Dion is a force to be reckoned with and last night’s performance in Hyde Park was a testimony of it. 

 by Adina Ilie

The post Celine Dion headlines the opening night of Barclays BST Hyde Park first appeared on The Glass Magazine.

When is comes to dance music all-dayers GALA takes first prize. It’s humble approach means  there aren’t any in-your-face brand sponsorships pushed or complicated stage setups. It’s as simple as walking into the park and having a good time.

The sunny main stage

The day kicked off in true British bank holiday style with the shining sun and crowds enjoying Raw Silk and Nick The Record at the main stage. Meanwhile in The Pleasure Dome, festival-goers braved the contained bubble of heat and sweated side by side while dancing their way tunes from  dance music maestro, Dan Beaumont. Was it worth it? Of course it was. Beaumont orchestrated us through his set like puppets as laid it on thick. Saying that, it’s very easy to get in the zone when you’re stuck in a dome full of people and can barely move to get out.

The Pleasure Dome

A stellar lineup of international artists meant there was enough going on for each tent to have a vibe of its own. Each corner of the park was pumping out different sounds and down near the end was GALA’s newest addition, the Worldwide FM stage run and curated by Giles Peterson.  This Worldwide FM stage was exactly the right mood for me after I left The Pleasure Dome as the mixture of cool breeze and live instruments replenished me like a musical detox. ‘One to watch’, Skinny Pelembe played to a tentative but small crowd followed by Auntie Flo and Mr Scruff who performed with MC Kwasi.

A sign celebrating South London

As the sun started to set, a thick black cloud drew closer to the festival site only to unload its contents on us during Honey Dijon’s set. Half of GALA ran for cover whilst the other simply danced through the shower, embracing what was left of Dijon’s set which ended in club banger Gypsy Woman. By 10:30pm crowds were dribbling out to either move onto afterparties or call it wrap for another year. Another success from GALA means dance music fans can enjoy the closest thing to club intimacy in a park whilst enjoying the ever unpredictable bank holiday weather.  

by Katrina Mirpuri

The post Glass reviews GALA festival first appeared on The Glass Magazine.

Crazy P at Gala

This years lineup presents a mixture of disco, dance, house and jazz with DJs and live bands playing across the various four stages. GALA favorites, Horse Meat Disco have secured a headline slot again this year spinning their feel-good disco favourites along with music from Mr Scruff, Chez Damier, Crazy P (live), Gerd Janson, Honey Dijon and many more.

Pizza from Made of Dough

This year’s GALA promises more than ever with a larger focus on independent food and drink stalls in addition to all the great music. Peckham locals, Brick Brewery will be selling their wide variety of craft beer on site along with other neighbouring South London outlets such as Made of Dough and Other Side Fried.

Also joining the food lineup is Honest Burger and The Cheese Truck, both of which have been popular on the festival circuit.

Food from Levan

If street food is a little too casual for your taste, Peckham’s own Levan, will be offering their dining services outside of their restaurant on site for all to enjoy. The cuisine offers seasonal European dishes giving festival goers a more refined dining experience at the festival.  

The full  lineup  can be seen below:

by Katrina Mirpuri

For more information about GALA, please visit their website

The post Glass previews GALA in Peckham Rye Park, south London first appeared on The Glass Magazine.