Chester Rocks 2011 Review - Sunday

Day 2 and time for rock legends and dance legends to grace the main stage along with a legend in his own right, Mr Shaun William Ryder. It was also a day of a lot of walking for us at musicmafiauk due to the sheer amount of talent available on both the main stage and Dawson's stage.

Starting the day off was Tommy Scott, ex lead singer from Liverpool 90's band Space, who sported a rocker billy look for his set, followed by The Lightening Seeds.

Now the day really kicked off with it's Sunday rocked fuelled extravaganza, with Feeder playing a full on rock set with hits including, "Feeling The Moment", "Renegades" and "Buck Rogers" which saw the crowd in full on bounce mode and cheering along in definite approval to the instrumental part. I have to admit I had forgotten just how much I loved Feeder and

can honestly say that it has now been rekindled and cannot wait for their new album which they've been working hard on in the studio.

After that I was all set for more of this genre, so headed over to the Dawson Stage, which was thankfully a lot more busy today. In there we found The Suzuki's blasting the place out. To look at them you them you would expect an Oasis maybe Stone Roses laid back indie set, but oh no, with powerful rasping vocals and a cheeky glint in the eye from front man, Chris Veasy and bass player, Robert Warnes fingers moving faster than the speed of light, this rock outfit are already making a name for themselves in the music world and provided the Dawson stage with a performance worthy of the main stage.

Back at the main stage, Mancunian and Jungle legend, Shaun William Ryder, as he's now apparently known as, came onto stage looking like he was going sailing with his jaunty lil cap on and glass of wine!!! I always had him down as a lager man. With his first mischievous words of, "we'll have to keep it clean, there's kids in the crowd", you knew this ex Happy Mondays front man was on fine form. Joined on stage with his band and backing singer Jill, he performed hits from his pretty large back catalogue and the crowd just lapped it up, dancing early 90's style along to, "Kinky Afro" and "Step On" to name but a few.

The Australian Pink Floyd, provided a great set both musically and visually and the older generation there absolutely adored them, presumably being taken back to their youth of the original Floyd, unfortunately for me, they have always produced a very sleepy effect for me and I spent the next half hour trying to stay awake, great for insomnia though!!

Then the moment we had all been waiting for, although we were expecting him to headline, the godfather of punk/rock, Iggy Pop roared onto the stage with massive cheering from the crowd, (which the sound guy had instigated by waving his hand up, yep i noticed it, although why he felt that was needed i don't know). From the very beginning we saw Iggy bounce, twist, jump, turn all in just leather pants and boots. With tongue pulling and waving at the crowd, Iggy Pop was on tremendous form and rocked the place to it's very core. Half way through the set he addressed the crowd, "Hello my fellow Chestertons, we are the fucking Stooges!" and then proceeded to invite the entire crowd onto stage, pretty soon the stage was full of kids and teenagers and a few older rock chicks jumping and head banging away on stage. A moment these youngsters will never forget and will have a lot of jealous friends come school on Monday. With Iggy barely able to stay on the stage, jumping into the photo pit, thankfully photographers had all gone to safety, singing to individuals, trying on their various hats, this legend showed why he has this godfather status and long may he have it after this performance, a true legend in his own very individual right. I just wish he had played, "Lust For Life!"

After Iggy's performance, about half the crowd dispersed never to return, even though Leftfield were due on, who gave a great set with all their most famous dance tracks but we were off to see Liverpool's very own, much loved, Fly With Vampires. This young band have been going for a few years now and never fail to impress and deliver a show laden with character, true talent and one hell of a formidable bass player. With tracks like, "Not Wasted On The Young" and "Waves" a military beat induced track about a hand movement apparently, FWV always put there all into every gig and the audience loved it, especially one zealous fan who danced for the entire set with a look of sheer happiness on his face.

So for us this was the end of a fabulous weekend and it was a great way to end it on. Thanks FWV!!

And congratulations to Chester Rocks for your 1st year into the music venture and here's too many more like it.

