2014; My Point of View

Another year, another clink of champagne glasses and yet another wince towards those soppy summaries of the year which drain social media. It's probably ironic then that I'm writing this, but as I sit here with a stomach rattling like a tumble dryer watching the New Years Premier League fixtures, I thought maybe I should jot down a few memorable things from 2014, for me anyway.

So, where better place to start than football. It's something that follows you every year, for good or for bad. For myself, a Manchester United fan, last year was pretty hard to swallow. I've always been a fan of David Moyes and a firm believer that managers should be given time, but by April the United board had a hard decision to make and gave him the axe. Had he been given another season to settle who knows what could've happened but the fact is that the new man at the helm Van Gaal has boosted a similar squad to perform 7/10 performances and grind out results as opposed to the 3/10 efforts consistently on display last year. Champions League is priority this year, but with more of a grip on transfers hopefully the Dutchman can help the team challenge for the title next season. 

David Moyes; a rabbit in the Old Trafford floodlights.

Elsewhere the league itself last year was one of the best Premier League seasons yet. Unfortunately it was between Manchester City and Liverpool to win the title, with the Reds playing their best football in years. For me, it was hard to watch two teams I don't particularly have savoury comments for compete for the title. City ended up taking it but Liverpool played the best football that season which included fine performances from young Englishmen Sterling and Sturridge. Surely we'd have a chance at the summer's World Cup then? 

The moment it all went downhill for Steven Gerrard in 2014.

Well, it's never easy with England is it. Not that we ever thought we'd go to Brazil and win the most prestigious prize in football, but as the days drew closer and the media produced their usual hype about our team, the pressure got to them and for players of their immense standard they failed to produce the goods. Germany, the old enemy, on the other hand, were marvellous and rightfully won the tournament, thumping Brazil 7-1 in the semi-final on their own turf. As an avid lover of football as a whole, the tournament had it's highlights but was by no means the most entertaining and the Premier League so far this season has mirrored that. It's looking like City and Chelsea to take the title but my eyes are firmly glued on my team still and a 3rd place finish is ideal.

Away from football, there are other things that go on in my life. The passing of my grandmother last Christmas gave me a kick up the backside to become more proactive in everyday life. Anyone who has had a close family member pass away will feel this rather cliche sense to make the most of life as it were. So this year I've been doing stuff... more. It's All Indie has given me a platform to spout my views on music regularly and watch live music free, which is always nice. I've been lucky enough to go to both Live At Leeds Festival and Bestival as well as interviewing indie-giants of the moment, Peace and Catfish And The Bottlemen. Other highlights in music this year include Arctic Monkeys show at Finsbury Park who were supported by breakthrough act of the year, Royal Blood. Their brutal presence was even more noticeable a month later at Glastonbury which I also attended, and it's true what they say, there's no place like Glasto. Bestival also served up a treat of performances through the likes of Foals headline set and Major Lazer's unbeatable live experience. Towards the end of the year I moved up to Sheffield to pursue Journalism and have continued to do what I love best, watching and speaking to bands. A band called, 'Palace' have particularly grabbed my attention this year and one to definitely watch out for in 2015. I spoke to them at a small bar in Sheffield and they seem to be onto big things for anyone remotely into the 'indie' music scene.

The Bestival crowd gets steamy.

Uni has rewarded me with a platform for my nasally voice; my own radio show, 'The View From The Afternoon', again heavily influenced by the music I thrive on. The university's 'Forge TV' has also meant my childhood habits of running around the playground, mic in hand, commentating on football have gone a step further as I've sat in the commentary boxes at Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday. Before all of this though came the best three months of my life, hands down. Glastonbury, Bestival, trips to Italy and Barcelona all came about in summer, with a three week stint around Europe's cities with some chums being the cream of the crop. Unusual instances of breaking into hostels and crossing the Turkish border by foot made 2014 a notable year. 

Most people would end the year on a resolution. For me they're often forgotten about 48 hours later but for now I'm paying attention to the old term, 'to not view your glass as half empty'. It's something I am regularly guilty of, which can be hard to avoid when your teams not playing well or it's raining for the twelfth consecutive day up North, but something nonetheless most of us should bare in mind. So to all my family and friends and the strangers who will stumble across this year via my misleading 'search words', happy 2015!

Happy New 'Beer'...

Interview - Bipolar Sunshine - Bestival

Bellows of 'so love more and worry less' echo around The Big Top as Bipolar Sunshine's first ever Bestival show comes to an end. The line itself could have been custom made for Bestival itself; a festival where love and happiness rule over all, and Adio Marchant, aka Bipolar Sunshine, may well be one of its chief wielders.

He can go home happy with his final festival of the summer under his belt, which he went about in his usual fashion. Lolloping around the stage in a baggy silk shirt and a now accustomed tall mountain of hair, his striking look and soulful vocals are hard not to notice. I was lucky enough to catch up with the man himself where we spoke about his style, new tunes and his Bestival experience, whilst in the company of Sam Smith wailing within earshot...

How did you feel your first appearance at Bestival went?

Really well, I enjoyed it. It's my first time playing here and I’m new so it’s nice that people turned out, it’s amazing.

