Evolution Festival 2011 Review
Haway pet, up the toon!
The people of Newcastle and Gateshead showed some serious festival love for this years Evolution Festival and I’m not sure how many Brown Ale’s were consumed by all last weekend but I reckon that business in the ale factory is BOOMING! As was the festival, as this little festival has grown massively from the times when it was free.. YES.. FREE! To be fair though, for only £35 these days you get a lot for your cash!
Evolution is home to three stages plus an extra unsigned acts stage, so if you were unsure of who to see and just wanted to enjoy a festival you could just plod around the quayside, though the set-up of Evolution is somewhat upsetting. Its a fair trek from the Baltic Stage to Spillers Wharf which unfotunately left us with no choice but to miss the acts on the Baltic Stage all weekend. Not to fear though folks, as there was plenty going on with the other two big stages.
We made it down to Spillers Wharf in the early Saturday evening and caught sight of The Kills who put on a cracking set but failed to impress the young uns, the lack of ‘well known’ Kills songs didn’t help and the highlight of their gig was a drunken fella climbing on the roof of a nearby portacabin, this got the biggest cheer of the day as he nearly fell a few times…all the ‘Oooo’s and Ahhh’s’ made it comedy gold! Two Door Cinema Club didn’t fail to deliver and went down a storm with their cracking song choices from their debut album ‘Tourist History’. As Spillers Wharf emptied, the signs started flashing on the entrance and exits informing that Baltic Stage was full, leaving many Katy B fans a little upset. I think the average age range for the festival was 14-18 which didn’t bode well for Iggy and the Stooges.
My main choice for the evening was Ballast Hills stage where I caught Billy Bragg. This was by far the best festival place for me With a ‘Big Top’ type stage and an over 18 type feel to it. This worked prefectly for Billy who was on top form. His talks about democracy were somewhat informing and he gave great comedy banter with the crowd. He worked perfectly through his set and saved the best ’til last as the tent lit up when “A New England” played the night out.
On the Sunday I made it down earlier in the day and Spillers Wharf was buzzing with life as I got there. It also gave many options when we were looking for food and drink as there is no shortage of choice and the bar area was HUGE and almost reasonably priced. As Darwin Deez were nearing their slot, the place came alive and Spillers Wharf was MAXED out! The whole crowd loved the Deez and so they bloomin well should as they delivered, what I thought, was the festival highlight at Spillers Wharf. Their opener ‘Up in the Clouds’ from the New Look advert worked well for the masses and song interval dances were funtastic, especially their Enya dance set. Its very rare to see a whole crowd smile at a band they maybe haven’t heard much but there were cheesy grins and giggles all round for the Deez!
Example followed Darwin Deez and Spillers Wharf became impossible to comfortably stand with friends in a group so us oldies headed back up the Ballast Hills and sat like hippies outside the big top to see the day out. It was perfect.
All in all, this place offers super fantastic value for money. The £35 was truly worth it and even to only catch a few bands, I was still fulfilled. I did however, feel like a festival oldie and more often than not found myself running for the hills (Ballast Hills to be exact) each evening away from the swarms and swarms of young drunken teenagers. I would definitely recommend this festival for the young and fearless but can only offer the advice of anyone over 25 to head to Ballast Hills for a safe haven when it all feels like school disco heaven!
Never did see Jimmy Nail though pets… wonder if I should write a request to the organisers ready for next year?! Why aye man!
