Although, I’ve only covered a few events officially, I’ve actually been to around 40. So it was a difficult choice. To celebrate they’d produced a rather nice photo book and 200 postcards with our photographs on. I have to admit it was nice seeing some of my photos in print. I have thousands of photographs, but rarely print any.

For the 200th they’d managed to get a really decent line up. Opening the event was Louis Barabbas. He was one of the featured photographs. Showing him leaping and doing the splits while playing his guitar. Sadly, he’d hurt his back so this was a ‘less energetic’ performance. But I guess things are relative. He still managed to run around the stage and jump around with more energy than most performers. A very impressive performance.

Next up was French for Rabbits. I’d seen them play a tiny in-store gig at Rough Trade with their full New Zealand band. Today I think it was just the singer with friends. But it was no less good. She has a lovely voice and some nice material that sounded fantastic in the big space of the Union Chapel.

Adrian Crowley had offered to provide a soundscape between acts. Unfortunately, due to laptop issues he was unable to. But ever the trouper, he borrowed a guitar from French for Rabbits and put in a short impromptu performance.

Photo exhibition

Closing the show was an example, of what’s good about Daylight Music. A band called Ex-Easter Island Heads who use guitars as percussion instruments. Very much influenced by classical composers like Steve Reich. It was a very impressive performance that led to a standing ovation and not the type of thing you’d see at a normal mainstream gig or classical concert. Definitely worth catching.

I’d seen French For Rabbits at The Great Escape and as I needed the excercise, thought I might as well walk over and give them another listen and I wasn’t disappointed with a lovely set by the New Zealanders, especially as they’d not played some of the songs acoustically before.

So who did I manage to see?

Ella vs Mountain – sounded nice. But hard to tell as she was playing the tent in the hub and there was a lot of noise

Black City Lights – DJ and singer. Not my cup of tea

The Darlingtons – energetic midday set from these guys

French for Rabbits – nice kick-back with a beer on a sunny day type music

John J Presley – excellent set from one of my current favourites

September Girls – only caught the last two songs. But sounded excellent

Baby Strange – didn’t work for me.

Telegram – seen these guys before and again I was impressed by them

Esben and the Witch – listened to most their set from the street but managed to catch two songs. Sounded really good. Have to catch them again

Wytches – despite sound issues, another great set

Deathcrush – didn’t ‘get’ these girls. Lots of noise and shouting but nothing that grabbed me

Theo Verney – enjoyable set

Scott and Charlene’s wedding – don’t take themselves too seriously and seemed to be having a good time, as were the crowd

Barbarossa – not my cup of tea

Gavin James – hard to judge. Quiet music, but people were talking near me so I left

Femme – Seemed to be three girls dancing to a backing tape. I quickly moved on to the next venue

Serfina Steer – multi instruments uncluding a harp. Quiet nice laid back music

Syd Arthur – was looking forward to seeing these guys as I’d heard they were good. Just didn’t grab me at all

Public Acess TV – enjoyable set

Brawlers – energetic set that seemed to go down well.

Gnarlwolves – punk sound but nothing particularly interesting