It’s hard not to contain the excitement for much longer, As the End of the Road festival is jus finally only one week away.
Its one of the festivals I have been looking forward to all summer long with the wonderful Green Man Festival in the Brecon Beacons only last weekend and its off to another beautiful festival setting next thursday, here I am previewing some musicians to look forward to as the festival celebrates it’s momentous tenth year as one of the best weekends on the calendar. Some of the artists appearing to looking at the legacy of the festival as a whole, End of The Road festival has so many pleasures this coming weekend. Here are a few of the acts that you should not miss on the weekend of 4th – 6th September.
FRIDAY – BIG TOP ~ 11:45 – 12:15
Love L.U.V will be kicking off as the first band to play in the Big Top, Borrowing their name from the immortal spoken word intro to The Shangri-Las classic Give Him A Great Big Kiss, the band give this track all the fuzzed-up ’60s, doo-wop girl-band harmonies you could possibly want.
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FRIDAY ~ GARDEN STAGE ~ 12:00 – 12:45
Ryley Walker’s second LP “Primrose Green” , has been a slow-burning joy this year with echoes of John Martyn and Nick Drake with his vocal sound and guitar work .Walker has an ability to create a dense, spellbinding atmosphere using just his rich, vintage tone and deep, almost sullen timbre. Adding an extra edge of intensity and improvisation to his live proceedings as a four piece band, Walker is a personality easy to escape with.
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FRIDAY ~ GARDEN STAGE ~ 13:30 – 14:15
Steeped in 60s Folk and Lo-Fi raspiness, Juan Wauters has an impressive ability to amass the qualities of his comprehensive influences and create something pleasantly novel and grounded, his sharp, natural progressions and untainted vocal delivery combining to make sweet, eclectic pop. With his band of friends behind him, Wauters confessional love songs will be unintentionally purposeful and create a sweet, satisfying setting.
FRIDAY – WOODS STAGE ~ 16:00 – 17:00
Torres knows the darkness. The Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter otherwise known as Mackenzie Scott waits until anything—an idea, an emotion, a memory—gnaws at her, tearing at her fingers and throat until she releases it in song. Following her self-titled debut in 2013, TORRES pushes herself to even noisier extremes on Sprinter, a punishing self-examination of epic spiritual and musical proportions.
FRIDAY ~ GARDEN STAGE ~ 16:30 – 17:30
With the release of their second LP ‘Sun Coming Down‘ set for just after the festival, Ought will hopefully be providing the first taste of the new record at End of The Road. What cannot be questioned is that the group will deliver something distinctive and encompassing once again through their astute post-punk. Their live set channels the understated recordings with an added air of resolve and atmospheric poignance. Perhaps the perfect accompaniment to a late afternoon.
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FRIDAY ~ GARDEN STAGE ~ 20:00 – 21:00
Ty Segall remains as busy as he ever has been. Although we have yet to hear a record from him this year, the return of Fuzz brings great excitement for those with a fondness for Segall’s heavier explorations. Grooving riffs and psychedelic mysticism are of course to be prescribed, preparing for whig outs at an ear-piercing volume wouldn’t be quite misjudged either.
SATURDAY ~ THE WOODS ~ 21:30 – 23:00
What superlatives can be used that haven’t already about the music and personality of Sufjan Stevens? ‘Carrie & Lowell‘ is one of the most fragile, vulnerable listens you’ll hear not just this year, but period. Combined with some of his most moving compositions from his illustrious back catalogue, Sufjan’s set will be emotional, confessional and most notably, uplifting.
SUNDAY ~ BIG TOP ~ 13:00 – 13:45
With new record ‘Freedom‘ finally set for release this Friday, The Black Tambourines will be in an especially frivolous mood come their set on Sunday afternoon. Delivering fresh, eclectic cuts from their second LP and some of their undeniable hits from ‘Chica‘ and ‘The Black Tambourines‘, the group’s swaggering Garage-Pop will be an unmissable treat.
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SUNDAY ~ BIG TOP ~ 14:15 – 15:00
In releasing two excellent records in quick succession, Jack Cooper and James Hoare have provided us with a catalogue of mellow jams that pleasingly stretch within a pop template. Their rich tone and considered harmonies naturally ooze subtleness, providing a laid-back canvas and more considered verse for the thought-provoked. With the addition of Mazes drummer Neil Robinson to the groups live forte and some amazing guitar workouts, UP’s gift for curious progressions will be delivered with extra satisfaction.
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SUNDAY ~ THE WOODS ~ 17:30 – 18:30
Alvvays forthright dream-pop is focused, slightly melancholic and undeniably absorbing. The economical guitar-pop of Alec O’Hanley, Kerri Maclellan’s emotionally-driven synth and Molly Rankin’s engrossing vocal delivery makes for a succinct production. Their live set thrives with added passion and cohesiveness that will let Alvvays’ melodies really shine as the sun begins to set on the last day of the festival.
SUNDAY ~ TIPI TENT ~ 18:30–19:15
We cannot think of many other records that are as joyfully mystical and possess such an aura of timelessness from this year than ‘On Your Own Love Again‘, the second LP from Jessica Pratt. Delivering with elegance, Pratt’s music drifts with effortless intimacy. It would be understandable for such warmth to not transcend into a festival setting, but Pratt does so with aplomb, filling large spaces with her luscious melodies and intense poeticism.
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The Fat Angel Sings 