Festival Season: Our Top 10 for Camden Rocks: Deaf Havana

May 31, 2019May 30, 2019 / sophie.walker / Leave a comment

Hey guys, just a short one as I’m running round like a headless chicken getting ready for this weekend. I wasn’t joking when I said send an IV drip to my house, I’m already unsure whether I can do this… and to top it off, my part of the district line is closed which is just PERFECT.

Camden Rocks originally started as a showcase for upcoming talent back in 2009. Due to it’s growing success over the years, the decision was made to mix established names with emerging talent. It takes place over two days and over a number of venues throughout Camden. This year the main stage is at Electric Ballroom with Frank Turner headlining on Saturday and Deaf Havana headlining on Sunday.

As Sunday is the only day I am able to make it, I feel it’s only fair to only mention my top 10 acts for that date. Having said that, I would like to give an honourable mention to both Frank Turner and Coast To Coast who I would have been front row for were I not attending All Points East: Mumford & Sons (check out my top 10 for that here).

*Camden Rocks Festival Saturday’s Clashfinder*

My top 10 for Sunday are as follows:

Deaf Havana – in case you’re new here, or you just haven’t clocked, Deaf Havana are my favourite band literally ever. James’s voice is just beyond describable – playing at Electric Ballroom
Average Sex – we’ve all been there people… and yes, I am just going for their name – wouldn’t you?! Let’s just hope they exceed their name in the music department… – playing at Belushi’s
Luke Rainsford – playing at Belushi’s
Luna Bay – we’re both BIMM alumni (wow, that’s the first time I’ve said that…) so you gotta repRESENT and all that – playing at Dingwalls
Our Hollow, Our Home – I actually missed these guys at Slam Dunk so I’m glad I’ve got a second chance – playing at Underworld
Rat Boy – playing at Electric Ballroom
Shvpes – playing at Camden Assembly
Thousand Thoughts – seeing as I’m going with someone who’s from Enfield and they are too, we can’t really avoid it can we? repRESENT and all that… – playing at The Good Mixer
Henry Grace – playing at Brewdog
Sebastian Schub – playing at Brewdog

*Camden Rocks Festival Sunday’s Clashfinder*

Follow me through the day via our Instagram @burnthepagesblog as I’ll be updating as much as I can (depending on the amount of alcohol consumed)

Tickets available via their website: https://camdenrocksfestival.com/tickets/

Keep up to date with Camden Rocks Festival via their socials:

Facebook: Camden Rocks Festival

Twitter: @camdenrocksfest

Instagram: @camdenrocksfest

Festival Season: Our Top 10 for All Points East: Bring Me The Horizon & All Points East: Mumford & Sons

May 29, 2019 / sophie.walker / Leave a comment

Hey kids. Festival season well and truly started with a bang for me. Slam Dunk ruined me to the point where I’m still recovering… I need to recover quickly though as I have THREE day festivals this weekend. Someone send an IV drip to my house on Monday please. Also, if you’re wondering, I didn’t go in a mosh pit because we were too busy saving our perfect spots for the secret set that was Busted and trust me, it was SO worth it. 7-year-old Sophie didn’t know what to do with herself.

Okay so coming up in my diary this weekend, I have All Points East: Bring Me The Horizon, All Points East: Mumford and Sons and Camden Rocks: Deaf Havana. This post will be about APE but it’ll be a post combining the two days.

All Points East is a fairly new festival, only being in it’s second year, held in Victoria Park, London E3. It is a 10 day festival with 6 days of live music and 4 days of free events. The first weekend is “true” festival form of being 3 days long, whilst the second weekend is 3 standalone shows. The 4 days in the middle (Monday – Thursday) are known as In The Neighbourhood where the site is open from 10am until 9:30pm. Free activities include an outdoor cinema, live music, children’s theatre, yoga and a circus and are available to everyone, holding no age restrictions.

*Friday’s line-up with Bring Me The Horizon headlining*

Okay so here goes. My top 10 picks for the two days are as follows:

Bring Me The Horizon – duh. I saw them at Alexandra Palace last year and oh my goodness, they know how to put on a show
Mumford & Sons – again, duh. They are hands down the best band I have ever seen in an outdoor venue and I will stand by this for my entire life. Unless someone else knocks them off top spot but I truly can’t see this happening any time soon
Nothing But Thieves – I know they had that little scandal a while back and I’m still not sure how I feel about them however I remember when they played during my uni’s fresher week and they could put on a good show
Scarlxrd – anyone remember Mazzi Maz the YouTuber (#Throwback I know)?! Turns out he’s a musician now and just came off supporting Bring Me on the American leg of their tour. Naturally, I have to check him out now… y’know for 15 year old me’s sake…
The Vaccines
Sam Fender – okay so this one’s a bit of a debate as he announced the other day that he’s on doctor’s orders to not perform (sad face) but he would have been on my list so it’s acceptable right?
Dermot Kennedy – he supported Nothing But Thieves at the aforementioned gig so it’d be good to see how far he’s come since as he was up-and-coming back then
Dizzee Rascal – it’s Dizzee, you can’t say no so get your passport and your bikini ladies
Pengshui
Dizzy

*Saturday’s line-up with Mumford & Sons headlining*

Follow me through the two days via our Instagram @burnthepages blog as I’ll be updating as much as I can (depending on the amount of alcohol consumed)

Tickets available via their website: https://www.allpointseastfestival.com/tickets/

Keep up to date with All Points East via their socials:

Facebook: All Points East

Twitter: @allpointseastuk

Instagram: @allpointseastuk

You can also download their app ‘All Points East – Official App’ to create your personalised schedule and reserve merch amongst other things!

