Live Review: The Great British Alternative Music Festival (Friday) – Butlins, Minehead, UK

Well we arrived in Butlins Minehead after what can only be described as a journey full of pretty much no problems what so ever, maybe with the exception of the weather, rain, hail, snow and wind never stopped Punk Rockers getting to live music.  After an early year of storms named Brendan, Ciara and Dennis, the storm of music to be unleashed on unsuspecting Butlins this weekend might be called Eclectic. 

What a great place this is to arrive after a long and tiring drive, friendly and very helpful staff from the off, despite standing in cold wet conditions the greeting was still welcoming and bright from every member of the Butlins team. After a little scout round to get the bearings and yep the odd pint of refreshment (after a long journey you know), we were able to get into our digs for the weekend, and as expected it was roomy, spotless and perfectly equipped for our time away.

So diving straight in and what a way to start the weekend, the Introducing stage is in what can only be described as a pub like venue, with all the atmosphere of any small music venue around the country, dark, grungy and just a little foreboding but in a good way, filling up fast as Duncan Reid and The Bigheads prepare to take to the stage.  Turns out they were voted as winners of the days bands in the voting to get a place on the main stage next year, and a well deserved place too, firing through a set list that included some great rock ’n’ roll punk tunes that are not found wanting in message either, played by a band that have all the stage presence you could ever want.

With 40+ years in the business Duncan has put together a band that play like they have all been at it for forever, knocking the crowd for six with songs like “Montevideo” “Kellys Gone Insane” “Bombs Away” and of course for all the old school fans the wonderful Boys song “Brickfield Nights” so when you here the story of how he was given the keys to the city of Montevideo and then passed Chuck Berry on his way back the the hotel afterwards (Chuck not getting the keys) you know that your witnessing a legend who is still at the top of his game.  

Next up were Skegness Introducing and main stage band the much loved Verbal Warning with there own brand of social conscience punk rock with a fun element and lots of flying plastic ducks, so you can always be sure that they will never be lacking in the great entertainment stakes, “Z List Celebrity” and “Someones Slave” were two songs that stood out as being delivered with true passion for what’s wrong in this apparently modern world, along with fantastic full on musical energy, lots of dancing and singing to be seen and heard from around the venue, what more do you need on a late February Friday evening. 

A quick interlude for food was the next port of call, after a very long day and a good start to the musical adventure, this was very welcome.  As always we were perfectly looked after and the food at Butlins on the upgrade option package was spot on and totally delivered with love by the smiling and non stop hard working staff.  This also gave us a moment of perfect Holiday mood, when sitting watching a couple enjoying their ice cream cones together and you felt like you were truly on a Butlins holiday.

Back to Jumping Jaks for the 3rd introducing band of the day on the form of The Bus Station Loonies a what can only be described as ‘Cabaret Punk’ band from Plymouth, with a kilt wearing lead singer giving a performance to rival any other band in this area of music, if there are any other like them?  A song that stuck out was on that note, even if it wasn’t the full working title this line will give you the idea “Beer Beer Lovely Beer it’s So Dear”  what more can be said, they certainly speak in truths. The crowd gave out a lot of love for them and seeing that drinking is totally part of the punk fans social make up, then a winner is what they are on to there.

Last but certainly not least Red Light Rebels from not too far up the road Cheltenham, a gritty Punk Rock n Roll band who have all the sound of a band that must have grown up on 90’s 2000’s American pop punk, with a huge slab of Descendents in their sound along with so many other bands of that era thrown in for good measure, energy and tight sounds are the key to this kind of sound and this band had all of this. “Rats” and “Barrel Of A Gun” being stand out songs in their hugely popular with the audience set.

After a very short wander up to the Centre Stage it was now time for Goldblade to take to the stage, fronted by the legend that is John Robb you know your gonna be treated to a show full of full on almost Iggy style stage craft, and what you got was something that blew all the cob webs away, with every inch of the stage and crowd barrier being used to stomp on, around or over, attitude that oozed from every part of his being, connecting with the audience in a way only he can. Catching the vibe with every song, “Juke Box Generation” and “Psycho” standing out.

