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Summer Sundae 2005

United Kingdom | | 14 August 2005

While most festivals in the ever-expanding season scrabble for big name bands and shiny sponsorship to lure the crowds, a handful of events are about more than just profit. One is Summer Sundae.

Similar in ideology to All Tomorrow's Parties and the early days of the Glastonbury festival, the Summer Sundae Weekender aims to provide a platform for emerging artists and those who struggle to attract the more mainstream or commercial attention.

Favouring a more organic approach to building its reputation, the three-day event set in the cosy grounds of De Montfort Hall (just minutes from Leicester's city center) has grown over the past five years from its rather humble beginnings, more through word of mouth and thoughtful planning than pushy advertising and corporate branding.

With four stages (the hall itself, a proper sized outdoor stage and a couple of snug tents) and two teeny camping grounds, the festival gets the mix of intimate and comfortable with organised and professional almost spot-on.

Friday

Pacific Ocean Fire reap the benefits of an unscheduled afternoon downpour as people scramble to shelter under the Musicians Acoustic Stage, before Friday morphs into a melodious Scots-fest. Glaswegian four-piece Sons and Daughters de-flower the Outdoor Stage with driving folk-rock and Adele Bethel's commanding vocals on 'Dance Me In'. Guitarist Scott Paterson powers through 'Rama Lama' adding his own West Coast inflection as Bethel throws herself about, all petite floral dress and luminous red lipstick.

One half of beer-soaked boundary-pushing Arab Strap, Malcolm Middleton, proves an early highlight. Backed by leftovers from the sadly departed Delgados, the ginger half of the 'Strap eases in with an aptly wretched start in 'Devastation' before bursting out the other side with 'Break My Heart' and 'Loneliness Shines', instantly scrumptious pop songs sparkling with Malkie's unmistakable drawl.

Unfortunately the gathered throng dissipates as the brilliant British Sea Power (plus obligatory foliage and stuffed animals) start their set on the Outdoor stage. Summer Sundae is arguably for acts with less pulling power and as BSP continue their extensive touring of the festie circuit, Malkie's draw is too strong for some. Middleton retains the 'Strap's disturbing debaucherous lyrical sentiment ('No Modest Bear') but packages it in an unnervingly more palatable and danceable form. Sublime.

With more than a 15-year-old history of under-appreciation and innumerable kicks to the guts, it's a credit to the Trashcan Sinatras that they still refuse to crumple under the force of the blows. Tonight Greater Glasgow's (still young) Grandfathers of melody headline the packed out Musicians Acoustic Stage, delighting a handful of hardcore fans and seducing the new. The perpetually and unfairly ignored five-piece play a set that spans their entire career to date - the lone drunken heckler gets his wish when frontman Frank Reader introduces the band's first ever single. Despite having been released in 1989, 'Obscurity Knocks' is more reinvigorated than dated, with sneering poetry shining throughout Paul Livingston's vibrant Marr-esque guitar riffs.

The achingly beautiful 'Leave Me Alone' is illuminated by Reader's impeccable vocal, 'All The Dark Horses' proves their obvious but untapped commercial potential and 'Send For Henny' exemplifies their mastery of musical and lyrical dynamics. This is a group that for one reason or another has failed to sell truckloads of records, despite producing flawlessly crafted folk-tinged pop songs littered with intelligent everyday narratives and glorious harmonies. 'Weightlifting' tells the tale of a band letting go of their baggage before festival organisers thwart the yelps for an encore.

Hailing from the other side of Scotland, Idlewild draw a sizeable crowd to the Outdoor stage. Theirs is a relatively short history but cutesy Roddy Woomble and Co prove their popularity and put on a much-appreciated show. 'I Understand It' gets the kids bouncing and 'El Capitan' flings hands up in the air. Once just another anodyne indie band, Idlewild tonight redeem themselves and firmly establish their rank in the race for the most harmonious and accessible indie pop.