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Jun. 30th, 2007 11:41 pmSet off this morning in pissing rain for Twickenham to see Quins RL v Hull Kingston Rovers.
It was only raining lightly in Twickers, and Quins won an exciting open game 32-18. The train journey each way passed agreeably, thanks to Harry Thompson's book 'Penguins Stopped Play'.
But back in Gosport it was still pelting down. To get to the festival's VIP tent I had to cross Walpole Park, which was a complete swamp. Arrived in the tent to be told by Sue that there was nothing happening and people were going home. It turned out that the rainwater had knocked out the sound system, meaning that from 4 pm none of the scheduled bands had been able to play. I was obviously sorry for the musicians, and the people who'd been standing in the park getting wet and muddy with no entertainment besides the CDs someone was playing over the PA system, but a part of me was relieved. I'd really liked Karen Barnett last year, and, when I saw the schedule, was a bit sorry that I'd be missing her set while travelling back from the rugby; at least now I knew I'd made the right choice going to the game.
Jade arrived and came over to chat with Sue and me. Sue had considered going home, but we decided we were all going to stick it out in the hope Slade would still be on. At around 7.30 Touchline Tony took the stage to make an announcement to the patient soggy hordes. After explaining what we knew, that water in the system had meant the cancellation of several of the acts, he went on to say that 'Imagine', the Beatles tribute band, had left and wouldn't be appearing. That was enough for Brian, who promptly said goodbye and disappeared. Tony then thanked Smiffy and all the backstage crew for the hard work they'd been doing all evening to get the show back on the road, and broke the good news that we would still have two groups performing tonight.
"Have we still got Fay Wray?" I asked someone. A steward said yes. The fact I'd mentioned Fay Wray was enough for their promo guy, who had his camcorder set up to record their set, to ask me to say a few words about them on camera. I'd never heard of Fay Wray until the festival, let alone heard them perform, but I made up some guff for the camera about what a brilliant band they were.
Vanessa and family arrived, and came to join Jade, Sue and me at our table way back in the dry safety of the tent. There we stayed for Fay Wray's set, as we had a pretty good view of the stage through the gaps in the tent side. Fay Wray were really good, playing Bon Jovi, Aerosmith and Guns 'n' Roses covers - we all had a good sing-along to numbers like Living On A Prayer.
There was an hour's delay before Slade went on; we all spent the time just talking or, in the case of Sue and Vanessa who could afford it, drinking. Sue thanked me effusively once again for the VIP pass, and said "I get you ticket to see Pompey." I smiled and explained that wouldn't be necessary as I'm a Havant & Waterlooville fan. We all talked a bit about tomorrow's line-up, which includes Level 43, a Level 42 tribute band. Vanessa had thought it was the real Level 42 until someone put her right last week! That got us comparing notes on music we liked as teenagers, and teachers we'd had (we went to the same school, though Ness was 3 years higher) who were U2 fans. I also chatted to Smiffy's daughter Emma who was stewarding - nice lass.
Jade and I braved the wet to go out to the open front of the VIP area for Slade's set. They were fantastic! Dave Hill and lead singer Mal really got the audience going, and their renditions of their classic hits were as energetic, fresh and infectious as ever. Towards the end a few young guys near us were chanting "Noddy, Noddy," seemingly unaware that Mr Holder left Slade 16 years ago. When we called for an encore, the same young guys chanted the chorus of Merry Christmas Everybody. The rest of us knew they weren't going to play that, though, as we're nearly as far away from Christmas as it is possible to get! There was one other Slade classic we hadn't heard yet, and so the lads obliged with it for their encore - Cum On Feel The Noize. We ended with Dave conducting the crowd with his arms raised high as we all sang the chorus.
And then it was 11 pm and so the fun had to end. Back home through the rain.
It was only raining lightly in Twickers, and Quins won an exciting open game 32-18. The train journey each way passed agreeably, thanks to Harry Thompson's book 'Penguins Stopped Play'.
But back in Gosport it was still pelting down. To get to the festival's VIP tent I had to cross Walpole Park, which was a complete swamp. Arrived in the tent to be told by Sue that there was nothing happening and people were going home. It turned out that the rainwater had knocked out the sound system, meaning that from 4 pm none of the scheduled bands had been able to play. I was obviously sorry for the musicians, and the people who'd been standing in the park getting wet and muddy with no entertainment besides the CDs someone was playing over the PA system, but a part of me was relieved. I'd really liked Karen Barnett last year, and, when I saw the schedule, was a bit sorry that I'd be missing her set while travelling back from the rugby; at least now I knew I'd made the right choice going to the game.
Jade arrived and came over to chat with Sue and me. Sue had considered going home, but we decided we were all going to stick it out in the hope Slade would still be on. At around 7.30 Touchline Tony took the stage to make an announcement to the patient soggy hordes. After explaining what we knew, that water in the system had meant the cancellation of several of the acts, he went on to say that 'Imagine', the Beatles tribute band, had left and wouldn't be appearing. That was enough for Brian, who promptly said goodbye and disappeared. Tony then thanked Smiffy and all the backstage crew for the hard work they'd been doing all evening to get the show back on the road, and broke the good news that we would still have two groups performing tonight.
"Have we still got Fay Wray?" I asked someone. A steward said yes. The fact I'd mentioned Fay Wray was enough for their promo guy, who had his camcorder set up to record their set, to ask me to say a few words about them on camera. I'd never heard of Fay Wray until the festival, let alone heard them perform, but I made up some guff for the camera about what a brilliant band they were.
Vanessa and family arrived, and came to join Jade, Sue and me at our table way back in the dry safety of the tent. There we stayed for Fay Wray's set, as we had a pretty good view of the stage through the gaps in the tent side. Fay Wray were really good, playing Bon Jovi, Aerosmith and Guns 'n' Roses covers - we all had a good sing-along to numbers like Living On A Prayer.
There was an hour's delay before Slade went on; we all spent the time just talking or, in the case of Sue and Vanessa who could afford it, drinking. Sue thanked me effusively once again for the VIP pass, and said "I get you ticket to see Pompey." I smiled and explained that wouldn't be necessary as I'm a Havant & Waterlooville fan. We all talked a bit about tomorrow's line-up, which includes Level 43, a Level 42 tribute band. Vanessa had thought it was the real Level 42 until someone put her right last week! That got us comparing notes on music we liked as teenagers, and teachers we'd had (we went to the same school, though Ness was 3 years higher) who were U2 fans. I also chatted to Smiffy's daughter Emma who was stewarding - nice lass.
Jade and I braved the wet to go out to the open front of the VIP area for Slade's set. They were fantastic! Dave Hill and lead singer Mal really got the audience going, and their renditions of their classic hits were as energetic, fresh and infectious as ever. Towards the end a few young guys near us were chanting "Noddy, Noddy," seemingly unaware that Mr Holder left Slade 16 years ago. When we called for an encore, the same young guys chanted the chorus of Merry Christmas Everybody. The rest of us knew they weren't going to play that, though, as we're nearly as far away from Christmas as it is possible to get! There was one other Slade classic we hadn't heard yet, and so the lads obliged with it for their encore - Cum On Feel The Noize. We ended with Dave conducting the crowd with his arms raised high as we all sang the chorus.
And then it was 11 pm and so the fun had to end. Back home through the rain.
