Nice Weather For Airstrikes Festival 2011 – Document from This Charming Sound on Vimeo.

“The first day of the free Nice Weather for Air strikes Festival was a synthesis of sweat, angst and noise, but this audience of post-rockers at The Druids Arms over last May bank holiday weekend wouldn’t have had it any other way. The Druids Arms’ modest capacity offers an intimacy that is often missing in larger venues. And with plenty of local bands playing across the weekend, the close quarters setting ensured there was sufficient banter between artists and audience throughout the evening.

Crooked Mountain Crooked Sea set the tone for the night, and indeed the festival; playing each song as if it were their last. In fact there are rumours of the band splitting up despite the release of their new album, ‘What’s There To Write About?’. But there was no time for discussion as the four-piece bounced in and out of songs with fluidity and conviction. The opening song, ‘Drawing Details’ prompted a flurry of people towards the entrance and by their last, ‘Johnny Forger’, there was a respectable crowd to give the band a hearty reception.

As Orders of the British Empire took the stage, the sun was retreating and the bar overflowing. The fusion of sinister guitar effects and vaporous backing tracks was rewarded with the first signs of head banging from sections of the crowd. Their style of instrumental post-rock has been trialed and tested by many, notably 65 Days of Static, but it is difficult to match the zeal that OBE bring to their live performances. Tonight was no exception, and in the absence of a stand out front-man, the band put on a united front and unified the crowd in the process.

Silent Front took the support slot a little after 10pm, upping the intensity and sweat levels with a ferocious set. The band have a bunch of UK shows lined up over the next few weeks, and set a high precedent for themselves to live up to. With eyes rolled back and feet turned inwards, lead singer Phil Mann was mesmerizing and to some extent stole the show. The band stormed through their set with gusto, and were subsequently rewarded with the loudest cheer of the night so far.

The headline act, Shapes, had their work cut out following such an energetic set, but after the briefest of breathers, the crowd had piled back inside to close the night with a bang. And Shapes didn’t disappoint. Drawing in the largest crowd of the night, The Druid Arms was bursting at the seams until close. With their raw progressive post-rock mash up of a set, Shapes proved why they were headliners. The crowd were evidently grateful the band made Brighton their last stop before a European tour.

Unassuming as it may be, The Druid Arms is slowly becoming an important asset to Brighton’s live music scene.”

WORDS BY STUART MATSON for BRIGHTON SOURCE

http://www.brightonsource.co.uk/reviews/55-reviews/1933-nice-weather-for-airstrikes-festival

SHAPES: 11pm
SILENT FRONT: 10pm
ORDERS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE: 9pm
CROOKED MOUNTAIN, CROOKED SEA: 8pm

Followed by NWfA DJs / Pub opens at 3pm

SATURDAY 28th:

THE CONTINUOUS BATTLE OF ORDER: 11pm
THEO: 10pm
DELTA SLEEP: 9pm

Secret Guest 8pm

Followed by NWfA DJs / Pub opens at 12pm

SUNDAY 29th:

THE STRANGE DEATH OF LIBERAL ENGLAND: 11pm
A GENUINE FREAKSHOW: 10pm
MONSTERS BUILD MEAN ROBOTS: 9pm
CROWNS ON THE RATS ORCHESTRA: 8pm

Followed by NWfA DJs / Pub opens at 12pm

MONDAY 30th:

NORDIC GIANTS: 10pm
EVI VINE: 8.50 – 9.30pm
JUFFAGE: 7.50 – 8.30pm
THE SLOW REVOLT: 6.50 – 7.30
SPEAK GALACTIC: 6 – 6.30pm
DARK DARK HORSE: 4.45 – 5.15pm
KARHIDE: 4 – 4.30pm
SOREBONES: 3.15 – 3.45pm
LAISH: 2.30 – 3pm
KARL-JOHAN NILSSON:1.45 – 2.15pm
THE LOWLAND RUNNERS:1 – 1.30pm

Pub opens at 12pm

A Genuine Freakshow. An artful blend of experimentalism and pop sensibility from Reading comprising the traditional rock ‘n’ roll facets of guitars, bass and drums but augmented by the less obvious additions of cello, violin and trumpet. A band that embrace the icy soundscapes of Sigur Ros but remain entranced by the possibilities of the pop song.

“A thrilling Reading-based seven-piece… String section, sheets of Pink Floyd and Sigur Ros fed through the Radiohead filter” Mark Ellen, The Word

“A seven-piece experimental post-everything pop bonanza, and as you’ll hear, A Genuine Freakshow are even better than that. What an absolutely marvellous band” Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music

“Combining the grandeur of post-rock with lush orchestration, pop sensibility and a rare vocal sincerity, A Genuine Freakshow is an exciting band… Traces of Arcade Fire, Elbow and Radiohead are evident, however, there is far more under the surface.” The List

Brighton’s post-rock duo – Nordic Giants smashed onto the music scene little over a year ago. Influenced by the likes of Sigur Ros, Massive Attack and Cinematic Orchestra, the band have already shared the stage with Ratatat, Mogwai and headlined The World Premiere of ‘The Blot Symphony’, an inspirational visual art piece created by Ralph Steadman.

Hidden behind feathered masks and effortlessly changing between instruments, the post rock duo perform live original soundtracks to a backdrop of award winning short films (Provided by Shorts International). From dreamy ambient swells, epic builds and huge moments of power to a combination of dark, funny and beautiful short films, which can bring tears, smiles and actually scare you at times. Imagine the visual story telling of a cinema experience mixed with the raw energy and passion of a live gig- and you’ve hit the nail on the head!

“Think Sigur Ros meets Quentin Tarantino”- Shorts International

“Seeing Nordic Giants play was one of those rare moments of pure, joyous relief, where you see there are elements of life that can be just perfect. What’s more, that those creating the new, near faultless music could soon very well be about to make it big.”- LM Fosse -Way Magazine

“Truly inspirational, a must see for all music lovers and film buffs” - Bram Ttwheam (Aardman Animations)

“Nordic Giants are truly a phenomenon. See them and you’ll be forced to create a whole new genre in the musical categories of your head. Hear them and their spellbinding instrumentals will become the soundtrack to your summer” -  Shorts International

Having made waves with their emergence in 2007 and a string of well received singles and the mini album ‘Forward March’, the band disappeared from public view with the exception of one, all seated, orchestral show at their home town’s Portsmouth New Royal Theatre in 2009. Having worked with producer David M Allen on their debut album after he approached them and declared himself a fan of their work, the band’s first return to the limelight was as support to Editors throughout the UK in March last year. Renowned for their colourful, rowdy, often chaotic shows, the band have collected a fanatical fanbase, evinced by their sold out show at Portsmouth’s Theatre Royal as headliners of the Portsmouth Festival in 2010.