Bobbysix.com's End of Year Review 2011 - Bobby Townsend

Over the next few days, all of Bobbysix's contributors will be sharing their highlights of 2011, culminating in the announcement of our overall album/song/movie/gig of the year later this week. Today, Editor Bobby gets the ball rolling: 

Top 10 albums
1. A Creature I Don’t Know - LAURA MARLING
Marling's most expansive record and also her most accessible, it proves her to be one of the most honest, intelligent and breathtakingly talented artists in music today.
2. Twerps - TWERPS
Twerps is the sound of a band growing up and finding their sound. This is an album that could soundtrack long summer days spent falling out of love.
3. Bad As Me - TOM WAITS
Existing fans will love it, while newbies will find this the ideal place to begin their Tom Waits collection.
4. Ceremonials - FLORENCE + THE MACHINE
The art-pop of Ceremonials exudes impressive confidence from a woman on top of her game, while retaining enough of a dark edge to keep it interesting.
5. Vows - KIMBRA
Vows is a soulful, textured, vibrant triumph of a debut which immediately establishes Kimbra as a unique and genuinely exciting new artist
6. In Your Room - CAMERAS
The most refreshing thing is that, rather than front-loading the big singles, as so many albums do nowadays, it ebbs and flows like a set-list and feels very much like a musical journey.
7. Veronica Falls - VERONICA FALLS
A beguiling, intriguing coming together of dark and light, it is really rather wonderful. Melancholy never seemed so much fun.
8. Milk Annual - CAITLIN PARK
The delightful truth is that the nuanced, beautiful and outstanding Milk Annual is actually a unique sounding record. And you can't say that very often these days.
9. Smoking in Heaven - KITTY, DAISY & LEWIS
If the rubbish that litters commercial radio station playlists had one-hundredth of the honesty, heart and soul that this record does, the music world would be a much more satisfying place.
10. Yuck -YUCK
This album doesn't sound derivative in the slightest, but rather is a fresh and exciting post-grunge offering with a DIY ethic.

Top 10 songs

1. Defeatist - CAMERAS 

  

2. History’s Door - HUSKY

3. Cameo Lover - KIMBRA
4. Who Are You? - TWERPS
5. Walk Like Thunder - KIMYA DAWSON
6. Even Though I’m a Woman - SEEKER LOVER KEEPER  
7. Found Love in a Graveyard - VERONICA FALLS
8. Back in the Crowd - TOM WAITS
9. Endless Summer - THE JEZABELS
10. Covered By Snow - DEAD LETTER CHORUS

Top 10 gigs
1. FLORENCE + THE MACHINE - Seymour Centre, Sydney
So magical was the atmosphere in room during this perfect occasion that to step back into the real world felt painfully mundane. This was a wonderful and unforgettable night.
2. DAVID FORD - The Empire Bar, Belfast
At the midway point, Ford ran down the street in order to play a song at Duke Special and Phil Jupitus’ gig. They passed him on the way and came to read some poems at The Empire Bar.
3. KIMBRA - The Metro, Sydney
Her effervescence was complimented by her band as finger-clicking, red-suited male backing singers boogied in the background. She even managed a mid-set costume change. 

4.SEEKER LOVER KEEPER - St Stephen’s Church, Sydney

A night in a warmly-lit church watching three talented and charming musicians can be aptly summed-up in a single word. Lovely.

5. THE GRATES - The Metro, Sydney

With the combination of infectious pop, post-grunge and a singer that owns the room with her lust for life, tonight once again proved that to see The Grates live is to best understand them.

6. CAMERAS - Changing Lanes Festival, Sydney

While their atmospheric sound is best suited to playing in the dark, they still gave one of the performances - if not the performance - of the day (pictured, left)

7 SIMONE FELICE - The Vanguard, Sydney

His voice was beautiful, ethereal, transfixing and when he bowed at the end of the gig he did so with the awkward charm of a five-year-old having performed in the school nativity play.

8. KIMYA DAWSON & AESOP ROCK - Manning Bar, Sydney

It was a rare joy to see two such different artists sharing a stage and creating an evening of such eclecticism.

9. THE JEZABELS - Homebake Festival, Sydney

Singer Hayley Mary has something of the Kate Bush about her in terms of her vocal and the band's pop songs were powerful and engaging.

10. HOWLING BELLS - The Standard, Sydney

Simply, they sound like a proper band, with clean, strong guitar driven indie songs and an excellent vocalist in Juanita Stein.

Top 10 Films

1. Submarine

2. Bill Cunningham New York

3. Snowtown

4. Midnight in Paris

5. We Need To Talk About Kevin

6. Black Swan

7. Senna

8. Drive

9. Rise of the Planet of the Apes

10. The Guard

Top 5 TV Shows

1. 24 Hours in A&E

2. Match of the Day

3. Boardwalk Empire

4. At The Movies

5. Q & A

Top 5 radio shows/podcasts

1. Kermode and Mayo’s Film Reviews - BBC Radio 5Live

2. Guardian Football Weekly Podcast

3. Arvos - FBi Radio

4. Desert Island Disks - BBC Radio 4

5. The Allnighter - FBi Radio

Favourite interview of the year

There were a few actually. It was a joy to chat to Florence Welch, even though it was at 7am and I hadn’t been to bed from the night before. I also enjoyed doing a face-to-face with Juanita Stein from Howling Bells. Our interview would lead to me drunkenly teaching her how to use the DJ decks at Sydney’s World Bar the next night. Speaking to Britany Nola was very interesting. I always enjoy interviewing models, as they have so much to say and are rarely afforded the opportunity. Her words about human rights and tolerance were inspiring. However, my favourite interview was with Laura Marling. I adore her work - firmly believing her to be the best lyricist of her generation - and I enjoyed catching up with her, as we first spoke over three years ago, when she was a shy 18-year-old. Though she is now a pretty big deal, it was lovely to discover that she remains as unassuming, polite and friendly as she was back then.

