Moorfest, Heaton Moor, Stockport, Saturday, 14th August 2004

Just got back to Durham after a two and a half hour drive. Am a bit knackered. Here's my review though:

Got to Mcr at about 12.30. Dragged along two friends (ha ha). Felt a bit strange to drive all the way home and not visit my family/friends, but what can you do? Went to the festival to be a bit pissed off that: i) tickets were £15 on the door, but I had been charged an extra £3 booking fee for getting them in advance; and, ii) the man giving out the tickets didn't even check how many I had bought, so I could have taken ten if I had been so inclined. There was one man who tried to get in for free by claiming he was a friend of MES, but he didn't get away with it despite making a good case...

Walked around the festival for a bit, but not much was happening, so we retired to nearby pub, The Nursery Inn, for a drink or two. Great pub! They had a crown green bowling lawn which we ended up on for about four hours, despite having never played before. Got back to the gig at 6ish.

First up were "Belle Vue". I really liked them, although they didn't strike me as very groundbreaking. The songs were all danceable and punchy; and the singer had a lot of confidence and attitude. Could be big in the future??? 8.5/10.

Next up were "Haven". I've never heard them before in any form, but now I know that they definitely deserve to be in the bland and mediocre thread in the polls section. Godawful Travisalikes! I can't really be arsed to say anything more. 3/10.

Then came The Fall. They spent what seemed like ages trying to set up their equipment, and they didn't seem at all happy with the set-up to me. Spencer and Ben came out first, then Steven and Jim appeared. Basically there was not enough room on stage for everyone. They had to take a lot of the speakers, and the DJ's stand, away to make room for Eleni's keyboards. She appeared and looked non-too happy with the arrangements (or, unsuprisingly, the cat-calls/wolf-whistles from the audience). Then, finally, everything got started. Ben re-appeared with MES, and they appeared to be having a heated debate about something or other. Anyway, set-list was something like:

1. Open the Box.
2. Contraflow.
3. Clasp Hands.
4. Mere Pseud Mag Ed.
5. Sparta FC.
6. Mountain Energei.
7. Mr Pharmacist.
8. What About Us?
9. Spoilt Victorian Child.
10. Wrong Place, Right Time -> I Can Hear The Grass Grow.
11. Green Eyed Loco Man.
12. Blindness Instrumental (though Ben mouthed "Blindman" when he decided to play it).

Overall the set was good, but let down by the equipment they were using. The microphones in particular were shocking, and MES's vocals were inaudible a lot of the time, despite being very well delivered. MES engaged in a bit of banter with the crowd (which I love; far better than bands like "Haven" saying "Thank you for being a wonderful audience." after each song), saying things like:

"All this money spent on a fuckin' festival and they couldn't even afford some decent fuckin' microphones".

"It's great to be here at the rugby ground; and it's good to see that the rugby players have welcomed us by pissing in our dressing room."

The people managing the lighting on the stage were quite bad too. Once, the lights went out completely, and the band had to wait about a minute before restarting. Some of the songs sounded a bit lacklustre to my ears tonight too, as if the timing wasn't quite there. But given the bad facilities this is understandable. The band, especially Eleni, looked far happier and more cheery after a few songs had been played out.

The new songs were great to hear again, though I did find myself singing: "Never, no never, no never, no more will I trust the elves of Dunsimore" during "Clasp Hands" . Don't get me wrong though, the "Elves" riff is great here, and the song overall is a cracker.

After "Green Eyed Loco Man" MES left the stage to get in a taxi, and Ben told the band to start "Blindness" anyway, and then left to presumably get MES back. MES didn't reappear though, and so it was left to Ben to lead the band through an instrumental version. I hope Ben doesn't get into trouble with the "boss" for this, cos the crowd loved it!

Special note must go to Ed Blaney, who I was watching at the side of the stage for a lot of the gig. I don't think there was room on stage for him to play as well, and I bet he was gutted. But he really looked like The Fall's biggest fan most of the time, looking really pleased with the performance and really cheering them on and supporting them. You could tell that he really wants The Fall to survive and prosper. I caught his eye once, and was going to give him a thumbs up, but I didn't have the courage. At the end of "Blindman" he came on stage and re-iterated what we all knew: "The Fall are great!". I also saw him outside the ground after the gig when walking back from the pub (we popped back into the "Nursery Inn" instead of staying for Mr Scruff...). But by the time I'd realised it was him, he had already passed us. One question though: what was it with the magic torch thing that Ed kept shining at both the crowd and Spen?

One thing that really marred the performance for me was a drunk girl who thought it would be really amusing to get up on stage and put MES's jacket on; and generally get in the way of the band. After about two minutes the Moorfest officials finally responded and escorted her off.

There was also a huge amount of moshing at the front. I love dancing at Fall gigs; but being physically barged around from side to side whilst I'm trying to appreciate the music really ruined it for me. One woman behind me actually looked really quite upset by it all... . It's a Fall concert for Christ's sake; not effing Metallica!!! To cap it all, the really drunk woman who had got on stage returned and decided to engage in a spot of crowd surfing, which left us all in a heap at one point. It was reasonably amusing the first couple of times, but after the fifteenth or so time I was getting really pissed off . Anyway, I don't want to sound too much like a miserable git...

