On The Fiddle

The garden building site is progressing, but by necessity (like not walking on freshly laid paving slabs whilst the cement sets etc) I've not been running the light trap. Anyway, for a few days around the last weekend I wasn't here - we were down on the Isle of Wight enjoying some superb sunshine, some cracking bands and taking on far too much alcohol. The fact that I not only survived but completely smashed a drunken festival weekend after my surgery and treatment was very satisfying to say the least!

Of course the recognised acts on the main stage and in the 'Big Top' were the standouts (including Duran Duran, Liam Gallagher, Seasick Steve, Maximo Park, Kaiser Chiefs, Shed Seven, Supergrass, The Script, Snow Patrol, Apollo Junction ....) but I thoroughly enjoyed a couple of much lesser known bands that were on smaller stages. The main thing they had in common was a bit of fiddling alongside some cracking banjo/geetar.

Pronghorn - apparently their style is 'Cowpunk'. They seem to be a long-standing (unsigned?) band that play a lot of small gigs and generally smaller festivals. There's not much of their stuff on You Tube, apart from tracks from this 'Londis Calling' CD and some rough crowd videos of them playing gigs etc. Very entertaining live, like an unpolished and rough around the edges version of the Pogues.

Noble Jacks - these were absolutely brilliant live, polished and tight. There's a bit more about them than Pronghorn and more stuff on You Tube etc. Looks like they're also busy on the gig circuit, and they're playing a small venue in Leics. in mid November.

I then went down a You Tube wormhole and stumbled on this band of a similar ilk ....

Ferocious Dog - and they've got a gig in Leics. next week that I may well try and get to.