Follow The Sun Festival

There is so much good new music out there, so many prospective new favourite bands and artists who want your ear's attention, that it can sometimes seem a struggle knowing where to begin with life's musical buffet. What's better, wilfing your way through SoundCloud or typing random characters into Spotify's search box? Should we wait for 6Music to spin our new musical obsession or go along with Last.FM's "if you like this then you might like that" algorithms? Or, if you're at all like me, do you spread yourself across all options in a desire to hear as new music as you can? Decisions decisions, there are only so many hours in the day, etc etc..

One of the more sociable ways of encountering new music is obviously the humble gig where, just possibly, you might be lucky enough to catch a future stadium band in their first support slot (have I ever mentioned the time I saw The Killers play such a set at The Wedgewood Rooms?). Better yet are music festivals, sprawling events where a wider array of music is invariably on offer, although enjoyment of such events can depend on just how much confidence you have in your Wellingtons. 

If you fear that your galoshes are suspect, are distrustful of Ian McCaskill's brethren, or simply don't want to walk too far then fear not, these are salad days for indoor festivals, one or two day shindigs that offer tasty musical morsels in a mud-free environment. Portsmouth was previously home to one such urban festival, SouthseaFest, an annual event that turned Albert Road's pubs into pop-up venues.

Unfortunately SouthseaFest is no longer running however, such was its impact, like-minded groups of promoters have channelled its spirit into a new series of microfestivals that call Pompey home; from the multi-venue joys of Dials and Icebreaker to the one day, one venue affairs of Golden Touch and Follow The Sun, all showcase a variety of both local and national acts.

The latter of these returns to the Edge of The Wedge for a second instalment this July, with a hand-picked by London-based promoters CloseUp, with the Wedge's sibling venue boasting a compact and bijou performance space which offers punters the opportunity of enjoying an intimate musical experience without the need for a trusty pair of Hunters.

The line-up for this year's instalment includes Londoners LONA and Shanghai Blues, local bands Sad Palace and Dutch Criminal Record, Southsea-based singer-songwriter Megan Linford, Isle of Wight indie-rockers JEPH (who release their new single, Space, via Honeymooner on Friday 5th July) and the hottest thing out of High Wycombe, Only Sun (woefully bad pun intended).



Topping the bill is Lauran Hibberd who, fresh from touring the UK & Europe alongside American indie-rock outfit Hippo Campus and supporting Norwegian pop-punk's Sløtface in London, will be taking her wry brand of observational indie pop to this weekend's Glastonbury Festival. If you miss her sets on the Greenpeace & BBC Introducing stages you'd best get yourself a ticket for Follow The Sun.

Follow The Sun 2019 takes place at the Edge of The Wedge on Saturday 13th July, with doors open from 1300. Tickets are priced at a very reasonable £10 (plus booking fee), available now either via TicketWeb or the venue, and punters are advised that the event has a 14+ age restriction.

Penelope Isles @ The House of Rapture

Recent Bella Union signings Penelope Isles are set to release their debut long player, Until The Tide Creeps In, on the label this Summer. Ahead of this the Brighton-based quartet of Jack Wolter, Lily Wolter, Becky Redford and Jack Sowton are hitting the road, playing a selection of dates which includes a stop at SXSW and a home-town show for the Wolters on the Isle of Man.



Along the way the band will be making a return visit to Portsmouth, where they played Dials Festival last year, to play a set at the city's newest venue The House of Rapture. Tickets for the Tuesday 2nd April gig, co-promoted by Dials, Strong Island Recordings and Pie & Vinyl, are priced at a very reasonable £6 and available online via Billetto.

Support on the night comes from local acts Barbudo, who recently released their new EP Sunshine, and the lo-fi soul of Ban Summers. The gig poster, below, has been conjured up by Chris Williamson and, disturbingly, reflects how I feel some Saturday mornings. No, really.

Dials 2019!

