Long Division Festival

  • Mark Cartwright posted
  • Reviews

Long Division Festival

Wakefield, UK - Saturday 11th June 2022

A Saturday in June, a day that was at one point going to be just another day, until the invite came to attend and document Long Division, the multi venue arts and musical extravaganza that takes over Wakefield centre for 3 days every year, having missed the last 2 years through no fault of their own, was this going to be every bit as good as I’d been led to believe, well here we go.

Having arrived at our hotel and managed an early check in at 1030am, it was a case of goodbye and see you around midnight.  The hub for all that goes on during the day is The Arts House which is located pretty much central to everything, we were warmly welcomed by the staff and duly given our wrist bands.  It was by this time late enough in the day to do what comes oh so naturally at any festival, in fact it may even be tradition, no it is a tradition!  Pub time, a place where you can take stock and make some plans as to where the first band of your day is going to be, where other festival goers can share their ideas on which are the must see artist or who the think you really need go to check out. 

First up for both myself and my colleague Steve, was the much talked about Rebecca Lou at Venue 23, which I believe in its previous life was the iconic Warehouse 23, an early start meant for a smaller than expected audience, but more than enough to see this three piece show why they have been catapulted through the ranks, with a mix of rock/pop/indie music that is punctuated by a vocal that has you knocked back on your feet, ear worms of sound and the stage presence that Rebecca the lead singer brings, means for this Danish band, the future is looking interesting.

Next on the list was Pit Pony, playing at the Mechanics Theatre, after a very short walk up via a vibrant town centre, welcomed by some smiling door staff we made it up to the first floor venue, a stage area that was at floor level and gave a sense of being inclusive for bands and audience was a welcome sight.  What was also notable was the great cross section of ages that attended this and all the subsequent venues, children also stood out as being there and up for the whole experience.  Pit Pony hit the stage with all the energy that they have been noted for, this was the first time I have actually managed to catch them and was not disappointed.  Songs that hit the floor with heavy thunderous drums and a bass that rumbles right through your core, Osaka I believe was the opener, with a vocal onslaught that Jackie Purver is renowned for, your never left hanging, the follow up Black Tar which show a vulnerability that belies the jagged rock sound hitting your ears is was for myself a perfect sum up of this bands style and reason for popularity.

So in between the bands that have made my list of the ones I need to see, there is always time to drop in and catch a set from something more random, Pleasure Centre were one of these moments, in the Counting House, this band were well worth the drop in.  After a soundcheck and a few songs in that saw them struggle with the PA to get it right, it all suddenly clicked and off they went with some powerfully played mix of energetic thrashing about yet totally controlled punk style indie songs, but within this was a gentle butterfly effect style vocal performance, hitting just the right buttons and making it all the more worth while to have called in, a band that will be getting some more attention soon from myself at least.  Then on the way back to The Mechanics Theatre to catch my next selection Shelf Lives, I also managed a drop in for 2 songs or so from Straight Girl, an act I’ve seen on a few other occasions, music for a generation, electronic cage rattling I’d call it.

To Shelf Lives, this was a band that had to be seen and heard to 100% get, and even at this early stage in the festival, the stand out band was right here in front of me. A 2 piece made up of Sabrina (not the teenage witch, although some might say….. no only joking) and Jonny (not Rotten), this duo are for all intensive purposes a punk band of our time, with a mix of electronic/guitar/drum beats and a vocal onslaught that ranges from Kelis to Lovely Eggs or even Peaches (for the younger generation, go google this, you won’t be disappointed).  Songs that speak of life and death and everything that happens in-between, but in a pretty much matter of fact way, as the song Shelf Life reports, our life is just as good as its shelf life, so don’t fret and enjoy all of it while it exists.  A show that will stick with me for a very very long time, job done by the duo I’d say.