Punk Rock! is about people and John Robb knows better than anyone how the people are the reason they are there and the gratitude is packed up in a gravelly voiced sweaty bodied attitude filled performance and then thrown out into the pit of the crowd to be pogoed around and thrown back with so much love for Goldblade! They always had the potential of possibly being the best band of the weekend, you would be hard pushed to argue after such a performance. Total apologies to Plague UK (Introducing Stage winners from 2019) for not getting along to catch their set, impossible to catch every single band and do them all justice on this big line up. 

After Goldblade came the turn of Wildhearts a totally different beast but none the less rocking! The core sound of the Wildhearts is Punk Rock n Roll and this performance captured this perfectly, Ginger was in top voice and owning the stage with his colourful dreadlock image and pure rock voice, tunes that bounce along with melody but rock with the best of them, kicking of with “Everlone” was perfect for fans of the band old and new, if you have never seen or heard them live then this track captures everything they are about instantly, and this audience in Butlins were soon jumping around.  Sticking “Let em Go” in the middle of the set was brilliance, just keeping the rockin going throughout, and finishing with “I Wanna Go Where The People Go” well this just felt a perfect ending and blew the roof off.

So as I said earlier, jumping from stage to stage was not gonna be as big on our agenda this time, but when you have the Angelic Upstarts playing next door, it would be totally wrong not to go check em out, so off we go for a short walk, and into a Reds that is rammed to the rafters! 

Managing to pick our way up to the front and get a spot in the pit was no mean feat, with sweaty punks jumping around and cracking out Upstarts lyrics to the top of their voices all the while.  A slight change to the line up this time, Michael Robson (KickBack Generation) filling in on lead guitar was a surprise, but then he has also played bass for them too, and with Mensi filling in between songs with his worldly stories and wise words, it feels like your part of a family the moment you join an Upstarts crowd.  Not seeing the whole set but still getting in for “Police Oppression” and “Who Killed Liddle Towers” its not lost on you how totally into the band the crowd are and why they still pack em out.

Back to Centre stage for the next instalment of this music packed weekend it can be so tiring to move back and forth between two stages constantly, and under the pretext of the idea that if most regular fans were to do this, then drinks would have to be downed in a very sensible but regular way as you make your way around, well hydration is need you know. 

Big Country due on soon, time for the first beer of the day, ok so maybe this might have been the tiniest of white lies!  The build up was as expected, numbers growing all the time, as people who have probably after an already long day make there way from the bars to catch the always on top form band, Bruce Watson on Lead always stands out as throwing himself fully into the performance, and this was no exception, his guitar just hangs out there as one of the most recognisable in the business, Knocking out all the big tracks like “Fields Of Fire” “In A Big Country” and of course “Look Away” as the crowd sing almost every word back, testament to their years on the live scene and a loyalty to great songs. Final move of the day, back across to Reds, and with ease might I add, the Butlins security and helpers make this whole event so safe and easy to get around, with their no hassle approach and yes smiling faces, even after such a long day.  

The Hots Rods without Eddie still feels a strange thing to say, and I’m sure that all the fans that turned up on the night will feel the same, but this is a band that have more than carried the torch and kept his legacy alive, from the off its clear that every ounce of passion that exists in there soul is poured into the performance, technically brilliant and never wanting for musical brilliance, but more than this they include the crowd in every moment, always running along the barrier and high fiving as many people as he can, the now lead singer Ian ‘Dipster’ Dean full of all the love for what he is doing that spills over to the crowd.  In keeping with most of the weekend and the fact there is so much choice on offer, we sadly only arrived part way into the set, but songs like “Why Should I care” “Hard Driving Man” and of course “Do Anything You Wanna Do” firing up the audience to a dancing and singing frenzy, its with confidence that it can be said the whole set was obviously wished not to end by one and all! 

Time to go crash and make use of the amazingly comfortable room, warm and inviting after a long day.  Think there were a more than a few fans in the same boat by this late 1am finish.

Written in conjunction with STEVE WHITE

All Photos By  STEVE WHITE Flickr page HERE  &  MARK CARTWRIGHT Flickr Page HERE