Cardiacs - Manchester Academy

Cardiacs

manchester academy december 9th 2004

Not having seen the Cardiacs for quite some time i was looking foward to it, especially as earlier that day i was in Barcelona visiting friends, so it was going to be an eventful evening to a long day.

Gladly my band of choice did not dissapoint.

A new guitarist had joined the ranks, and was filling a well worn pair of shoes as though he had bought them for himself. As for the choice of songs they played, well, a history lesson in the bizarre word that the Cardiacs inhabit was on the cards this evening.

A veritably well ticked dance card of old favourites was presented to a confused audience, as the Cardiacs were the support act for another, namely The Wildhearts, so the audience was not fully their own, but a gentle nudge in the right areas, and the fish in the pond were well and truely swimming in delight.

Out came all the classic tunes, some, as far as i know, had not seen the light of day for many many a year, but sounding as fresh as the daisy that adorned many a convert in the crowd. Tim loved us all, Tim loved his brother Jim, and we all loved them back.

But all good things must come to an end, and the end it did come, pity.

Watched the Wildhearts for a couple of songs, but no comparison.

Lets hope the Cardiacs play again sometime soon.

Shambala Festival

Shambala festival

august 2004

In a green field just outside Plymouth, lies a gently meandering family based fun festival, where everyone is welcome and hardly anyone knows about it.

With that in mind, its well worth paying a visit if you can find out about it. All the usual facets are there, live music, camping, dogs on string, good food, a friendly atmosphere, and the oddly familiar face.

3 days of sunshine, a fine collection of friends, a Saturday night of compulsary fancy dress makes it a weekend to remember, even for those indulging on a few chemical breakfasts.

The pace is sedate, mushrooms are for sale quite legally, and the odd officer of the law (that you do meet) doesn't want to go go home after his shift has ended.