Good news everyone, the excellent Dials Festival will be returning to Southsea this October! Last year's shindig saw various venues along Albert Road play host to some excellent talent, including Fake Empire, Curxes, Thyla and the jaw-droppingly good LibraLibra, hopes are therefore high for Dials 2019 to again bring the very best local and national emerging artists to the city.

It's far too early to hazard a guess at who might be on the line-up but it's a reasonably safe bet that, on the day, there be a surfeit of good music for all to enjoy. If this wets your appetite I'd advise marking Saturday 5th October on your calendar and keeping eyes on the festival's social media for announcements.

The festival has once more partnered with Solent Mind, a local charity which supports people with mental health problem across the South, to again both raise funds and awareness of mental health issues.

For those eager to attend a limited number of Super Early Bird tickets go on sale this coming Friday, 1st February, available via the festival's website from 1000 prompt.

UPDATE: All £15 Super Early Bird tickets sold out within 90 minutes, £18 Early Bird tickets now available.

What to see at Dials...

Albert Road will be alive with the sound of music this weekend; if Sunday's charity event at the Wedgewood Rooms is the feel-good coda, Saturday's Dials Festival is the magnum opus. Dials 2018 takes place across five venues on Southsea's favourite thoroughfare, all conveniently within ambling distance of each other, with a hand-picked selection of acts performing.

The organisers' sterling efforts have produced a line-up that is fair full to the brim with aural delights and, after some poring over the event's Clashfinder this week, I think I've just about worked what my pick of the pops are (one of whom, Yassassin, have unfortunately had to withdraw under doctor's orders), so without further ado here are the bands I'm looking forward to seeing at Dials 2018:

Temples of Youth (The Wine Vaults, 1330-1355)
Jo Carson and Paul Gumma are Temples of Youth, purveyors of moody yet delicate electronica that combines gorgeous vocals, synthesizers and guitar. They've received airplay locally via BBC Introducing and nationally on both BBC Radio 1 (Huw Stephens) and BBC 6 Music (Steve Lamacq). Did I mention that they're excellent? No? Oh, well they are so you should make sure you're at the Vaults in plenty of time to see them.



Dani Uziel (Bar Acapulco, 1400-1430) 
Portsmouth singer-songwriter Dani has played several of the city's smaller venues over the past year, garnering plaudits and gaining fans along the way. 



Lauran Hibberd (The Loft, 1445-1520)
If, like me, you like a mix of snarky lyrics and fuzzed-up guitar, you should direct your feet to The Loft (above The Kings pub) for Lauran Hibberd's set. Whilst her earlier material had a more delicate, folky feel the newer material rocks out a treat (will there be moshing during Call Shotgun? Hopefully).



Curxes (The Loft, 1700-1730)
At first listen Curxes' sophomore album, Gilded Cage, appears to be a mellower affair than 2015's Verxes. Yet, as the album unfolds, it soon becomes apparent that a dark and melancholic heart beats beneath the gorgeous synths and crisp production. A soundtrack waiting for an as-yet-unmade Netflix dystopian sci-fi fantasy? Definitely.



Krush Puppies (The Loft, 1900-1930)
London's Krush Puppies have a line of grungy fuzzed-up rock that's hard not to like, catch them at Dials ahead of their set at The Great Escape's FirstFifty gig in Hoxton next month. Of course, one of the things about festival is the clash and, yes, Krush Puppies clash with...



Horseflies (Bar Acapulco, 1900-1930)
Take a pinch of Deluxe Flamingoes, add a soupçon of Attack! Vipers! and what do you have? Horseflies. Lovely lovely Horseflies.



Bokito (The Wine Vaults, 1930-2000)
Once the clashes start there's no stopping them; so it is then that Bokito, hirsute suppliers of memorably quirky indie pop, are on at the same time as another band I'm hoping to see. Will Bokito have the edge as they appear to be named after a somewhat anti-social gorilla? Possibly.



