Review: Butserfest 2016 // Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Petersfield // 10.09.16

A festival reaching 10 years old is a big occasion especially for a small festival, just this summer the critically acclaimed 2000Trees turned 10. Likewise Cardiff’s legendary Swn Festival turns 10 in October. However on a wet rainy Saturday in East Hampshire it was the turn of the UK’s largest alcohol and drug free music festival – Butserfest.

The One Hundred @ Butserfest

In 2006 Butserfest burst on to the scene preaching an alternative music festival for everyone - no drunk boisterousness and nutty youths with pupils so wide they don’t have an iris – but instead a community festival where everyone no matter age, gender or whatever can have a great time. It’s the festival where many 14 year olds have their first mosh pits, 10 year olds come to their first festival and now, with the festival in its 10th year, 20-somethings coming back to relive those glory days.

This year the festival, as usual, had a brilliant line up of up & coming bands in the alternative scene. Celebrating not just breakthrough acts but excellent local ones to. Flashfires – last year’s local introducing stage headliner – opened up the main stage with probably the most indie set of the whole day, bouncy and fun their sound translated brilliantly from the small stage to the large one. The other stand out local band - Our Hollow, Our Home – are almost festival regulars now having played the last 3 years on the trot, working their way further up the bill with each performance. Their hardcore style gracing the main stage for the second year running.

Creeper @ Butserfest

One of the best parts of Butserfest is that bands love it, they come back year after year to play a higher slot as their career progresses. For example last year’s headliners Don Broco first played after the release of their debut album over 3 years before they brought the festival to a close. Likewise with this year’s top two bands Mallory Knox & Young Guns. Both during their sets spoke extremely kindly of Butserfest and the impact it had on their careers. Both bands went on to play incredible sets and both hae albums on the way – certainly ones to look for in the near future.

Possibly the most interesting and anticipated set of the weekend was Creeper. In the midst of an elaborate publicity stunt with clues around the internet it is thought the band are sitting on an album. Not only that but the band are from half an hour down the road and they delivered a storming set to what seemed like a home festival crowd designed for them.

Despite a wet and cold day, the music and atmosphere of Butserfest brought a smile to everyone’s face and on it’s 10th birthday, it truly delivered as a festival.

-Luke

Mallory Knox @ Butserfest

Neck Deep // Cardiff SU Great Hall // 05.02.16

From midday anyone who walked past the Cardiff University Students Union on Friday would have seen the mass of teenagers with snapbacks, band shirts, skinny jeans and foil blankets braving the February winds to get in the prime position for the gig later that evening. For them and many others 7pm couldn't come quick enough as tonight there was a stellar line up of bands. As the day rolled on the queue grew bigger and bigger and by the time doors were open it was most of the way down the street and the floods of emo kids poured in for the first band.

Light Years exploded on to stage with a tried and tested formula of aggressive pop punk, nothing special but a good old fashioned american pop punk band. They ripped through songs off of their new LP and the crowd nodded along appreciatively, but this was only the start of the show.

Light Years @ Cardiff SU Great Hall (Supporting Neck Deep)

Creeper came next, a band on the rise and who are quickly achieving cult status among fans , especially in their hometown of Southampton, they ripped through their set whipping the crowd into a frenzy; mosh pits broke out and the first crowd surfers of the evening made an appearance. They were everything you'd want in a support act; exciting, energetic and something a bit different. With a new EP on the horizon I really wouldn't be surprised if Creeper quickly shot up into popularity in the emo/ pop punk scene.

Creeper @ Cardiff SU Great Hall (Supporting Neck Deep)

With the capacity crowd riled up and ready to go State Champs hit the stage bringing their own brand of american pop punk to the stage. They rattled through songs old and new and some crackers from their latest album 'Around the World and Back' and had most of the crowd shouting a long, moshing or both. And with that the lights dimmed and a buzz filled the room, the anticipation for the next act, the shuffling of feet to get to the front as the lighta dimmed for Neck Deep.

State Champs @ Cardiff SU Great Hall (Supporting Neck Deep)

With an explosion of noise Neck Deep burst onto the stage smashing out the first parts of 'Citizens Of The Earth', the crowd bounced and swarmed in response. Known for degrading their own music on their album; "Neck Deep? They're shit mate", the crowd seemed to disagree with the pop punk band from Wrexham shouting along to every song, mostly from their new album 'Life's Not Out To Get You' but also some older tunes as well.

Neck Deep @ Cardiff SU Great Hall

Finishing the main set with the cracking 'A Part of Me' they burst into an encore, playing 'Head To The Ground' and a full-band version of 'December' before closing with fast paced hit 'Can't Kick Up The Roots' off of the latest album. Every fan left happy and sweaty from a mental gig. Neck deep  are only going to rise and rise in fame as they progress as a band, the future is bright for this band from Wales.

-Luke