Highlight of the year.

Being able to attend the first Brighton & Hove Albion game at The American Express Community Stadium was an incredibly emotional end to a 14-year journey and something I will never forget. However, my actual highlight came at Sydney’s Metro Theatre in September. I was attempting to woo an especially beautiful lady when a young man came up to me and said “Excuse me, I just wanted to say I love your blog.” It is the only time in my life I have appeared cool and his timing was excellent.

2011 in words

Regina Spektor once told me that, "Man plans and God laughs." She could very well have been talking about my 2011. A fucked up fruitcake of a year, starting in the snow of England, ending in the heat of Australia, via Scotland, Northern Ireland and Eastern Europe. An era ending. Stolen moments in Budapest. A head resting on my chest in Sydney. Tourbus hilarity on the motorways of Britain. New friends on both sides of the world. A crack in everything. That's how the light gets in.  

Prediction for 2012

Our new website is going to blow your fucking minds. Watch this space.

Bobby is the Editor of Bobbysix.com. He has written for publications and websites including CNN, Drum Media, Inpress, BBM, Time Off, Rip It Up and The Argus. He has also appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC 7. He splits his time between Australia and England.

David Ford - The Gentleman's Box

UPDATE: Bidding has now closed on the Gentleman's box. 

Certain members of Bobbysix.com have shared a stage and a tourbus with English singer/songwriter, David Ford, from time to time. The man is family to us. However, even were he not, we still firmly believe him to be one of the best live performers of his generation.

If you are a fan of the Ford, then you will certainly be interested in The Gentleman's Box. Essentially, it is an all-encompassing collection of David Ford products, releases and memorabilia from 2004 until, well, right now. From the original hat and suit, through Ford’s notebooks and promo & demo versions of recordings and albums, the ‘001’ copy of the Let The Hard Times Roll special edition album, to the originals of Ford’s album art work ideas, album ‘mastering – red book’ CDs and a copy of the original, pre I Sincerely Apologise, home demos CDr, it's all in one fuck-off great big suitcase. If it’s not in there then it no longer exists, or maybe never did.
 

The Gentleman’s Box is currently being auctioned here and you can bid for this until 7.30pm (UK time) on 30th November 2011. If the winning bidder is UK-based, Ford will personally deliver it and might even take you for a beer as well. Depending on the winning bid, that offer may even extend to Mainland Europe and North America. You can bid here now.

David Ford's UK tour starts this week

The other day, we were going through some of our old notebooks. We found scribbled shorthand from when we interviewed Kings Of Leon, love hearts drawn in the margin from when we chatted to Regina Spektor and a near blank page from the time we spoke to the miserable, monosyllabic bassist from The View (the worse-than-average Scottish indie band as opposed to that TV show). We also found this rather crude storyboard (above), which was created while we were trying to help David Ford come up with ideas for a video for his song, Decimate. Surprisingly, considering it resembles the daubings of a monkey, the video turned out strangely similar to these drawings. You can see it here, and yes, you may recognise the fellow atop the pile.

Yeah, at Bobbysix.com, we like to help our mates make music videos. Our personal favourite is the below David Ford clip, which we helped produce. Considering it was filmed Ed Wood-style, on a freezing cold winter's evening in England, with no permission to film in the car park we chose, on a budget of zero, we're pretty proud of it. If you enjoy seeing a man being walloped round the face dozens of times, you're in for a treat. If you like what you hear from Mr Ford, then below the vid are his upcoming UK tour dates. He is one of the best live performers in the business, so you would be doing yourself a favour by getting along to one of his shows.

13 Sep Newcastle Upon Tyne, The Cluny
14 Sep Wolverhampton, The Slade Rooms/ little civic
15 Sep Oxford, O2 Academy 2
16 Sep Buxton, The Pavilion Arts Centre
17 Sep Glasgow, O2 ABC
18 Sep Aberdeen, The Lemon Tree
20 Sep Stockton, Georgian Theatre
21 Sep London, Islington Academy

Brighton Fashion Week - The Video

Okay, so I'm a writer by trade, but I've always fancied myself as a bit of a movie maker. While the less that is said about the "comedy" short I wrote and directed when I was at college the better (choice bit of dialogue from this film:"Oh my God, his willy's hanging out"), I am pretty proud to have co-directed this music clip of my friend being slapped repeatedly round the face in a car park (watch it, it's better than it sounds), and also to have appeared in this one.

