For the last few years I’ve started my TGE on the Wednesday. It means I can start at midday on the Thursday and there’s usually some music on in Brighton the night before anyway. This year as no different. Well I say no different, I actually mean sadly, was different.

Just before Christmas, one of my favourite Brighton venues, Sticky Mike’s announced it was closing. This is my usual Wednesday night and end of festival hang-out. There was some good news, when they announced that they would be using the East Street Tap as their new venue, one of my favourite pubs in Brighton. It turned out to be bad news as the regular student crowd who seemed to occupy upstairs at Sticky Mike’s have migrated to the much smaller East Street Tap and throughout the weekend I struggled to get in. The nearest was stranding on the stairs to the upstairs venue/

Losing Sticky Mike’s is a sad loss.

Despite its closure. There was still some things happening on the Wednesday with some bands playing the main festival hub, some free events at the Green Door Store and the Prince Albert

Unlike last year. I didn’t have a photo pass. Okay, I’m not shooting for a magazine or online website. But I’m the sort of person they should be giving a pass to. I’m not overly bothered by the big acts. I’m happy to photograph the next generation and throughout the weekend, the venues I was in, were devoid of official photographers unless there was ‘hype’ behind the band. What’s the point of having the same acts photographed by a few dozen photographers? Because of this, I left most of my kit at home and just took a few primes and a fallback camera in case security were being sniffy.

The festival itself kicked off in fine style with Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird. An Aussie band who played a nice slice of infectious pop-indie. They even made a ‘keytar’ sound good.

Deciding on getting in an early banker and positioning myself for the walk up to Horatios, I headed down to see the amazing playing of Gwenifer Raymond. If you haven’t seen there. She’s pretty amazing on the guitar and banjo.

The Russians had invaded Horatios on the pier and I headed up to hear Lucidvox, a band that had played London earlier in the week with positive reviews. Sadly, there were sound issues that effected the two bands I saw.  

After a few misses, I decided to see one of my favourite live bands, Avalanche Party. Playing the tiny Black Lion pub as part of the Alternative Escape, they still managed to put on an excellent show that was appreciated by the packed pub.

Bumping into some friends, they had mentioned that Giungla had impressed in the afternoon. So I headed into the sea wall to catch her. I have to say I was really disappointed.

Venues seemed to be busier this year. By the middle of the first day it was already proving to be difficult to move around. Venues, I usually found easy to get into were often full, so I headed to see the Murder Capital early and had caught, Jockstrap. They are members of Black Country New Road but this offshoot band, really didn’t work for me.

There was a lot of hype around the Murder Capital. They had been heavily supported by Steve Lamacq and were coming through on the tails of the Idles and Fontaines D.C. What surprised me the most though, was how different the band are to those two bands. Fontaines have the poetry. Idles have the politics. The Murder Capital are your dark emotions. Every song brooded with an intense emotional centre and was something I was completely unprepared for. Easily the highlight of the festival.

After the emotion of the Murder Capital I decided to take it easy and find a seated venue and caught a band called MarthaGunn. They were okay. Almost an Americana twinge to their indie.

Day 2 started with a highlight. Dry Cleaning are one of my favourite bands at the moment. They mix interesting stories with some brilliant windy guitars.

After a few okay bands, one of the great things about TGE happened. I stumbled upon a band I didn’t know were playing. Walking past the Hope and Ruin, I could hear the brilliant sound of Snapped Ankles. It was one in one out, but the windows were open so I stood and watched and they came over to see me!

I had heard good things about the Petrol Girls. A punk band focused on feminist issues. Not sure I’m the core market but the post punk word at the moment seems to be missing female bands. However, while they put on a good performance, it was all too shouty shouty, rather than shouty singing, or shouty talking, as is the norm with post-punk. They are definitely more of a punk band and they didn’t work for me.

The other thing I like with TGE (when the weather is good) is how they give busking spaces to local artists if you have time, it’s always worth stopping and listening.

Often at this year’s TGE, I went for safe bands who I’d seen before. Saint Agnes are one of those safe bands. They always put in a brilliant performance. They were playing in the alt-Escape and as expected they were great.

Venues were getting busy and I decided to opt out of queuing and headed down see another set from Gwenifer Raymond in a seated venue. (I must be getting old).