Vinyl Staircase (Edge of The Wedge, 1930-2000)
Is there much to do in Dorking after dark? I don't know. I do, however, know that a vinyl staircase sounds very much like the kind of interior design that I'd splurge on should I ever win the lottery. Therefore the sound of Vinyl Staircase, which has a roll to its rock, appeals to me.



Fröst (Edge of The Wedge, 2030-2100)
Skipping gently past the three-way clash that is the scheduling of Lice, Breath Panel and Thyla (a clash which might require a roshambo to make a decision on) we arrive at Fröst. This Brighton-based duo have received national airplay on BBC 6 Music, with their glacial electronica finding favour with Guy Garvey, Gideon Coe and Lauren Laverne. So, I really don't to sell that one, do I?



Estrons (The Wedgewood Rooms, 2100-2130)
I must confess that I'm somewhat on the fence when it comes to Estrons which, given my appalling centre of gravity, makes for wild teetering between love and hate feelings towards them and their brand of indie. Whilst singer Tali is, frankly, devastatingly good in the vocal department I do wonder if, without her presence, the band would just be another indie outfit. Harsh? Possibly, though I'm still keenly looking forward to hearing the album.



Art School Girlfriend (The Wine Vaults, 2130-2200)
The Margate-based Art School Girlfriend (known to her chums as Polly) is preparing for her headline set at the Vaults tomorrow by a sold out show at St Pancras Old Church tonight. This is a set I'm very much looking forward to, a dark and atmospheric way to end my Dials experience (well, until I get a second-wind and head back to the Wedge for Tigercub).



And there we have it, a selection of bands that I'm really looking forward to see (and, in some cases, see again) at Dials 2018. That isn't to say that the rest of the acts on the packed line-up aren't to my taste, far from; I'm also hoping to see Mystic Peach, Fake Empire, Los Bitchos, Grace Savage... err, maybe I need to rework my recommendations? Oh dear. Regardless of who you or I see all of the artists on the bill are deserving of our support, as is the festival itself, and if I could splice myself into several clones I'd see all of the bands on all of the stages. Perhaps one day it might be possible, for now though I'll have to be that guy scuttling between the stages, Clashfinder clutched to sausage-fingered hand, trying not to miss any of the wonderful music. I can't wait.

Dials Playlist

One of the perks of living in the modern age is that, prior to attending music festivals, we can easily check what acts we'd like to see (or avoid) simply by spending some time on Spotify (other streaming services are available). Of course, this could also be perceived as a drawback; one of the joys of music festivals is stumbling across your New Favourite Band when you were least expecting to, hearing that song, loving that tune. 

So, whilst the lovely folks at Dials have prepared a playlist of artists on the festival's bill, a playlist that I've posted below, it is up to you, gentle reader, whether you listen now or save your jaw-dropping delight for October 6th. 

Dials Festival 2018 - Just added...

The lovely folks behind Dials have announced some additions to the bill of their multi-venue one-day festival. Rounding out an already packed line-up of new music are London bands Yassassin and Krush Puppies, Brighton synth-pop duo Fröst, singer/beatboxer Grace Savage and Portsmouth singer-songwriters Megan Linford and Dani Uziel. All this and more for the bargain price of just £16? You'd be silly not to really.

Redialled?

Back in January a message popped up on Twitter that caught my attention, it was from the Dials Festival account, querying if there was anyone still out there. Dials which, for those who may not remember, stepped into the fray when Southsea Fest took a years hiatus, had a successful debut before festival retiring itself for SSF's return.

The festival returned, in a smaller form, in 2016 as Dials Days (where the photo above was taken) before it again disappeared into the shadows much like Homer Simpson stepping backwards into a hedge.

Time moves on and, as Southsea Fest has also stepped back into the shrubbery, the sight of this tweet piqued my interest. Is Dials returning? Is there a new(ish) festival to fill the SSF hole in my gig calendar? Apparently so as, according to this tweet, we should keep Saturday 6th October free.

Woo, and furthermore, hoo. Here's looking forward to the first announcement of acts playing, and cue happy dance...