Anyhoo, to the point. In amongst reviewing, photographing, interviewing and generally schmoozing with the beautiful people at Brighton Fashion Week, I also managed to shoot a bit of footage, which I have rather crudely pieced together and set to music. It's hardly Oscar-worthy, but it'll give you a taste of what this year's event was like. And, basically, it means you can spend the next five minutes looking at pretty people. And everyone likes pretty people. Check it below:

Words, pictures and video footage by Rob Townsend.
For more music, video and fashion, follow Bobbysix.com on Facebook.

David Ford - I'm Alright Now

Recently, English singer/songwriter David Ford travelled around the UK to promote his book I Choose This - How To Nearly Make it in the Music Industry and BobbySix.com tagged along for the ride. Here is a clip taken from side-of-stage at London's Borderline. He is currently in the midst of a US tour. Check his dates here.

David Ford - How to Nearly Make it in the Music Industry

"There was a time when people swore I would be the next big thing. It took ten years of hard work and dedication but I finally proved them wrong."

So reads the synopsis of David Ford's book, I Choose This - How to Nearly Make it in the Music Industry, in which the English singer/songwriter talks with wit and honesty about everything from the Easyworld days through the recording of his solo albums, his attempts to break America, record company wrangles and life on the road. Just like Mark E Smith and Jim Bob's accounts of life as a musician, Ford's fine prose has an accessibility about it that means I Choose This has every chance of appealing to an audience wider than his fan-base. In the way that Fever Pitch was embraced by non-football fans because it told universal truths, Ford's story would be enjoyable even to someone who had never heard a note of his music.

To promote the release of I Choose This, Ford is touring an evening of music, conversation and prosaic reminiscence around the UK and the US in April and May. As well as a seeing Ford perform songs from his outstanding back-catalogue, the show will inevitably contain strong language and unrestrained self-loathing. Would you expect anything else? I Choose This - How to Nearly Make it in the Music Industry will be on sale at all of the intimate gigs on this tour. Details of which are below.

UK Dates:
Tue, 26 April, Band On The Wall, Manchester
Wed, 27 April, Plug, Sheffield
Thu, 28 April, Fibbers, York
Fri, 29 April, Beechwood Community Centre, Runcorn
Sat, 30 Apr, The Cellars at Eastney, Southsea
Mon, 02 May, The Borderline, London
Tue, 03 May, The Donkey, Leicester
Wed, 04 May, Dean Clough, Halifax
Thu, 05 May, Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh
Fri, 06 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham

US Dates 
Thu, 12 May, The Turning Point, Piermont, NY
Fri, 13 May, (Le) Poisson Rogue, New York, NY
Sat, 14 May, The Rock Shop, Brooklyn, NY
Tue, 17 May, Club Passim, Cambridge, MA
Wed, 18 May, The Iron Horse, Northhampton, MA
Fri, 20 May, The Saint, Asbury Park, NJ
Mon, 23 May, IOTA, Arlington, VA
Thu, 26 May, The Cactus Cafe, Austin, TX
Fri, 27 May, All Good Cafe, Dallas, TX

For more details about tickets, his book and to hear some tracks, visit David's Myspace and his Facebook. 

Words and picture by Rob Townsend.

Teddy Thompson & David Ford, The Thekla, Bristol

It was quite a novel feeling to watch a gig in the bowels of a boat. Never mind that it is approximately six foot from shore and indeed still moored, Bristol's Thekla is a cool little venue, and was rammed for the appearance of Teddy Thompson.

The advancing years of many of the audience members suggested that more than a handful of Thompson's followers learnt about him through his parents - folksters Richard and Linda Thompson - and they would perhaps have been pleased enough with his non-threatening, MOR folk-pop. The problem though was that there was a serious lack of dynamism about his set, which made it seem as though it was going on FOREVER, as one moderately pleasant mid-tempo effort followed another. Also, Thompson's lyrics often tend to be somewhat cheesy. His words about a beautiful girl in a beautiful world or whatever, were painful, especially considering that, between songs, his banter offered the perfect dissection of self-deprecation and slight smugness that proved to be genuinely amusing. If he could pour more of this wit into his lyrics, it would add some desperately needed edge.

In complete contrast, support act (and temporary member of Thompson's band) David Ford combined political anger with a sense of bloody-minded romance across a varied set that showcased how one-man, a load of instruments and a loop pedal can make an awesome noise. There were plenty of songs from his latest album, while the bile-fuelled State Of The Union from his debut still bursts with life even after all these years. "What a model of Christian behaviour/Preach on with the message of Go Fuck Thy Neighbour," he spat, as furious and intense as the first time he ever sang it. Elsewhere, lovely piano ballads To Hell With The World and Song For The Road were also highlights in a 45-minute performance which proved, again, that Ford is one of the most underrated performers in England today.

Review by Rob Townsend.

Getting To Know... Hannah Peel

BobbySix.com first chanced upon the wonderful Hannah Peel when she was performing live as David Ford's backing multi-instrumentalist/vocalist. Since then, she has gone on to set tongues wagging with her own solo work, and is very much someone to look out for in 2011. Here, she tells Rob Townsend a bit about herself and her music:

I would describe my sound as something completely different to what everyone else thinks. Isn't that always the way? I write a lot of songs about death but they are disguised so much by the lyrics and music that you would never know. On The Broken Wave I worked alongside Mike Lindsay (Producer/Tunng). He is a vibe/party man. When making the record, if he didn't dance around the room when we were recording a song it got ditched. I loved it. I have never been in that kind of working atmosphere before. Musicians are much too precious at times (I'll include myself in that). Mike just has fun.