As I was chatting to a friend, I stayed on for the next band, Ferris and Sylvester who played blues rock. At times it was a bit saccharine but I enjoyed the set.

It was getting late and Black Honey were playing a very late set at the Haunt after most places had closed. I thought it would probably be a complete waste queuing. Luckily I got in to catch the last few songs and them having a complete ball playing their home town.

Day 3 started with another banker. I’m a big fan of John J Presley’s blues. He’s got such an expressive voice and distinctive guitar. It was also good to see him reverting back to having a band as they add an extra depth to his music.

Queuing was much more an issue this year. You had to get there early for the hyped bands and there was no bigger hyped band this year than Black Midi. As The Ninth Wave were playing before hand, I queued up and caught both bands play good sets.

Wanting to take it easier, I headed back to the alt-Escape and grabbed a pint and the opportunity to catch Dutch Mustard who I’ve caught in London a few times

After heading out and finding all the nearby venues full, I returned to the Black Lion and was fortunate to catch another enjoyable performance from the Pagans SOH. They mixed rap, funk and rock in a very enjoyable way with a charismatic lead singer.

After the Pagans I bounced around with no one in particular standing out.

I have to admit. I was a bit more knackered at this festival than usual. I was also getting sick of queuing. As I’d hit SXSW in a big way and seen lots of new music. I decided to take it easy and stick to a venue. The Green Door Store seemed to have the best lineup with Big Joannie, Porridge Radio, and Peggy Sue, all of whom I’ve seen before. They were all good and Porridge Radio, played the best set I’ve seen from them. But it was Stonefield, a group of sisters who I assume grew up in a house with only Paranoid by Black Sabbath to listen to, who really impressed.

Sadly after the Green Door Store finished their programme, it wasn’t possible for my traditional trip to Sticky Mikes to catch their late-night off-festival bands and it was time to grab a few pints before calling it a relatively early night. Losing Sticky Mikes is definitely a loss to Brighton.

All in all. Another good TGE. It’s disappointing that the venues continue to spread out with what seemed like an increase queue time at each and the risk of walking half way across town to find TGE’s app’s busy status hadn’t been updated. Sadly, the ability to move around is reducing. Hopefully, next year they can rebalance the mix of venues. But I will be back again next year.

Bands I liked

Adrian Crowley, Mary and the Pigeons, Radie Peat, Idles, Sofasonic. Saint Leonard’s Horses, Ed Dowie, Guildhall Saxophone Ensemble, Gill Sandell, Alev Lenz, Angèle David-Guillou, Enderby’s Room, She Drew a Gun, Hurray For The Riff Raff, Mammoth Penguins, Milky Wimpshake, September Girls, The Proper Ornaments, Tigercats, Chorusgirl, Spook School, Joanna Gruesome, Martha, Freak, Black Honey, British Sea Power

Bands that were okay

Brigid Mae Power, Dinges, Krammers, John Hassall, Kite Base, Circa Waves, Jess Bryant, Pete Astor, Piney Gir, Samantha Whites, Michael J Sheehy, Anna Pancaldi, Bahboon, No Cars, The Tomboys, Natalie McCool, Healyum, Marvin Powell, Bearsuit, Evans the Death, USA Nails, Dairy Classics

Bands I won’t be going out of my way to see again

Martin Dubna, Sonic Kimono, Hope

Best Gig

March was a sad month as it saw the closure of Fortuna Pop!. The gigs celebrating Fortuna Pop! were excellent. But the gig of the month has to be a new band, Idles. They’re easily the most exciting band I’ve seen for a few years.

Best new band

Idles

Albums of the Month

• Volcano – Temples
• Brutalism – Idles
• A Pink Sunset for No One – Noveller
• Flying Microtonal Banana – King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
• Condition – Spectres
• The Navigator – Hurray for the Riff Raff
• Let the Dancers Inherit the Party – British Sea Power

Best photo

Okay catchup time. I fell behind early in January and never caught up.