Review by Alison Goggin

more  photos of Saturdays event can be found HERE

Circus Easter Party with Carl Cox @ The Masque Liverpool

Circus Easter Party
Sun 24th April @ the Masque, Liverpool

April 2011, what a month. The Royal Wedding and a late Easter have meant that there’s two
four day weekends with only three days of work separating them. And in the UK’s club scene
this can only constitute one thing and one thing alone; party time central. Circus have duly
obliged by delivering a titanic show which brings back one of their biggest stars for a full throttle
showcase. Yes indeed; Carl Cox is coming back to the Masque.

Carl returns to Circus for the first time in two years. And on this occasion it’s even more special
because he will be returning to the Theatre, for only his second performance in there after
his 2004 debut entered the club’s already rather rich folklore (it’s still many a Circus regular’s
favourite event). Since then the Funktion One has been installed, the Masque has been gloriously restored and is now the one of the premier environs to hear dance music across the country.

And, quite simply, few deliver it as better as Carl Cox.

A true icon of the scene, his acid house birth was followed by a stint as the leading DJ playing hardcore before it fragmented into drum n bass and jungle, the first point where the UK really began to forge its own identity on dance music. Since then he’s been at the forefront of house and techno, famously playing two millennium midnight DJ sets in Sydney and Hawaii, running the stunningly successful record label Intec and establishing his ‘The Revolution Continues’
and ‘And Friends’ parties as two of the premier Ibizan clubnights. A true hero and maverick, the Circus masses are in for a relentless treat.

And it wouldn’t be Circus if Cox’s friend Yousef wasn’t at the helm beside him. Nearing fifteen years in the game, Yousef will continually attest to how crucial Carl has been in his career. The support, tutelage and consistent backing for his talent since his early days at Cream makes their relationship one of the most enduring and poignant that dance music has. And what a combination the pair is, Yousef blisteringly devouring the residency at Carl’s aforementioned
Space odyssey last summer and now inviting him into his own lair to return the favour. It’ll be pure electricity in there.

Carl isn’t the only returning friend of the club; Derrick Carter’s also back in full effect. The king of house continues to jack like no other, his sound just as relevant as when it domineered over Circus’ early aesthetic. Chicago’s strongest second wave artist has recently re-launched his stellar Classic imprint, revisiting the record label which defined leftfield deep house long before the twenty first century kingpins such as Claude von Stroke, and remains a truly reverential figure within modern rave. His recently released Fabric mix CD has shown that he remains as the top of his game and is a modern classic of a true DJ with seamless transitions across genres whilst always following a groove few can better.

Butch is a German DJ and producer of considerable renown who makes his Circus debut. He has almost more accolades than he knows what to do with: Butch is the No.1 Most Charted All Time Artist with Resident Advisor and his Cecille Records No Worries track won the Pacha Ibiza 2010 Track of The Year Award, as well as it charting no.1 in Beatport, no.3 in DJ Mag and no.1 with Groove Magazine. His second album Eyes Wide Open has also made huge waves. Widely feted for a string of releases on labels including 8Bit, Great Stuff and Craft Music, he is another revered European spinner who weaves techno and house together into epic soundscapes.

The final guest comes in the shape of Motor City Drum Ensemble, the young German troubadour in possession of a truly unique vibe. Whilst many manage to plot the gaps between house, disco and techno, few do so with such characteristic difference and individuality quite like the Hamburg native. His indelible sound remains unmistakeable whether on bass heavy techno or percussive disco, and the productions continue to showcase defter skill. His Djing prowess, which ransacks the same palette of influences, is equally as beatific, making his Circus debut a must see. Support comes from Circus’ own Lewis Boardman and Scott Lewis with Dom Chung bringing his globe-trotting Future Disco to Ink.

Circus – Easter Sunday Party
Sunday 24th April
@ The Masque, 90 Seel Street, Liverpool, L1 4BH
Carl Cox
Yousef
Derrick Carter
Butch
Motor City Drum Ensemble
Lewis Boardman
Scott Lewis
Dom Chung
10pm – 4am
Price £15 / £17
Info – 0151 706 8045
www.circusclub.co.uk
Tickets:
www.chibuku.com/shop
www.skiddle.com
www.datatransmission.co.uk/circus
TicketWeb: 08444 771 000
Ticketline: 0161 832 1111
3B records: 0151 353 7027