Moving on, well not really, still within the Mechanics Theatre, a beer or so later, Deep Tan are about to set off.  Another on the very long list af bands to try and see, this trio are were the music takes a turn toward the stunningly beautiful, yet totally edgy, punk/indie tempos that are choppy yet sublime all at the same time, vocals that caress your ears, a bass lines that take you along on a Slits/Joy Division pathway, in fact the whole vibe is of dragging the lines that divide standard music so that that merge and blur to amazingly evocative effect.  Don’t be fooled by this bands slick look, beneath all the posing and beauty, is a streak of tigers waiting to pounce, with music that wholly deserves to be at the top of the pile. 

What can you follow the last act with, step in Memes, Iv’e not moved venues either. This Glaswegian duo are just about hitting the top of their game even with only 3 years under their belts, with choppy almost Wilko Johnson guitar and gritty energetic bass, they definitely fill the room with energy, the crowd on this one are with out doubt getting fired up to fever pitch within no time.  This being the second time I’ve caught this duo live, I’m fairly sure after a performance like that, it won’t be my last.

So here we are, maybe half way through or is that over half way, either way my stomach and brain has now reached the stage of energy starvation melt down, so a trip to a local eatery were beer, coffee and a huge delicious pizza is served up for my, oh and even some delicious chips, (The Yoshire Deli & Pizza bar to be precise, other eateries are available).

Fully loaded and at the point of bursting with energy, its now time for a band I have waited to see again since catching them play at Twisterella festival in Middlesbrough last year, Venus Grrrls are just hitting the Town Hall stage as I arrive, and what a stage.  Beyond the fancy decadent room they have been greeted with and the special almost outer-ace lighting, Venus Grrrls raise the bar even higher when it comes to out and out pure energy performances, belting out banger after banger of, imagine Bikini Kill but a little more toward the pop/indie side, and with just as much attitude and right to be on stage as they deserve, with songs like Goth Girl, Glisten and Sudocream Queen, “Ethereal and Tenacious” which iv’e heard said about them, fits just perfectly.

Honeyglaze were next up back in Mechanics Theatre, this is band that takes you right back down to earth with laid back chilled rhythms and a vocal that could melt chocolate at a 100 yards, yet was still brutal enough in lyrical content to be on point and current, Anouska Sokolow simply oozed atmospheric and honesty as she weaved her way around each the musically scarce soundscape and added her own intricacy to every song.

Back to the very elaborate Town Hall and into the weird and yet strangely awe inspiring world of Haiku Salut (I believed they are named after the Japanese Haiku a wonderful form of poetry), the music certainly lives up to the name, a world of electronic intricacy that is embellished or punctuated by guitar, keyboard and the occasional accordion to name but a few, very surreal and all encompassing music that certainly had a big following going by the crowd gathered. 

Having simply walked next door after the Town Hall, we find ourselves back in Mechanics for Modern Woman, a very, how can I say, interesting band, with a vocal that says folk, but sounds punk, yet at the same time reaches for the ceiling and drags it crashing down on your head, all I would say I go see them and make your own mind up, I personally liked them, as the y don’t meet all the required perimeters in music, which is always great.

Now its time to head back down to Venue 23 for the last headline of the night for us at least (long days take there toll on older bodies), we brave the open air wrestling ring that is Westagate after dark and make our way there, Seapower have been a band that never really crossed paths with me over the years they have been gigging, and if I was totally and brutally honest, this particular gig, whether it was the total lack of front lighting (which does add atmosphere to a gig) or the pure fact that my mind was almost already in my bed, they never grabbed the moment for me, but I love to listen another day and would not say don’t listen because they do have some wonderful recorded songs.

All in all, Long Division Festival which has been running now for the past 11 years I believe, has alway been touted as one of the best city centre festivals around, I for one would find it hard to deny this. Its family friendly it has free music venue as well as ticketed and it is diverse enough as to attract music lovers from across the spectrum.  Here’s to my bed and maybe next years opportunity to be in Wakefield again.