So my sound at the moment is a concoction of wonky folk pop with hints of traditional Irish, northern brass band bacon butties and a dash of HP melancholy sauce.

Music makes me want to do more music. However, only if I'm listening to something good. Good = interesting, unique, trying out new sounds and styles, good lyric writing, great melody. Some music out there makes me very, very sad… like the crap we get fed on TV/the charts/supermarkets. Its sad that it all orientates around money and for two minutes of fame.

I'm currently listening to This Mortal Coil.

Touring is essential. You need to see an artist live to really experience where they are coming from and to want to buy their music again. Records at times, can obscure this. But I know this doesn't work for everyone.
Personally, I find touring the one way I can connect to people properly - if they have come to listen.

If I could only listen to three albums for the rest of my life they would be:

Prelude to the afternoon of a Faun by Debussy
Blue - Joni Mitchell
Head over Heels - Cocteau Twins

Aside from music I like cake. All sorts of cake, just as long as it hasn't got lashings of cream. But my favourite at the moment is coffee and walnut. yummm.

Listen to some of Hannah's stuff at her Myspace page.  

2010 End Of Year Review - Top 10 Albums.

The final installment of BobbySix.com's Review of the Year features the main event - the Top 10 Albums of 2010: 

Choosing BobbySix.com's album of the year was a tough run thing in 2010. It fell between two strong front-runners: Laura Marling and These New Puritans. For a long time, TNP were in the lead but Marling's album proved to be a real grower - even taking into account the fact that she seems to wander into an Irish accent at regular intervals. And, besides, we couldn't be seen to agree with NME, who handed the number one spot to the band from Southend. So Laura Marling (pictured above, in concert in Sydney) wins. The fact that she has only just turned 20 is, frankly, unbelievable.

TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2010

1. I Speak Because I Can - LAURA MARLING
"A dark, serious, yet breathtakingly elegant album. Her delivery is slow and her delicate, beautiful poetry has developed yet further. Like Emily Brontë with an acoustic guitar, she gives an almost unbearable sense of sorrow and yearning... " (full review...)

2. Hidden - THESE NEW PURITANS
"These New Puritans haven't so much changed direction as ripped up the whole road. This isn't half-arsed, sloppy experimentation either. Hidden is as precisely executed as it is ambitious. If you thought they were little more than indie also-rans, think again." (full review...)
 
3. The Memory Machine - JULIA STONE

"Anyone who assumes The Memory Machine to be a collection of songs that were thrown away when they were cutting the last Angus & Julia Stone record is a million miles from the truth. Rather, this lovingly-crafted, poetic and absolutely beautiful record represents Julia Stone’s best work to date." (full review...)

4. Let The Hard Times Roll - DAVID FORD
Eastbourne's David Ford returns with his best record so far. Panic, Call To Arms, Hurricane and To Hell With The World show just how Ford can mix pessimism and optimism and create something truly romantic in a world gone to shit.

5. We Are Born - SIA 
"Probably her best solo record to date, the slickly produced and downright fun We Are Born is the sound of Sia really letting loose. Stand-out track, the disco-pop You’ve Changed, sums up the vivacity of the album as a whole. On it, Sia sings, 'You’ve changed/For the better.' Indeed." (full review...)

6. Dark Night of the Soul - DANGER MOUSE AND SPARKLEHORSE
"In bringing down the curtain on Mark Linkous’ own tragedy, the wonderful and poignant Dark Night… adds to a Sparklehorse legacy that perfectly illustrates the beauty and fragility of life. In Linkous’ passing, the world is a poorer place." (full review...)

7. The Suburbs - ARCADE FIRE
A mixture of classic kitchen-sink throwing and really perky melodies from the one of the greatest bands in the world right now.

8. Serotonin - MYSTERY JETS

"While its big-hitting songs don’t better the singles that Twenty One boasted, Serotonin is the band’s most well-rounded offering to date and bursts with guts, heart and honesty." (full review...)

9. Body Talk Part 1 - ROBYN
"With the eight songs clocking in at half-an-hour yet still managing to seamlessly travel in so many directions, Body Talk Pt 1 is quite the achievement and really whets the appetite for parts two and three." (full review...)

10 Erland And The Carnival - ERLAND AND THE CARNIVAL
"Quintessentially English in its sound, the psych-freak folk of Erland and The Carnival is a weird and wonderful treat, and potentially one of the best debuts from a UK band this year." (full review...)

David Ford's Milk and Cookies at The Royal Hippodrome Theatre, Eastbourne

BobbySix.com braved the snow with camera in hand to attend David Ford's Milk and Cookies gig in Eastbourne last weekend. Check the video below:

Eastbourne resident David Ford has, for a decade, been finding time within his busy recording and touring schedule to orchestrate and perform a series of charity gigs, entitled Milk and Cookies. Having raised thousands upon thousands of pounds, Milk and Cookies turned ten-years-old on Saturday night. To celebrate, Ford played a show at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre in his home town.

While the event was sold-out, the fact that England's roads/trains seem to come to a complete standstill with the slightest peppering of snow means that a couple of hundred punters failed to make it. While this was a shame, the event was also live-streamed around the world, so those who were unable to attend could at least enjoy it from the warmth of their living room.

