After a three and a half hour drive to the west country, I was just hoping that the weather would remain clement because last year was a rather damp affair. As I arrived at the idyllic setting of Horton Cricket Club the sun was shining and we were set for a fantastic day of music, indeed of the eight bands playing, I can honestly say that there was not a stinker amongst them. 

Things got off to an absolutely splendid start with the fun-filled, Brummie psychobilly trio The Gruffs. It is quite a while since I last saw the band, but I remember commenting on the difference made to the band by the addition of Tim Jackson on guitar. The same remains true today as Tim has quite a rockabilly inflection to his guitar style, this combined with Nick Plant’s relentless slapping and story-telling vocals make a perfect partnership, rounded off by some tight drumming. The band plays a set of predominantly original material drawn from their most recent offering on Western Star, Drag a Hoof, along with two brand new songs. This really has been an excellent start.

Next band on was I-Nichi, who were entirely new to me. Fronted by a diminutive Japanese lady in a golden wig the band was certainly visually compelling. Musically, I think that it is fair to say that they were decidedly quirky playing songs in a post-pink fashion. They were jolly entertaining. I-Nichi were followed by the similarly quirky duo from Southend on sea the Tuppeny Bunters composed of a gentleman who looked equal parts Malcolm MacDonald from Clockwork Orange and 80s’ pop star and a striking young lady who resembles a cross between Kate Bush and Toyah not just visually but, more importantly, sonically. The band played a set of originals with the two switching between the drum kit and the combination of Fender Rhodes and organ as well as singing duties. Despite being only a duo the band kicks out quite a full sound with the organ and Rhodes combination sometimes conjuring up images of Jon Lord. The sound is definitely proggy in parts but they have a sharp ear for a fine melody and are clearly gifted songwriters as well as fine musicians. This was a very accomplished set.

Onto the stage next was another band that was new to me: the Midnight Sirens who, clad in western wear, I presumed were about to dispense a set of western swing, but in fact they were a rather nice blues band. Featuring a lead guitarist from Poland, a bassist from Australia, a drummer from Canada, and a singer and rhythm guitarist from north and south London respectively, this all-female cosmopolitan combo put on a very fine show indeed.

Erika and the Ravens were also new to me though the guitarist was instantly recognisable to me as the chap from Oh Gun Quit! which was certainly promising. And I was not disappointed. The female singer, whom I presume is Erika had an absolutely delightful voice that had an ethereal quality to it that was somewhat reminiscent of the Hillbilly Moon Explosion’s Emanuela Hutter mixed with Sarah Vista. The band provided wonderful soundscapes that were evocative of the American west and put in a very polished performance. I shall certainly be seeking out recorded work by this band.

The Sinclairs from Brighton, featured the guitarist from I-Nichi, although he was transformed into the surf-guitarist par-excellence, alongside a wonderful keyboard player who played Hammond/Farfiser organ grooves whilst his left hand pumped out a meaty bottom end. The trio was rounded out by the legend that is the Damned’s Rat Scabies on drums. The band played an exceptionally good set and I would recommend that you get along and see the band if you have the slightest interest in surf music.

Talking of surf music, the penultimate act of the evening was Tim Baigent’s Palooka 5. The banned recently released their career-defining record Metrokino, a musical accompaniment to Fritz Lang’s classic movie Metropolis. This is a work of considerable ambition that is pulled off in quite a masterful fashion and we are treated to parts of it this evening. Alongside this of course we see homage to the Cramps and to the marvellous B52s with a stonking rendition of ‘Rock Lobster’ that segue-ways rather delightfully into ‘Love Shack’. Palooka 5 create a wall of sound that sees the audience getting its groove on. With Tim’s wife, Bethany, doing a terrific job on vocals and theremin all the while looking absolutely resplendent in a Metropolis inspired catsuit. On top of this we had go-go dancers strutting their stuff too. Palooka 5 provide a real assault on the senses.

Few bands could top the sort of climactic performance of Palooka 5, fortunately Tim had booked Oh Gun Quit! to provide exactly this function and that they did, with real aplomb. As soon as the band lined up on the stage with guitarist Simon Wild to the right and the delightful figure of Veronica Arcila on bass to the left and Ms Tina Swasey wearing an impossibly small yellow latex mini skirt we knew that the band was about to raise the roof.  The band plays a sort of blend of garage rock and roll with a honking sax and trumpet provided by the ever-compelling Ms Swasey who is all over the stage and indeed in the audience dispensing the whip and receiving it during ‘Whiplash’. There is a definite flavour of the Cramps to it all, which is a very good thing in my book. ‘Attack of the Killer Cranes’ and ‘Gutter Stars’ stand out as two especially memorable tracks. But it is all over seemingly as soon as it started, the set just flies by as a hula hooping Ms Swasey calls time on a fabulous festival. Roll on next year.

Nick Kemp