Festival Season: Our Top 10 for Slam Dunk Festival

May 15, 2019May 15, 2019 / sophie.walker / Leave a comment

Folks, it’s finally upon on us… FESTIVAL SEASONNNNN! Anyone else feel like it’s taken about 84 years to get here? This feature is going to be my top picks from festival line ups, some that I’ll be attending and, sadly, some that I won’t. Someone get me on the festival circuit ASAP so I can just be at them all please…

Depending on how much I have to say (which is usually a lot more than I initially anticipate so thank you for sticking with me – I’m doing it again, oh lord) ANYWAY AS I WAS SAYING… Depending on how much I have to say will depend on how long the blog post is. I’ll try to do a list of my Top 10 and then I’ll do some special mentions at the end… I think… we’ll see…

Without further ado, let’s get on to my first festival this year which I am BUZZING for – Slam Dunk Festival. Slam Dunk has recently gone through some changes in which it has cut down from three dates to two (RIP the Midlands) however it has upgraded the two remaining sites from university campus’ to Hatfield Park and Temple Newsam Park. The other beneficial change for the South date is that they now have an afterparty in London so we don’t have to worry about getting home – result!

Now I won’t lie to you guys, the only attraction I really have this year is it being All Time Low’s only tour date but honestly I can’t ever miss those guys. Also, a day in the sun with some ciders and live music? I’m not exactly going to say no am I? I have also (stupidly) promised to go in my first mosh pit which I’m shitting myself for but I’m almost 22 and it’s about time, really. There was talk of crowd surfing too so wish little 5ft4 me luck…

My top 10 picks for Slam Dunk Festival 2019:

All Time Low – duh
Boston Manor
Neck Deep – just for A Part of Me because that song bangs live
Lights – I have literally only just noticed that she is playing while writing this post and whew my excitement hit the roof
Wallflower
Tiny Moving Parts
Plain White T’s – if you have the chance to see Hey There Delilah live, you’re going to take it aren’t you?
William Ryan Key – please play some classic Yellowcard, we’re begging you
Real Friends
Rob Lynch

Okay, so I wrote this this morning but since then there’s been speculation that the “TBC” act on The Key Club – Right Key could be Simple Creatures y’know what with Alex Gaskarth already being there and all… and honestly, all I’m saying to that is that @ All Time Low if you see this, PLEASE bring Mark out during your headline set and play Tidal Waves for 17 year old me. Thank you.

So guys and gals, grab your baseball caps and your vans/converse and get yourselves to Leeds or Hatfield for a delightfully pop-punk day filled with crowd surfing, mosh pits, sing alongs with some tears and some beers.

North date: Temple Newsam Park, Leeds. Saturday 25th May.

South date: Hatfield Park, Hatfield. Sunday 26th May.

Tickets available via their website: https://www.slamdunkfestival.com/

Keep up with Slam Dunk Festival via their socials:

Facebook: Slam Dunk Festival

Twitter: @SlamDunkMusic

Instagram: @SlamDunkMusic

Review: Time Of The Mouth // Tears

May 5, 2019May 5, 2019 / sophie.walker / Leave a comment

In case you missed it, Worcester-based Time Of The Mouth released their new single Tears two weeks ago (check out our interview with them about it here). Produced by Dave Draper of Tower Studios (who’s also worked with Fort Hope and The Wildhearts to name a few), Tears follows on from the release of their 2018 single, Beautiful Storm. Although they do have an album ready for release, Time Of The Mouth are focusing on live performances and single releases for the foreseeable future.

Having listened to Tears multiple times, and with it having over 3k streams on Spotify and over 25k views on their music video via Facebook, it’s safe to say that I, and others, have not been disappointed. These guys really know how to do classic pop-punk which is absolutely NOT a bad thing – we love a bit of that over here at Burn The Pages. The punchy opening rhythm changes slightly in the second verse to keep the listeners on their toes. When we get to the bridge, we hear our first instance of a lead guitar riff which, while showing off the talented skills from frontman Chris Jones, doesn’t distract from the subject matter of the song. The message of the song is all about encouraging people to try and reach out and seek support for their mental health issues, no matter how small they may feel that they are. The use of their fans in their music video really goes to show just how much the band cares about them and listens to them. They decided to do this after hearing how their music had helped so many people – either through happy memories or through acting as an escape.

Going back to the classic pop-punk(ness) of it, the chorus is first heard within roughly 30 seconds of the song and the lyrics are incredibly easy for anyone to remember. John Feldmann (member of Goldfinger, producer and co-writer for Blink-182, 5 Seconds of Summer etc) talks about how most gig-goers aren’t musicians there to study the instruments, but rather how they want to sing along with people they “believe went through or are going through the same stuff”. By getting to the chorus (and the point) quickly, band members are saying “this is what we’re trying to say and we’re saying it in a way that every single person can sing along”. Time Of The Mouth have nailed this absolutely perfectly and this chorus, mixed in with those beautiful solo drum kicks just beforehand, has provided me with a song that I absolutely cannot wait to see being performed live.

Watch the music video for Tears below:

Stream Tears via Spotify here:

Keep up-to-date with Time Of The Mouth via their socials:

Facebook: Time Of The Mouth

Twitter: @timeofthemouth

Instagram: @timeofthemouthuk