What they would have seen was the usual mix of Ford's solo songs and unexpected covers and rarer treats. Within three hours of terrific entertainment, highlights included a duet with former Easyworld band-mate Jo Taylor-Jones, a turn from Frances Law and a magnificent barber shop quartet featuring Max Arnold from The Late Greats, Neil Martin from Billy and the Fingers and Gary Page. As the gig drew to a close, certain representatives of BobbySix.com made up part of the choir that provided vocals on Bowie's Young Americans, Springsteen's Hungry Heart and John Farnham's You're The Voice.

Ford's music has yet to receive the recognition it deserves and so his life as a troubadour is hardly the most profitable. Therefore, for him to dedicate weeks and weeks of every year to work on this charity project illustrates what a fine chap he is. And the sheer entertainment that was on offer on this cold December evening in a dilapidated old theatre in Eastbourne cannot be argued with. A winning night all round.

This year's very good cause was the Tuesday O'Hara Fund.

How you can still see David Ford's sold out Milk & Cookies gig

For the last few years, Eastbourne's own David Ford has been taking time out from his busy touring/writing/recording schedule to play charity gigs - entitled Milk and Cookies - each Christmas. These events mix Ford's own material with covers that you wouldn't usually see at his shows (East 17's Stay, anyone?) and feature guest appearances from everyone from Fran Healy to Ford's own Sunday league footy team. Most importantly of all, they raise thousands of pounds of cash for good causes.

This year, Milk and Cookies turns ten and the event in Eastbourne on December 18th is already sold out. Dry your eyes though because the good news is that the whole three-hour extravaganza will be streamed live on the good old internet. So, you can be a part of the fun from your living room, while donating to a good cause. See more details in the cheeky little video above, then buy your ticket and find out more here.

Getting To Know... Dave Anderson

Melbourne-based singer/songwriter, Dave Anderson tells BobbySix.com a bit about himself:

It's hard for me to describe my sound. I sing for me and my own therapy, so it's hard to pin point. It's like listening to your own speaking voice. It's not really what you think it is. Others have said Pete Murray or Damien Rice, but I guess it's just raw acoustic songs that mean something to me.

Music keeps the voices in my head at bay. I can't really switch off without some tunes, and a nice glass of red.

Melbourne is the hostess with the mostest. Footy, great local pubs without attitude and really friendly people. I've done my time in a few other cities and I feel at home here.

If I could only listen to three albums for the rest of my life, they would be:

David Ford - I Sincerely Apologise For All The Trouble I've Caused
Epicure - The Goodbye Girl
And, as much as I like to be a joker and say my first album Please Hammer Don't Hurt Them, I'll stick to an album by a relatively unfamiliar band, Pearl Jam - Yield.

It might surprise people to learn that I've got a master degree. But it probably doesn't suprise anyone who's studied that I can barely remember anything except always partner with the German kid when it comes to numbers.

Aside from music you'll find me abusing my footy team, eating jam donuts with opposition supporters, before walking along a Melbourne street to pop into a live venue and sink a few VB's. Aside from that I build websites, and my only real friends are virtual.


Find out more about Dave at his website.

Interview by Rob Townsend

David Ford - Making Up For Lost Time

Long-time friend of Bobby Six, David Ford, has always been good at coming up with ingenious videos. Whether he is doing a one-take live recording, being slapped repeatedly around the face (a video, incidentally, co-directed by yours truly), taking off lots of t-shirts or at the bottom of a bundle (there I am again), his clips are inventive and compliment the songs they accompany.

His new offering (above) swings away from the one-shot, black and white routine that Ford has mastered, but, as usual, focuses on a clever idea. Oh, and the song’s a winner too.

Making Up For Lost Time is taken from Ford’s critically-acclaimed third long-player, Let The Hard Times Roll. It is possibly his best work to date, and can be bought for a ridiculously small amount of money here.

Getting To Know... Gary Page

In the latest in the Getting To Know... series, singer/songwriter Gary Page emerges from the back of a tour bus to talk about making music using a hatstand and about how his life resembles Summer Heights High:

I would describe my music as simple but effective verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/chorus with a tune you can hum. The intention is to try and express myself positively without sounding like a happy clapper.

Music makes me feel like a human being. There's nothing better than writing a song and then someone will have a connection with it, even if it's just a handful of people it makes me smile.
There's also nothing better than discovering a band and finding yourself compelled to buy their entire back catologue.

As well as being a solo artist, I play in David Ford's big band. I have, in my time, played percussion on a hatstand, a suitcase and a metal clanger as well as your more conventional percussion, guitar, keyboard, bass and mandolin. Whatever he asks me to do, within reason, I'll do it as I'm up for a challenge.

Touring is a bubble. I've been lucky to tour with people I love but I can imagine if you're stuck with people you don't get on with it could be hell. I've been to some of the most exciting cities in the UK and Ireland but only experienced it in the back of a van and a small venue. There's nothing better though than seeing smiling faces after a gig and feeling like you've been a part of it. I've also met some wonderful people and sometimes they invite you back to a random house party in Galway, Ireland! The first few days back home are truly awful but you quickly adjust back to life.

