V 2006 Hylands Park Chelmsford

Didn’t we have a lovely time, the day we went to Chelmsford.

I must confess that I didn’t see most of Saturdays Bill, because as always things come along all at once. I had tickets for the first ever home game at the new Arsenal Emirates stadium as well, so that had to come first.

The day at V started well with just a little wait Saturday morning at the box office getting our tickets which had not arrived by post. One little tip, never borrow one of Maurice’s buy one, get one free bikes for pennies out of the Sun, as bits and pieces seem to drop of them at the most inopportune moments. Back home quickly, then a drive to North London to see the mighty Arse get a draw with the prems favourite ice cream "Aston Vanilla"

When I got back home Lee dropped me and my 12 year old daughter Grace of at Hylands. The only band left to see was Radiohead who headlined the main stage. I must say that I have "OK computer" in my collection and I know that it’s quite a privilege to see them but am not really a fan, so found Radiohead a bit dreary and flat. Saying that all the Radiohead fans thought they were wonderful, so who am I to say. About halfway through the set Grace, Maurice and myself had had enough and went to one of the smaller stages and saw Sandi Thom. She was very good and was the perfect act for my little girl.

Next day saw my wife Lee, daughter Grace, 15 year old son Charlie and me arrive at about 2 o’clock. Charlie stayed with the family group for all of 2 minutes before he shot off to meet all his mates who this year and last year managed to sneak in for nothing (one of the benefits of being local I suppose). We got to the main stage and met Maurice and Paul. The Dandy Warhols were on; they were ok but not my cup of tea. Lee & Grace shot of to watch James Morrison and left me with mates and beer, not bad.

The first full set I saw was the Sugar Babes, I’ve got to say they were Ok. Full of life and plenty of action, not what I was expecting to enjoy, but I did. So did the rest of the crowd, though it seemed as though only the girls seemed to know all the words. I am ashamed to say as a live act, they were so much more fun than Radiohead.

Next on were Hard-Fi, I really like these, they are aggressive and punky and got the crowd going. They went through all there own songs and also did a version of Seven Nation Army. Grace and Lee had joined us again and I was surprised to see them both enjoying it as well.

Paul Weller was next and this was my highlight of the weekend. He is in my opinion superb and only gets better the older he gets. He went through his usual set including my favourite (which is not one of his own songs) "Walk on gilded splinters." When he did "A town called malice" the whole place went mad. The good thing about Weller at these places is that he really looks as though he is enjoying himself. I must say that it was one of the best I have seen him.

After the Modfather we decamped and went to the channel 4 stage and caught Starsailor halfway through there set. They were also good and as the set went on more people arrived. I would like to say they were coming to see the Charlatans who were on next, but I don’t think that was the reason. The Charlatans as usual were ever so good. I really enjoy there music and they are always crowd pleasers.

What all the crowds were coming to see was Razorlight. I think they are OK but not my favourites out of all the new bands, but I am an old chap now, as all the youngsters went mad when they came on. That’s the great thing about coming to these places is that even though I have my views, that there have been no decent bands since the 70’s? So when you see how people react, it’s the same as when you was a kid pogoing to the Damned, so I know that I am wrong and the music is just as good as it was in my day. Razorlight should have played the main stage as there were twice as many people watching them than Morrissey.

All too quickly the day was over. We found Charlie who was full of it. He had been at the front jumping up and down, crowd surfing and just having a good time.

My regrets about the weekend were missing Kula Shaker, having to pay £2 for a small ½ litre bottle of water, Arsenal only getting a draw, not having SAHB headlining and not being taken to festivals by my mum and dad when I was a school kid. My highlights were Paul Weller, having a fairly safe environment for my kids to enjoy themselves, seeing new bands, having a few beers with mates and seeing Mo’s peddle fall of his bike.

A couple of recommendations would be to have a tent for local bands and also one for older rock bands to perhaps relive some of there former glories.

The best thing about the whole weekend was that when I got home Monday from work, was that the kids were playing Razorlight, Hard-Fi, the Feeling and all sorts of rock music rather that the bland dance music they were playing before. All I have to do now is to get them into the Temptations and The Delfonics and the whole world will be rosy.

Duncan