As you can tell I鈥檝e been fairly busy in recent days, as this diary will tell you two week's worth of tales. Now, if I can remember that far back, I visited the theatre where I met some really amazing people. The deaf and hearing theatre school is a fantastic way of breaking communication barriers and I admired the kids that had come from far a field to meet others and partake in this. But I won鈥檛 get too deep or start campaigning for this kind of thing like I want to, because I like to think of myself as a care-free person. 听Beached on the weekend was cracking. Backstage passes are good because you meet and greet the legendary bands with a pint of the finest ale, yet the atmosphere and place to be, is on the beach. Producing a radio show on the Saturday was great. Well when I say produce, I mean, grabbing the top artists and sweet-talking them into an interview. The hardest part was trying to keep up with who was on stage, as they changed by the minute.
 | | Creeping Up the Backstairs |
It was obvious when the Fratellis turned up as they steam-rolled their car down a ramp straight onto the beach, hilarious. And I鈥檝e got to say a very un-rock and roll car at that. I mean a people carrier, what鈥檚 that all about. But they were top blokes with deep Glaswegian accents that were impossible at times to decipher. They made for a hilarious interview on More Raw, with Mince describing how going to the toilet in Scarborough would be his highlight and how Razorlight don鈥檛 like them. Pretty funny stuff on live radio and I think they found it harder trying not to swear than anything. It was a great weekend though with many fantastic local bands on show. In my report it was hard to name them all, but thankfully contributors have penned their suggestions. The weather was dire to say the least and Rick Witter didn鈥檛 do enough Shed 7 for me, but you can鈥檛 be picky can you. At the end of the day (a fine clich茅 if ever there was one) the Fratellis were amazing and Rick was a true performer. So how to follow a great weekend of music? Why not start with the Whitby folk festival. Not only is Whitby a lovely little place (and not one big family as people try to make out) but it鈥檚 a great setting for a music and dance festival and fabulous for fish and chips, if you鈥檙e prepared to queue for a billion hours.
 | | What a legend. |
The festival then, well where to start really, anyone for Morris dancing? Little prepared me for not only the climb up the west cliff but the sight of the public learning to Cotswold dance. Great fun. I鈥檓 just so glad I watched rather than took part as I would have been physically drained and battered. Not only that, my co-ordination and timing would have had me killed. I mean, I can鈥檛 even put my hand out to turn left on a bike for fear of falling off. And with large sticks been smacked together with perfect timing, I would have taken someone鈥檚 eye out. The professionals were brilliantly humoured and accepted there would be some people who didn鈥檛 get the dance. Personally that was the best part for a bystander, laughing at what goes wrong. For a minute, I thought I鈥檇 turned up in the middle of a Fatboy Slim video, the Praise You video of 2006. Watching the guys do the real thing next to the Captain Cook monument was something special and the Irish dancers were equally turning heads. After that, my quick pint in the local went pear-shaped. I was there quite simply on a work-basis to see how sea shanties come about. I think some people got a tad over-involved and emotional. Men and women would suddenly turn their heads and sing about catching a whale bone, I don鈥檛 know, it鈥檚 all in the good name of folk music. But I did look a bit silly when I was about the only one not helping to lift the roof off. To make things even better, I managed to interview Mercury Music Prize nominee, Richard Hawley, a pretty cool guy. He鈥檚 not only a sublime singer but an absolute nutter at that, which is a quality I admire in a person. He likes to be known as one of the lads, is best mates with Jarvis Cocker, has a passion for Henderson鈥檚 relish and can do fantastic barking impressions down the phone. Don鈥檛 ask (dog barking is an acquired skill). Enough gobbledegook (great underused word) for one day, I鈥檒l leave you with a few songs to get your ears round this week. Thom Yorke- Harrowdown Hill-Don鈥檛 mention going solo to Thom, it鈥檚 a mere side-project, a superb one at that. This, the first single on his album is politically charged electronica, similar to the musical landscape of Radiohead鈥檚 Kid A and Amnesiac. The fact it covers the death of Dr David Kelly, makes it not your average rock song, but no matter what Thom touches it always seems to turn out well.
 | | Walk in line please! |
Zutons-Oh Stacey (Look What You鈥檝e Done) - Well who doesn鈥檛 like the Zutons? Shame on you, if there鈥檚 such a person out there. They are just great honky-tonky crowd pleasers and this; their latest effort is no exception. It may sound like Valerie but how can you sit still to this. Larrikin Love-Happy As Annie- For me one of the best songs of the year from a truly eccentric band. With the bluegrass opening, unbelievably addictive chorus and bouncy rhythm, these London boys continue to impress. | 