If I could only listen to three albums for the rest of my life, they would be:

Radiator - Super Furry Animals
Together Alone - Crowded House
Afraid of Sunlight - Marillion

Certainly not the coolest albums you're likely to own but they have a special place in my heart.

Aside from music, I work in an Inclusion Department (think Gumnut College in Summer Heights High and you get the idea) of a college in Sussex, England. Some of the kids I work with have troubles that make school work seem insignificant. It's rewarding though. In my short time there I have supported an autistic lad who has gone on to receive an outstanding achievement award and I've helped make a cracking rasberry cheescake with a partially sighted child who's an amazing kid. If you knew what he goes through day to day you'd never complain about your life.

To listen to some of Gary's charming music, visit his Myspace page.

Latitude 2010 - Who To See

Up here at Bobby Six Towers the festival of choice is Latitude. You can forget your Healing Fields of Glastonbury or your drunk 15-year-olds making fires out of plastic cups at Reading, it's all about strolling through the beautiful Suffolk countryside, taking in some fine bands and enjoying the chilled out (if slightly middle-class) atmos.

Last year, we even took to the stage with out friends The Late Greats to sing an acoustic version of - wait for it - Gangsta's Paradise. Highlight of the year? Try highlight of our lives.

So, if you are heading to this weekend's Latitude, here are a few tips of who to see.

Thursday

About three years ago, BobbySix.com was in the back room of a Kings Cross hotel (don't worry, this story isn't going in the direction it's threatening to) sitting cross-legged on the floor with about 100 other people watching an impromptu performance by Nigel Kennedy. It was mind-blowingly good (below).
He will be in slightly prettier surroundings on Thursday evening, and if you want your festival to get off to a magical start, then you'd be wise to pour yourself a mug of goon and find a nice spot to watch him do his thing.

Friday

If infectious indie-disco is your bag, then Hockey are sure to get you dancing, at least, they certainly had such an effect on the crowd at this year's Laneway Festival in Sydney. The Sunrise Arena sees turns from Girls and Tokyo Police Club, while old friends of BobbySix.com, Angus & Julia Stone bring their beautiful folk to the Word Arena. If their previous Latitude appearance (below) is anything to go by, they'll win plenty of hearts.

Later on the same stage, check out Richard Hawley before trying to catch some of both main headliners, The National and the lung-busting presence of Florence and The Machine.

The must see act of Friday though is surely the wonderful Laura Marling. While her poetic, bleak folk would surely be better suited to a smaller stage than the Obelisk Arena, her set will surely be one of the highlights of the festival.

Saturday

Will Paul Heaton be worth a look? Only one way to find out really (update: check the comments section at the end of this post!). Weirdy distopian folkster Lupen Crook should be an early treat worth making the effort to see too. Elsewhere, Josie Long will be bringing the laughs to the comedy tent and Paul Greengrass is A-ing the Q's in the Film and Music Arena.

Someone it is unquestionably worth paying attention to on Saturday evening is David Ford. Having played a secret show by the river last year (above), this time round he'll be on the Word Stage. Don't miss his set. In fact, you'd be wise to stay in the Word Tent for the rest of the day, as Noah and The Whale, The Horrors and The XX all follow Ford's show. Otherwise, the cardiganned tweeness of Belle and Sebastian will probably be lovely, or there is always the visceral Archie Bronson Outfit in the Sunrise Arena.

Sunday

More than likely having played backing band to Laura Marling, Mumford & Sons will be on the same stage on Sunday, with their pleasant enough country folk. Meanwhile, Midlake will hope their sound isn't dogged by the same muddiness that they encountered at Latitude in 2007. After them, Melbourne's The Temper Trap (below - another band long-since championed at BobbySix.com) show how their popularity has soared since last year's triumphant showing on the Word Stage, with a slot at the back end of the day in the Obelisk Arena.

On the Sunrise Stage, These New Puritans simply have to be seen. Their ambitious album, Hidden, still sits atop the BobbySix album of the year poll for 2010. My Bloody Valentine-inspired The Pains of Being Pure at Heart might be worth a look too. If you need a break from the music, then check out the incredibly funny Richard Herring in the Comedy Tent and hear Jim Bob read from his new book in the Literary Arena.

For those of us that think headliners Vampire Weekend are at least twice as shit as everyone else seems to, then its a no-brainer to choose Grizzly Bear instead, and before them sees the very welcome return of The Coral and the exciting inclusion of a set by Charlotte Gainsbourg.

If you head slightly off the beaten trail, you're sure to find loads more diverse and interesting stuff to see and do as well. It promises to be a great one. Send your photos and reviews to info@bobbysix.com

Latitude Festival 2009

I'd prefer not to live up to the stereotype of us Brits always talking about the weather but, okay, let's start by talking about the weather. I've never known anything like what was thrown Latitude's way and, with more than a few English 'summers' under my belt, that's saying something. Having arrived in blissful sunshine on Thursday evening, the entire camp-site awaited the predicted storm with trepidation. When it arrived in the early hours of Friday, it didn't disappoint. Thank God, then, for a sturdy gazebo, which I only ventured away from mid-storm to assist three poor girls who were trying to erect their tents in the ensuing monsoon (by 'assist', I actually mean that I stood under a brolly, issuing advice before slying back to my tent before my feet got too wet).