But anyway, overall I would give The Fall 8/10 (by their standard; so don't think I really prefer Belle Vue!). MES was the highlight of the show, just like in York. And that's the way it should be, unlike on previous occasions I've seen him when he has been really introverted and uninvolved. Just once I'd like to see him come on and sing the WHOLE set hunched over and with his back to the crowd, just so I can see what that was like in the early eighties. I can always dream...

So, a great day out, and great fun was had by all! At the end, the officials threw out about ten or so "Moorfest" T-shirts to the crowd. By a strange quirk of fate, me and my two friends, out of a crowd of hundreds, managed to get one each! I didn't win the raffle though! My ticket was "29", but the winning ticket was "129", so I was close.

Cheers for this Chutters, old bean

Always good to get an instant reaction (well, 2.5 hours is nearly instant, I s'pose !).

Sounds like the set-up was a bit amateurish, but then it was all for a good cause, so I don't think folks had real grounds to complain, esp. at that price (£15 is cheap and cheerful enough for a day out).

Yeah, the profits go to a worthwhile charity; so it was definitely more than worth the journey! Glad you appreciated the speed of the review. I will keep adding things to it as I remember them...

i enjoyed it too....pretty much how mango said.....

oh ....noticed that green eyed loco man started with that groovin with mr bloe....and clasp hands was more frantic like 'pay yer rates' fashion.. likeed that


it's so nice to watch the rugby players having a piss in our dressing room

Great day out..thanks for the big hug from the lad who was convinced he was the only Fall fan at the gig. My sister hated The Fall...until Saturday. It was pure cabaret!

I had fun. Thank God The Fall were on, though, since all the other music was distinctly lacklustre. The Fall played well, I thought, very tight and hard and almost shiny. Didn't meet anyone, apart from someone who lives over the road from Mr. S. Hanley.
Nice to see people enjoying The Nursery too - we were there for a while: I probably even stood at the bar next to you, Mr. Chutney.

Here's my two penneth . . .

I thought all things considered The Fall were on form. Seemed to be an element of tension around (moreso than usual), which always raises the stakes.

The festival itself found me with a smile on my face from the moment I arrived at 6.30. Whenever entering the Rugby Club to order drinks, I felt as if we'd gatecrashed a private party. Memories of awkward 'disco parties' came flooding back . . .

Highlight for me was Mountain Energei and Blindness, both of which compelled me to dance.

We left straight after The Fall, marching out of the field like crazed psychopaths. No other music has such an effect on me as this. I felt invincible (for a short while).

I've not seen this line-up of The Fall before. During the afternoon, I was interested to see a dark-haired woman, very dressed up, full make-up and wearing what appeared to be a mac walking around the festival site. Looked very different from eveyone else there. This, of course, was Eleni.

what was up with the BBC crew-doin a doco or something?

It is very possible. I was there from about 2pm until 6pm (outside on the bowling green mainly); and again from about 10.30 til 11. I was wearing a black T-shirt with a red dragon on the front.

No, don't remember you. Apparently MES was in The Nursery for some of the afternoon, but I didn't see him. Apparently, too, he got quite stroppy about requiring two bottles of Moet before he went on stage (inside info here!)

Although we spent the afternoon down the road in the MoorTap (which we headed straight for after being told to avoid it .."a bit if'fy there") got to spend some nice time once back, in the laid-back, family atmosphere ..straw bales, sunshine, barBQ ..The Fall mingling around & about..
Didn't see any of the other bands, just the dj in the bar. Didn't really go into the Big Top until the appointed hour..
..then moved right in the centre of the tent and the sound was amazing - really full and punchy ..mark's vocals were plenty loud enough, with eleni's keyboards the most upfront I've ever heard live. Shame about the mics though, which really marred any semblance of backing vocals. 'What About Us' suffered the loss especially, with "shipman" consigned to a faint aside, except when mark threw in a couple himself. Having said that, the "pop! pop! pop!" came across alright, as did "hey!" in sparta
I loved the crowd - the whole set up was bizarre, with kids +toddlers bringing the average age down to ..23?! The girl who got up to dance beside mes put a smile on my face, though perhaps I don't appreciate how it interfere's with the bands 'space' ..pesky kids? When she put on his jacket I just saw the playfulness of it ..I don't know
Shame their weren't encores as such, though the main set was more than enough..Blindness was amazing ..bass though at the time I didn't appreciate just how pissed off mes had been to have actually left.
MrScruff was like a gentle come down ..not much more than background music to wander in +out ..do a dance ..with the flashing lights, screaming passengers +sinister grind of the FreeRider bringing to mind Disney's Dream Debased.
Lovely night

Bloody Hell!

I'm kind of glad I didn't see him though, because I would probably have said something extremely inane and sychophantic to him. Along the lines of "Do you fancy a game of bowls with us Mark?", which would have been met by an awkward and embarassed silence at best.

Mr. Pharmacist again, even the band must be getting pissed off withit!!!!!!!!; there again is that why there so many band members being chased away. The new members all learn "Mr.Pharmacist" first. Good review though