Sundae on the Common

Sundae on The Common

Saturday, August 28th 2007

Crazy weekenders are back! Yes, we headed up to Clapham Common for a much-needed day out on Saturday for the Ben and Jerry’s “Sundae in the Park” festival.

Arriving at around 2pm to incredibly long queues, we brilliantly came across a girl in a horse outfit being reprimanded by police. I have no idea why but I think it’s best left to the imagination as to what the offence was and how the conversation went!

Once inside, we took a quick look around and had the first lot of free ice cream before heading towards the stage where Kate Nash was the first act that we saw. Nash, promoting new single Foundations and playing a quirky set. Her style is very much Lily Allen and despite seeming to pad out one song by repeating “ever, ever, ever, ever” her set suitably warmed up the Saturday afternoon crowd who were relaxing into their day.

Next up we took a quick tour around the various stalls and tents on offer including Toe Wrestling, the Coconut Shy and the Pimms Bus. Of course we had to take a sample of Pimms and relaxed in the shade of the bus while Paparazzi style photographers attempted to catch Jamie off guard.

Up on the main stage next were Brakes, a heavy rock outfit who really got the crowd going and sparked them into life following the ease of Kate Nash’s introduction. With a gritty and loud sound and impressive front man Eamonn Hamilton leading the way, they were the perfect outfit to get the festival rocking and to wake up those who were there just for the promise of free ice cream!

After some more relaxation and beer, The Rumble Strips entered and again impressed as they showed why they were chosen to headline the recent NME New Band Tour. They also integrated a solid cover of The Boys are Back in Town into their set!

The Bees were up next and the Isle of Wight band were a perfect foil for the main act of the night. The Isle of Wight natives ran through their back catalogue in real style and finished with a quite brilliant encore of Chicken Playback where they were accompanied on stage by two chickens. That’s two people dressed as chickens, not real chickens. They must have slipped through the net of the prowling officers.

And so to the headliners. Around a year ago I was sent to Southampton Guildhall for a one day job to work in the kitchen for a gig that night. The Charlatans provided the main act that night but their support was an up and coming act called The Feeling.

I remember serving them dinner and some of the band even offering to do their own washing up so it was pretty surreal to see the same people a year later headlining a summer festival! Led by superb front man Dan Gillespie-Sells, a natural entertainer and performer, The Feeling rattled through all the songs that have made them famous plus a bonus cover of Video Killed The Radio Star! They were thwarted half way through the set as the electronics failed but handled the set back in real style before normal service was resumed. Unashamedly pop/rock, The Feeling are attracting a wide range of fans and if their second album is anywhere near as successful as the first, Twelve Stops and Home, they could be on the brink of becoming big.

So overall a brilliantly value for money event at £8.50 for the day and one to look out for on next year’s calendar!