For the remainder of the weekend, the weather went from torrential rain to boiling sun and back again at ten minute intervals, making it impossible to select a suitable outfit to venture to the arena in. The t-shirt/shorts/wellies/raincoat-either-tightly-done-up-or-tied-around-the-waist-depending-on-the-weather look proved popular throughout. Never mind though, the site remained remarkably mud free all weekend, so the affluent middle-class lefties and their irritating kids that made up the majority of the crowd didn't need to summon the kind of Dunkirk spirit that somewhere like Glastonbury thrives on in times of inclement weather.Onwards and upwards then, and Friday began with a great set by Eastbourners, The Late Greats, (above) with two frontmen sharing vocals over intelligent, interestingly crafted, lo-fi post-punk indie noise. Australia's The Temper Trap's sound seems to get more and more imposing and impressive with every show. On this occasion they filled the Uncut stage with movement and the large tent with soaring anthems. Over on the main stage, Ladyhawke offered the first anthem of the weekend in Paris Is Burning.

Under black skies, The Pretenders put in the performance of the festival so far. On a stage that had, earlier in the day, been frequented by some completely unworthy bands (hello, Amazing Baby), Chrissie Hynde owned the entire field. It was refreshing to see a real band playing a back catalogue of greatest hits (I'll Stand By You and Bob Dylan's Forever Young were particularly memorable) and putting on a proper show. Outstanding.

Next, Russian-born New York beauty Regina Spektor cut a teeny, tiny figure at her piano, so much so that half the crowd had to watch the big screens to catch a glimpse of her (above). Her set started slowly but got more and more awesome with each song. New songs Laughing With and Machine were highlights, as was a ramshackle, bashed-out-on-a-guitar rendition of That Time which she didn't know how to finish. "Sorry. I can't play the guitar," she shrugged with a giggle before sitting back down at the piano and playing one of the greatest songs ever written (seriously), Samson. Behind me, a man proposed to his girlfriend mid-song. She said yes. Tears and cheers all round. Even the rain couldn't spoil such a perfect moment.

While Golden Silvers, Little Boots and Bat For Lashes were headlining various stages that night, this reviewer was onstage in the Bafta-sponsored film tent as part of a choir for an acoustic version of Gangsta's Paradise (really), before dashing off to dance like a twat for the magnificent last twenty minutes of the Pet Shop Boys set.

Saturday at midday saw a secret show by David Ford (above) and his band down by the river. He played old and newies to a large crowd (some of whom were made aware of the event via twitter, others who just happened to be wandering past and stopped for a listen), before handing out champagne and ending with his singalong set-closer Cheer Up (You Miserable Fuck).

The rest of the day's line-up was patchy to say the least, and highlights had to really be sought out. While Patrick Wolf was dressing as an owl on the main stage, Dave Gorman chatted about magic poos in the comedy tent. Later Jessica Delfino started badly but was increasingly funny with each ditty at the comedy tent, ending with the brilliant Don't Rape Me. An acoustic show from New York's Jeffrey Lewis (below) was next, during which he tried out a bunch of new songs "for the first and maybe the last time". They showed typical lyrical genius in the very understated way we have come to expect from the artist.

Over in the Uncut tent, Newton Faulkner's arms were flying everywhere in a blur of motion in a crowd-pleasing set as the festival geared up for the arrival its wild card.

Grace Jones. Oh dear, oh dear, Grace Jones. Despite being a weird choice to headline a major festival, hopes were high that she would wow us with an amazing show. Sure enough, there was a costume change after pretty much every song, and the lighting was great, but where was the substance to back it up? "We finally have some new songs for you," she told us, (as if any of us know any of her old songs except for those two), before singing something instantly flat and forgettable. Indeed, once the costume changes lost their ooh factor, the show was only worth watching for the between-song banter, which was intriguing as it was incomprehensible. "Me Grandfather was a killer," she informed us. It was a car-crash of a headline set and not at all comfortable viewing. But then what would you expect from watching a 61-year-old woman with eyes totally vacant draping herself over onstage railings?

The sound of beautiful acoustic guitars woke campers from their slumber the following morning. It turned out to be Thom Yorke sound-checking for his midday solo set, which included the odd Radiohead song. After the biggest crowd of the weekend had stood in reverence at the great man, last night's hero, Jeffrey Lewis, reappeared, this time in the film tent, with his band to play a full set of folk-punk in place of the absent Lightspeed Champion. It was a more than welcome substitution, and those who attended would have struggled to get the chorus of Creeping Brain out of their heads for the rest of the day.

Following The Late Greats and David Ford earlier in the weekend, further Eastbourne representation came from newcomers Capital, who, either side of a power cut, played big pop anthems that seemed to pay a debt of gratitude to The Killers. Rain clouds hovered ominously as Lisa Hannigan began her set, and how disappointing it was that the heavens opened midway through, causing two thirds of the crowd to run for shelter. Still, those who stayed for the whole thing would surely have been dazzled by the breathtaking vocal of Damien Rice's former sidekick.

While, somewhere where I annoyingly wasn't, Javis Cocker was making an impromptu guest appearance, Tricky created a quite an intense atmosphere in the Uncut tent, but while it was nice to hear classics like Black Steel from his magnificent debut album, his set did seem a bit stale. Conversely, Phoenix were all about upbeat indie/disco/guitar pop. Their songs were bouncy and bright enough to banish the rain - even if they did neglect to play crowd favourite, Too Young.

