southern records

The Players

Claire - Blether, Lauren - Bogler, Alex - Super Intern, Krystal - Camera Lady Extraordinaire and Southern Well Wisher, Jen - Party Girl and Super Duper Supersonic Helper

Friday 11th July 2008

After a few hours in the car, we're restless to get the weekend started in style. The gang hit the 'penthouse' where we've very kindly been put up for the weekend. We called it the 'penthouse' as it felt like we were a million stories above the whole city. We watched Birmingham, glass of wine in hand, as we prepared for whatever the first night at Supersonic had in store.

A few drinks later, we head down to the festival as PCM are in the thick of their set. The severe drum n bass pounds through our chests and sends Alex into a trance-like state of dancing frenzy as he bops around, furiously shaking to the beats. I must say, I've never given drum n bass a thought before but I quite enjoyed this. Perhaps I was drunk, perhaps I was just riding the high of the first night, but nevertheless, PCM bloody ruled.

We run into a few people, there's some banter and the drinks are kept a flowing but as Dälek enter the stage, all remain silent. Will hits the audience with an earnest thrust on every word over darkened melodies and impending beats. I feel melodically hypnotised. It's like I'm under a deep, dark, comforting spell and I don't want to leave.

Saturday 12th July 2008

We wake up in a haze of happiness and contentment. There's an air of excitement as we anticipate the day ahead, the people we may meet and the work that has to be done (of course!). After a very civilised breakfast of freshly squeezed orange juice (yes, we squeezed those damn oranges ourselves!) and scrambled eggs on toast we march down to the venue, cameras, notes and good spirits in tow.

The first port of call is working on the Southern stall. We organised the stall the day before so we slip in, roll our sleeves up and get to work. Lauren, Alex and I seem to be doing quite well. Fugazi's Instrument is snapped-up within ten minutes of doors opening. Other notable purchases are various Latitudes sessions, Rudimentary Peni's latest album on vinyl - No More Pain - and a couple of Mothlite vinyls. And that was just my little corner of the stall! Alex and Lauren and furiously chatting and busying about the Southern Lord records, the free samplers and our other labels.

After re-fuelling and wandering around a little after our shift ends, we head over to watch a little of Guapo. Unfortunately we only catch the last song but we fully feel the intensity of the performance as all members of Guapo sway as one in their matching spangly black outfits.

After the performance we all catch up with Guapo's Daniel O-Sullivan. Daniel is also a founding member of Mothlite, one of Southern Records' latest signings. Lauren and I manage to squeeze in an interview with Daniel about his various projects, including Mothlite, for the Southern YouTube channel. We also manage to catch Don and Steve of Earth for a quick ten minutes on camera. Earth aren't playing until tomorrow but it was good to catch up with them whilst they were relaxed and in good spirits.

Many a wine later (more wine.. I sense a theme here..) and all of a sudden it's past 1am and we're dancing to The Attrocitator (The Quietus' John Doran). He's brought the party to Supersonic and has those post gig festival goers bopping, shaking and swinging their thangs on the dance floor. Unfortunately though, it seems Mr. Doran is kicked-off the decks and replaced by some other DJs. Their set is a little more 'dancy' and less 'party' for our liking so we exit sharpish.

During the sharp exit from the dance floor I somehow manage to lose the camera in a bit of a drunken stupor. I'm blaming Vuk from Rock A Rolla for his incessant white wine buying! I scurry around the venue in a frenzy telling all who'll hear my sorry tale. I just can't find it. I'm devastated. What a way to end a perfectly great day. I feel like an absolute idiot and just wanna forget my troubles and deal with 'camera-gate' tomorrow.

So with that, some of our party head back to The Penthouse and I head back to the Paragon with some others (and end up walking back at some ridiculous hour! ahem! 5.30am).

When I finally get back, Lauren and I fall asleep watching the sunrise over Birmingham to Sigur Ros.

Sunday 13th July 2008

I wake up in a flash of panic as I realise its past 11am and we've only had about 4 hours sleep. I get ready in record time and scoot down to the venue to try and find the camera. Lauren's broken the news to Allison but everyone is pretty chilled about it. Is it just me who's a neurotic mess? In a word. Yes, probably!

Krystal and Jen follow me to the Med Bar. The bar manager 'thinks' he may have heard something about a camera. He takes what seems like an age to find out and leaves us all in desperate anticipation.

Lo and behold! He comes steaming down the stairs camera in hand. I have literally never been so happy to see a goddamn bloody CAMERA before. Tears stream down my face in relief. The fun can begin again!

Ah yes! with the relief and joy the hangover starts to kick in. I've all my luggage in tow as we are due to leave in the Southern press bus later on that evening. About 30 minutes later the gang arrive and the Southern stall is open for business once more. It's a little quieter today but there's a nice steady flow of people. I sit with Krystal and Jen in the cafe cradling numerous glasses of water, waiting for the hangover to dissolve. However, I'm really cheered-up by Don from Earth's vintage purchase. He's bought a baby blue, frilly shirt, 70s style. He's promised to break Earth's black only dress code and wear this shirt during their performance later! we'll see!

I hear Asva are about to start and so I make my way over. The sound check sounds immense. The sound emanating from the stage is huge and this is but a precursor to what's about to come. As the smoke machine rolls and the first rumbling twang of the very first chord has been strummed, I can feel every sound pound my chest and rattle my ears. Every note and every beat I'm hearing makes total sense, even more so than on record. The visuals are dark and unnerving and fit well with the heavy, all impending wall of noise Asva create on stage.

I feel rattled (in a good way!) as I leave and smile to myself thinking what a contrast Earth will provide as they are up next.

After a short break, I wander in once more to the soft and silky tones of Earth. There's also something dark about these guys but they express it in the opposite way from what Asva do onstage. I'm disappointed to see Don's not wearing his new shirt! Earth play a set comprised of quite a few songs from their latest album The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull. They've attracted a sizeable crowd and I'm really happy to see so many people are willing to watch bands as diverse as Asva and Earth at a festival.

And with that, we head back to the Southern stall for the last part of the evening before we hit Gravetemple and eventually homeward bound. The Southern stall has quietened down but there are still some eager music fans floating about buying records. I sit with Don for a chat and we talk for the next few hours. A nice normal chat puts me in a great mood for the last few hours of the weekend and that hangover seemed a million years ago.

I actually only get to see one Gravetemple song before we're all hurried off into the press bus. We say our goodbyes and although we're still riding the high, we're absolutely shattered and also sad that the weekend's over so quick. We've had a great time at Supersonic and I'm really impressed at how organised the festival is and what a great vibe was felt by punters, bands and labels alike all weekend.

Well done to the girls over at Capsule. We're looking forward to the next one!

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