You’re here for the rest of the weekend, what have you got planned?

Just go with it, I’m gonna just see where it takes me, no real plans to watch anyone except for maybe Outkast, but that’s about it.

Have you had a chance to look around yet?

I haven’t had time yet, but I think now I’m gonna try and see some bands and I can hear Sam Smith so I’ll probably go and see some of his set which is sounding good. It’s a nice little festival, it’s chilled.

Having played Glastonbury and Reading & Leeds, how do you think Bestival compares?

I like the vibe here, everyone seems really into the music and having a good time. There’s no point going to a festival with a negative attitude so you may as well just try and enjoy yourself. I’m just here to try and help them enjoy it more, I suppose that’s the main thing.

I’ve noticed your interest in your fashion is very apparent, would you say?

Yeah man, to me I don’t really think about it. It’s stuff I feel comfortable in so I wear stuff that I just generally like, I don’t think about it too much or it just gets all a bit ‘mirrory’!

I’m sure you’ll see lots of people around Bestival dressed up, are you doing anything special yourself for it?

I’m just gonna walk around and see some stuff, everyone seems chilled and I’ve seen some mad styles going off.

Are the rest of your band hanging around as well?

Nah it’s just me man. I’ve got a few friends here so I’m just gonna ride with them. Going home now would just be pointless.

What have you got coming up next then?

In November we’re going to Paris and then we’ve got a tour next year so that’s gonna be amazing, I can’t wait for that. That’s just gonna have so many new songs I wanna play because at a festival you’re doing a circuit of songs and there’s not time in between to revise a whole new set of songs. So now I wanna bring in so many new songs and really step the levels up even higher.

If you could tip another artist to do well within the next year who would you suggest?

I’d say ‘Little Silver’. I know a lot of his stuff and I feel like he’s got a vibe which is suiting people, who can really get into it. There’s another guy called ‘August&Us’ that is making some great music in Manchester, so if I were to name it off the top of my head it’d be them two. 

By Joshua Shreeve (@JJShreeve)

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Simply The Best; Four Days of Fun, Frolicking and Foals at Bestival

The festival scene is currently thriving to say the least but amongst the teen-fest of Reading + Leeds and the difficult ticket purchasing of Glastonbury, Bestival sticks out like a sore thumb, or at least its 10-metre high disco ball does. Now at the still tender age of eleven years old, the festival has already matured like a fine piece of disco cheese.

Like Rob Da Bank's World Record breaking disco ball, the Isle Of Wight festival site was glistening from field to field this weekend. The 'desert island disco' theme brought out more glitter, inflatable bananas and 'wavey shirts' more than ever, the acts included. From Andre 3000's silver foil poundland-style wig to Chic's balloon feast, Bestival was once again not just a festival, but a spectacle.

Andre 3000 sprouts a silver barnet.

The crowd for The Port.

Despite festival-goers arriving in full flow on Thursday, the party really kicked off with Outkast making one of their 40 festival appearances this year. With a set that swayed in and out of enthusiasm, 'Hey Ya' spurred enough zeal to fill the rest of their remaining tour dates. Elsewhere on the Friday, the alternative vibes were running strong in The Big Top with Nick Mulvey's surprisingly upbeat set and Bipolar Sunshine's uplifting appearance brought about a euphoric sing-a-long.

Saturday is fancy dress day, vibrant flags included.

Bipolar Sunshine brings his soul to the party.

Saturday threw up a few surprises, not least Sophie Ellis-Bextor's hawaiian, leaving little to the imagination, costume. 'Murder On The Dancefloor' spawned a joyous, reminiscent ambience only mirrored later that afternoon by The Kooks surprise set in The Big Top, whose new album 'Listen' was released this week too. The night quite rightly belonged to Foals, who bombarded the crowd with ferocious party streamers who were left lusting for more plunges into their arms from frontman Yannis Philippakis. It's worth noting however, that the security aren't as reliable as the crowd when you do attempt a crowd surf and end up falling to your peril, as I found out.

Foals turn up the desert island disco heat on Saturday night.

With the final hours of Bestival looming, Sunday turned the island into a paradise of DJs. Major Lazer came up with one of the best live spectacles around, unleashing Diplo in a zorb ball over a sweaty, shirtless, all whistling dance enthusiasts. The love between them and their crowd is almost as strong as that in the blown up beams of the inflatable church (yes really). Whilst this must seem like the most intriguing place to be found in Bestival's boundaries, The Port is possibly even more so. A converted old ship, kept from last year's theme, hosted DJs such as Andy C, Wilkinson and Chase & Status whilst not just fireworks, but also acrobats flew above a sea bemused heads.

Festival-goers enjoy the stranger
sights of Bestival at the inflatable
church (above) and The Port (right).

It's worth wondering how 'Bestival' had been envisaged when the quite frankly poor play on words was come up with over a decade ago. Now though, it's a fitting tribute to just how we should experience festivals today. It's not about silent discos and drop-kicking someone to the face, it's about onstage crowd involvement, acrobatic transvestites and getting married to your boozed up mate in blow up church. 

By Joshua Shreeve (@JJShreeve)