91热爆

Michael Smith

Making my way from the surprisingly empty car park, I made my way through the hipster lined streets of Middlesbrough to the Central pub on Corporation Road.

If you were not aware of it being there, you would not stand much of a chance today either as the pubs name has been (like many others in the town) drenched in the red and white cross that seems to be spreading like some form of plague across the town.

Football? You mean there is some form of event on? You wouldn鈥檛 of thought so with all the people that have braved the rain and made it into town today.

Dodging the cars I made my way up the stairs of the Central and assumed the position that some friends and I would manage to keep for the rest of the day.

Darren Reay

Arriving just in time to catch the last couple of songs from local outfit Sol Paradise, having seen Darren Reay support people at The Georgian Theatre a couple of times before, it was nice seeing him with someone beside him (I鈥檓 sorry I never caught his name) I think it adds a lot more depth to songs and his presence is somehow elevated to that of a 鈥減roper artist鈥�.

I believe his anonymous buddy done him the world of good, I鈥檇 like to hear more of it that鈥檚 for sure. Ending on a cover of Kinky Afro by The Happy Mondays, a well-programmed choice for the start of the day.

Anam Cara

A Geordie boy, with trilby hat and a Black Keys t-shirt, I really had no idea beforehand who this guy was, or what to expect from him, when he started his first song, (鈥淗ere comes the rain鈥� very appropriate for the day) the few people in the room fell quiet.

Dan Whitehouse

He took to the stage in his country/trendy style shirt, some brief banter about having a mum from the North but living in Wolverhampton, I think he may of tried too hard to win over the local crowd.

By the time he had finished his first song, I think I was right, text book songs from Heartbreak Edition 4 and not a sincere sounding line I was a sadly disappointed and urged the clock to hurry up so my suffering could end.

Michael Smith

As a small interlude from all the acoustic stylings of all the acts come before and to come, Michael Smith, accompanied by ambient electronica, treated us to a few excerpts from 'Giro Playboy'.

A few members of the crowd looked somewhat bemused by what he was doing on stage a few muffles of 鈥渨ho is he?鈥� and 鈥渨hat is he doing here?鈥�

Those who did listen were treated to a very funny look on life by an unemployed man who found himself in various parts of the country and what he got up to with his free holiday.

Benjamin Wetherill

The room began to fill up quite quickly for Ben.

Ben Wetherill

Hailing from Leeds this English gentleman, needs no introduction, the room was easily more full whilst Ben was playing than any other time in the day, which is a lot to say, considering we are nowhere near the headline act yet, I believe word is getting round about this charming man and his twisted dreams of murder and melancholy.

Beginning with a whispered acapella he drew the crowd in craning their necks to hear him, and then starting with a ukulele track 'Little Love' and the carried on at an amazing pace towards the finish line through 'Woodland Whites', a traditional piece 'John Barleycorn' George Formby鈥檚 'Noughts and Crosses' and 'Too Young' by Nat King Cole, Benjamin鈥檚 own material went down as well as the 鈥渃heap cover versions鈥� he performs, after the room cries for more (the first time today).

This shows that little by little the masses are learning that Benjamin Wetherill really is a chunk of genuine talent, that mothers love probably听as much as their daughters.

Pip Dylan

It was nice to see a lot of the crowd taking the chance and staying to watch the wee fifer do what he does, easily winning the award for most instruments on the stage at one time for the day.

You would think he had brought a full band with him, alas, he appears on stage all on his own, and with a cheeky grin launches into first track performed on his pedal steel, this is the slice of country that today's acoustic stage was missing and there is something about the sound of it that makes me want to get up and dance, but I don鈥檛 though everyone around our table is bum shuffling to the music, tapping hands and nodding heads.

Orientating around the full stage to take position on his wooden box fitted with a kick pedal Pip begins the opening chords to 'Walkway' and a few more people sit themselves on the ground in front of him.

With strings bending to the point of breaking, we are treated to a 35 minute set of songs about harbour walls, dogs cats and even sheep and a right treat with what should be a classic 'Lavender Moon' which is still one of my favourite songs.

Pip Dylan is responsible for my love affair with folks from the Kingdom of Fife and I鈥檓 happy to say it鈥檚 been a wonderful 4 year relationship.