Over on the stage hidden away in the woods, !!! were nicely funky but with paper-thin vocals, and on the Lake Stage, Slow Club's boy/girl tweeness found the middle ground between The Magic Numbers and The Moldy Peaches. Okay, so they weren't anywhere near as good as either of them, but still fun, even if they were a little drowned out by a polished yet uninspiring set from Editors on the main stage.

(I was collared by BBC7 on Saturday afternoon)

And so, to the main attraction of the festival. Sunday night was headlined by Nick Cave (who had already wowed the crowds here last year with his grubby side-project, Grinderman) and his Bad Seeds. It's safe to say he blew every other performance at Latitude 2009 out of the water. The sound that emanated from the stage from the first moment to the last was an absolute aural attack. Songs from the universally acclaimed latest album, Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! came at the audience like they wanted to beat the hell out of their eardrums and leave them sobbing in a gutter. Cave, an unbelievably intense frontman, pointed out individual members of the audience and stared them straight in the eyes as he delivered lyrics with venom. Of the older tracks, There She Goes My Beautiful World and the deliciously nasty Stagger Lee sounded as fresh as anything all weekend. Devastatingly brilliant.

Aside from the main stages, there were plenty of other things to entertain; movies were shown, celebs like Vivian Westwood spoke in the literary tent, there was a cabaret tent, a kids area, and lots going on down by the lake, like a classical orchestra, a man playing flute inside a bubble floating on the river (below), a robot dancing between the trees, coloured sheep to ahh at and a charity shop selling second hand clothes.However, while these things continued the tradition of Latitude being a laid back, eclectic, family-orientated festival, nothing could paper over the cracks of the line-up. Sure, there were some good acts and a couple of truly great performances, but generally there just wasn't enough depth of quality, especially for a festival that thinks that it can charge £150 a ticket and get away with it. Okay, so there were some big names and some of the little bands did themselves no harm, but where were all the decent middle-range bands; your Mystery Jets, Jamie Ts, Laura Marlings and Late Of The Piers? Any single day's line-up at this year's Glastonbury was a million miles better than the entirety of Latitude.

So, in a nutshell - Latitude 2009: great vibe, shame about the line-up.

Gary Page - Folk Devils and Moral Panic

Having been doing the live circuit for a while now, as well as performing as part of David Ford's live band, Eastbourne's Gary Page releases his debut album of classically structured, largely acoustic pop songs.

With guest appearances from Ford, The Late Greats' Max Arnold and Stacey Pottinger from Hiding With Girls/District, the self-recorded and produced Folk Devils... is lyrically intelligent in a colloquial way, mixing introspective musings (Easily Unimpressed) with conspiracy theories (Fake Lunar Landing) and pot-shots at New Wave-loving scenesters (In Love With York). What is most impressive though is the way in which Page unlocks the songs with such utterly accessible tunes. You won't find the unexpected here - no ten-minute jazz noodling or mad acid house outros (which is perhaps surprising considering his adoration of Super Furry Animals) but you will get grown-up, acoustic indie-pop influenced by a love of the likes of Crowded House and Teenage Fanclub.

The quality of the record is such that standout live-favourite, the singalong anthem Breathing In, is not the obvious jewel in the album's crown. However, tucked away without fuss or fanfare at track three, it is still a pleasing end to an opening trilogy of pop songs. Next up, Portland Sky is the real gem on Folk Devils..., a nicely understated tribute to Elliot Smith with a sweet, gentle melody tiptoeing through delicate keys. This is indicative of Page - his songs - even the ones with the big Beach Boys choruses - have a pleasingly ruminative, slightly downbeat tone to them.

If you like your music with zero pretence but with plenty of honesty, then you should give Folk Devils and Moral Panic a listen. The good news for you is that you can download the whole thing for free by clicking on this link. And no, that's not me encouraging you to illegally download (especially after that chick got fined about $2m for uploading a handful of Beyonce tracks), but a free download link straight from the artist himself.

David Ford at The Old Market, Brighton

Amid a credit-crunch and in an era when the music industry is haemorrhaging money, musicians are increasingly having to tighten their belts and go a bit DIY. Not a problem for Eastbourne troubadour David Ford who, with the help of some power-tools and a bit of elbow grease, built his own band for his latest, self-funded tour of the UK. Equally at home playing with just a guitar for company or filling a festival stage with a 14-piece ensemble, this time Ford supplemented a vocal and guitar/piano by utilising his trusty loop pedal and an ingenious remote control drum-kit. Not a drum machine. An actual drum kit, with sticks and everything. It played itself in the corner while Ford controlled it from centre-front.

In keeping with the unusual stage set-up, the evening took on a different dynamic too, with no support act but instead two intimate sets from Ford split by an interval. The old songs were as welcomingly familiar as a pair of comfy trousers. Of them, the vitriolic State of the Union was still as mind-blowing as ever, as Ford slowly and deliberately laid loop atop loop. Song For The Road was sweet, and there was even a surprise nod to his past, as he played a stripped-down version of old Easyworld favourite, Demons.

The two hour set was littered by new, unreleased tracks too and it was these, most notably the beautiful To Hell With The World, that stood out and certainly whetted the appetite for the release of some new material later this year.