Sleaford Mods - 'Kebab Spider'

New year, new Sleaford Mods track; Kebab Spider is taken from the Nottingham duo's forthcoming long player, Eton Alive and, as you'd rightly expect, is fair full to overflowing with energetic beats and blistering wordplay. The club-based video, below, allows the pair to show off their funky moves amongst a crowd of friends and fans.

What, you may be wondering, is it about then? Well, Mods' frontman Jason Williamson has stated that the song is...

"the accumulation of torment for those that refuse to capitalise solely through mediocre channels and as a result are ejected back onto the concrete. Obscure and under the horror as a giant spider crawls out the crown of their small portion of street meat"

So, there you go, obvious when you know really. 

I'll admit that late night gyros aren't really my bag however, tucked away in the dark recesses of my brain, there sits a chemical memory of a boozy night many years ago in Faliraki. A surfeit of Ouzo means that several scenes are missing from the evening (how I got onto that bar I'll never know) but I definitely recall a kebab being waved in front of my vegetarian face at the end of the night. For all I know, a tarantula may indeed have crawled out from the salad and compressed meat to say hello. Did I mention there was a lot of Ouzo?

As for the track it is, to further quote Jason Williamson, proper, and kudos as always to rhythm man Andrew Fearn for supplying music that blends textures of late 80's Manchester dance with Mr Oizo's Flat Beat but makes something altogether better. It's a corker of a track and I wait with baited breath for a hard and dirty bass heavy remix.

Kebab Spider is available now with Eton Alive is scheduled for release on Friday 22nd February, with a UK tour kicking off in March (the chaps play Portsmouth Pyramids on Thursday 2nd May, Bournemouth's Old Fire Station on Friday 3rd May and Southampton's Engine Rooms on Saturday 4th May).

Victorious Festival 2018 - Sunday Preview (part one)

In keeping with my 'festival as a feast' metaphor, if Friday was the appetiser and Saturday the main course, Victorious' Sunday line-up is a large, heaped dessert trolley accompanied by an epic cheeseboard, full as it is with succulent musical treats and savoury moments. In fact, so large in number are the options available I've had to split my recommendations list in two. First up, covering the best things to see from gates open until seven o'clock, is the sweet selection..

Me & The Moon (Common Stage, 1215-1245) (Seaside Stage, 2130-2200)
If you're feeling a wee bit jaded after yesterday's festival fun, suffering after one too many expensive pints of lager, the mellow indie-stylings of this Guildford duo are the very thing to start your Victorious Sunday (alternatively, if you're seeing them later in the day, they'll help calm your nerves after Keith Flint has scared you)



Fugitive Orchestra (Showcase Stage, 1230-1300)
Fugitive Orchestra, the pseudonym of James Tattington, is not so much a one-man band as a beat-boxing, guitar-looping philharmonic.



Gomez (Common Stage, 1315-1400)
In the 20 years since Gomez won the Mercury Prize (yes, it was really that long ago) the Southport posse have released another 6 studio albums, toured extensively and, in the process, added a large American contingent to their fan-base via the US college circuit. The band are celebrating the 20th birthday of Bring It On the band with an anniversary tour, on which their Victorious appearance is a stop.



Soul 45 (Beats & Swing Tent, 1415-1515) (Soul Circus Tent, 2020-2140)
Southampton's premier vinyl only suppliers of funk, soul and dance music. Prepare to swing your pants..



Jerry Williams (Castle Stage, 1500-1530)
A few years ago, at The Great Escape, I left the dark depths of Sticky Mike's with Kassassin Street ringing joyfully in my ears, and stumbled across a talented singer-songwriter playing in a yard across the way. It was Jerry Williams and, liking what I heard, I ensured I caught her afternoon slot in a tent on the Old Steine later that day (where, to an audience that included her Mum, she played a jaw-dropping cover of Bump'n'Grind). Since then Jerry has plugged away, touring further and wider, refining her craft and growing her legion of fans with every gig. Fingers crossed she makes it back from her mini tour of Europe (!) in time...



Marika Hackman (Common Stage, 1520-1550)
2017's I'm Not Your Man was one of my favourite long players of last year, pitching exquisite vocals with wry lyrics and catchy melodies, so this is a set I'm very much looking forward to (although, as much as I hope to hear her Nirvana cover, I think I'll be disappointed).



Sink or Soar (Real Ale Stage, 1530-1600)
Rising like from the ashes of the excellent (and much missed) B of The Bang, Sink or Soar feature Wit's unmistakeable vocals and playful lyrics.



Dani Uziel (Acoustic Stage, 1550-1620)
Is it just me or, of late, is Portsmouth excelling itself at producing talented singer-songwriters?



The Orielles (Castle Stage, 1600-1630)
Over the years the minster town of Halifax has given much to the world; John Noakes, Big Daddy, Sarah Blackwood, Quality Street, Ed Sheeran (yes, I know) and even one of the Thompson Twins. All from Halifax. The latest delight to come from that part of West Yorkshire are The Orielles. H'mm, there must be something in the water up North...



The Bluetones (Common Stage, 1620-1650)
Purveyors of melodic indie tunes, Mark Morriss and chums have been resident on the alternative music landscape for a long time. If memory serves they're no longer recording/releasing new material, so expect an uplifting set of old favourites.



Gengahr (Castle Stage, 1700-1730)
Apparently take their name from a poison Pokémon, really, this London four-piece produce a satisfying blend of pop and psychedelia. I like both of those, and I like Gengahr.



The Amazons (Common Stage, 1720-1805)
Ignoring the leather and long hair clichés for a second, these Reading rockers have been feted by the likes of the NME and BBC Radio 1. To be honest their a bit of a wildcard entry on mny list...



Tuba Libres (Beats & Swing Tent, 1730-1815)
Trust me, you never realised it but there is a tuba-shaped hole in your life. A talented bunch of chaps from Southampton who will most definitely put a smile on your face.



Reverend & The Makers (Castle Stage, 1800-1830)
The sound of Sheffield.



Sleaford Mods (Common Stage, 1835-1920)
If you have to ask then maybe they're not for you...



......and that's not including Skaraman, TV's Dermot O'Leary at the decks, a Bowie tribute, a 90s tribute act, Dub Pistols, festival stalwarts the Southsea Alternative Choir, the various delights offered by the World Music Village and Comedy Tent and, of course, Paddington making an appearance in the Kids Arena. 

That's it for part one of my Victorious Sunday preview, part two should (!) be appearing tomorrow so be sure to pop back. Now, go make a nice cup of tea and have a sit down, you need to be ready for the weekend.