This month’s bands

Bands I liked

The Wharves, Ultimate Painting, Sarcasm, Iceage, OAE Experience Ensemble, Menace Beach, Half Waif, Rose Elinor Dougall, Echobelly, Asylums, Freak, Cabbage, Black Honey, Sacred Paws, Pixx

Bands that were okay

Girl Ray, Shards and Strange Boy, Love Buzz, Alice Barlow, James Canty, Little Cub,

Bands I won’t be going out of my way to see again

Josh Vine, 924s, Throwing Snow, 

Best Gig

January was a really strong month. But the highlight was Black Honey, Cabbage and Freak. Although my view of Cabbage has since changed, at the time, I thought they were the real deal. Black Honey, were excellent as always.

Best new band

At the time, it was Cabbage. But due to the issues later in the year, I’ve no plans to see them again.

Albums of the Month

• Terrorist Synthesiser (EP) – Cabbage
• Young, Dumb and Full of… – Cabbage
• Lemon Memory – Menace Beach
• Stellular – Rose Elinor Dougall

Best photo

(Sadly, I’m writing this after there’s been an understandable fuss over their front man and his inappropriate stage behaviour).

This year, I’d dropped any such criteria and just concentrated on it being an enjoyable short break and from this perspective, it was definitely successful and I think this festival is now an essential fixture in my calendar.

This year was a good example of how my approach has changed. In all honesty, I didn’t feel the line-up was too inspiring. My first year, I would have found this frustrating. But I think like this year’s SXSW. We’re in a lull year. There wasn’t really a buzz around any new bands. But this year wearing a different hat, it didn’t bother my. The festival is so cheap that it’s still good value if you only catch two of three bands. With the early bird tickets, it works out at only £15 per day and at that price, you really can’t go wrong. So this year, I was just happy to bounce around and catch whoever I could find.

[youtube xB4ZMu297pk]

Day 1

Shark Dentist, Leif Erikson, Good Foxy, FRIGS, Cosmic Strip, Catholic Action, Anna Meredith, Crows, White Miles, Frankie Cosmos, Amy Von, Larkin Poe, Banff, Howling Owl, Wyldest, Cloves, Bleached, Anteros
(Bold – liked, italics – band I’ve never seen before)

As you can see from the list above. I concentrated on catching new bands. Starting the festival were Shark Dentist, a band I’d heard good things about. Sadly they didn’t do much for me.

Shark Dentist

Good Foxy

The first band who stood out were Canadian band FRIGS. They have a punky attitude led by their lead singer who growls into the mic. They were easily my band of the day.

Cosmic Strip

Cosmic Strip

Cosmic Strip

An enjoyable rocky set from Scottish band Catholic Action.

TGE was my first chance to catch Anna Meredith. I’m not sure a festival is the right place to catch her, as she mixes electronic music with cellos and brass. But the crowd were respectful and I enjoyed the set.

The always excellent CROWS bringing the performance to me, after I arrived late and was stuck at the back

I have a sneaky liking for the Hub. It’s a tiny tube-like venue in the sea wall. It’s got a claustrophobic feeling that works well with rock bands (although you do have to get to the front, otherwise you don’t see anything). So making my first visit of the trip, I accidentally stumbled upon a band I’d seen last year, White Miles. They’re a two piece with a lead singer with a lot of energy. They worked pretty well in this venue.

Frankie Cosmos

Amy Von

Larkin Poe

Banff

Howling Owl

Wyldest

Coves

Bleached

Bleached

Anteros

Day 2

Aldous Harding, Exmagician, Barbarella’s Bang Bang, Nadine Carina, REWS, Kim Churchill, PAUW, Ellie Ford, Dream Wife, Baba Naga, Inis Mor, Pleasure Beach, James Gruntz, Blush, Drones Club, Black Honey, The Anchoress

Starting Day 2 was the ever fantastic Aldous Harding. I think she’s a bit special. There’s something etherial about her performances that I just can’t get enough of. So it was a great way to start the day, but also a risky one. Starting the day on a big high means it can only go downhill. Luckily, there were a few bands playing who I thought could act as strong anchors. Dream Wife and Baba Naga around the middle of the day and Black Honey, to close the day. In all honesty, very little stood out during the rest of the day. But these acts were worth the admission alone.

Aldous Harding

REWS

Kim Churchill

PAUW

Ellie Ford

Dream Wife

Baba Naga

Inis Mor

One of the biggest draws at TGE this year was local band, Black Honey. I’m a bit of a fan of this band. Izzy the lead singer is pretty awesome. There’s a swagger about her that means this band is destined for big things. Obviously without the music it wouldn’t work and luckily they have some very catchy music. Izzy’s also brilliant to photograph as she always puts on a good show. Tonight they were playing Brighton Pier and I believe they closed the pier as the venue was at capacity. I suspect this is the last year they’ll be playing TGE as they’ll be too big next year.When I arrived there was a frankly awful band called Drone Club. I’d assumed that most people were there for Black Honey and was resigned to watch from afar. But oddly, it turned out, most people were there for Drone Club. As you can see from the photos and video. The crowd disappeared and I walked straight to the front. I guess that’s the great thing about music. What’s rubbish to one person is brilliant to another (though I’m sticking by Drone Club being the worst band I saw at TGE16)

Closing the evening was the Anchoress on the BBC Introducing stage. I quiet liked what I heard. But I have to admit, I’d done enough standing around and not enough drinking so I decided to call it a day and head off to find a pub.

Steve Lamacq introducing the Anchoress

Day 3

Joe Nolan, Coves, Pollyanna, Glass, Chastity, Post Heather, Beverly, Chastity Belt, Aldous Harding, Margo Price, Joy Formidable, Cult of Dom Keller, NOTS, Diet Cig

Oddly, when I’d pre-planned the final day. I hadn’t identified much of interest other than bands I had already seen. So I decided to just base it on take it easy. But there was the odd thing. Beverly was pretty good. I caught Aldous again. Watched some of the FA Cup final and decided to take a chance on getting in to see the Joy Formidable. Luckily, I think the walk down to the Concorde on a cold evening had put people off, so just like the night before with Black Honey, I was able to walk straight up to barrier. I spoke to a long time JF fan after the gig who’s extremely disappointed with their new material. But personally. I loved their performance. To close the evening. I headed to my favourite venue, Sticky Mikes to catch NOTS and Diet Cig, who’s lead singer was still bouncing around as if it was the start of the whole thing. She’s like a walking (and bouncing) advert for Duracell. Amazing energy, another fun performance and a good way to close off this year’s TGE.

Joe Nolan

Coves

A slightly mad Glass

Chastity

Chastity Belt

The wonderful Aldous Harding

Margo Price

Great performance from Joy Formidable

This was my first visit to a relatively new venue called the Moth Club. It’s actually the function room of an ex-servicemen’s club in Hackney. It’s got a Phoenix Night’s feeling about it and I have to admit. I really liked it. Definitely a place I’ll revisit (in fact I did, the following night).

Tonight’s gig featured current favourites, Black Honey, Misty Miller and local band, Near Death Experience.

First up were Near Death Experience. They played a soul inspired set. It’s nice to hear music harking back to proper soul and R&B. It’s too strong a genre to have been ignored all these years. I guess it’s a difficult genre because you need strong lead singers and thankfully Near Death Experience feature one.

I saw Misty Miller a few weeks ago at Rockaway Beach. I enjoyed her set but oddly tonight, she didn’t do much for me. Not sure why I enjoyed her set so much last time but not this time.

Just before Black Honey came on, we all had to pretend it was New Year. It’s the first one I’ve celebrated for years. Guess that means I don’t need to bother this year.

Closing the evening was Black Honey. As always, it was a fun, high-energy set. This band are the real deal. If they keep up this level of performance, they’ve got every chance of becoming one of the bands of 2016.

First up was Black Honey. Odd. As they’re such a good live band, I thought they’d have been the main support for the Wytches. Although there was a reasonable crowd for them, it didn’t reach the critical mass for it to get anyone moshing. Which is a pity, because Black Honey still put in their usual high-energy performances and it’s the first time I’ve seen them play to a relatively flat crowd.

I’d heard good things abut Baby In Vain and what I heard I liked. They’re much heavier than I was expecting. But that’s not a bad thing. I thought they had a Paranoid era-Black Sabbath sound. Unfortunately, my friend wasn’t overly impressed and for some reason the sound at the Horn, was much louder than I can ever remember it being. So we opted out of the performance after a few songs. But I’d like to catch them again.

Closing the evening were my personal favourites, the Wytches. Airing some new songs. The young crowd didn’t seem to mind and were soon moshing away. The new material was more much closer to normal grunge and seemed to be missing their trademark psychobilly influences but they still sounded great. In fact I think it beefed up their set.