**Shiiine On Weekender is not only “Getting Bigger!” as the organisers suggest…**

This is my fourth amazing happy shiiiney weekender and on behalf of all my Friends, The Bands and all The Shiiiney People, I had the pleasure to meet… It seems only fitting to blatantly plagiarise, “Nick A Rick Witter” to suggest that…

“It’s Getting BETTER All The Time!”

In my opinion, Shiiine On is one of the best indie music festivals on the calendar - if not THE best!

From the moment you arrive, you’re greeted with helpful security, seamless access, great accommodation, plus brilliant staff in all the restaurants and bars.

There are loads of great indoor venues filled with like-minded music fans who are there to enjoy an all-encompassing line up of amazing bands to full-fill anyone’s “True Indie Spirit!” (I’ll come back to this at the end… ;)

Without the ability to clone myself, it’s impossible to do or see everything over the weekend. So, without further ado, here’s a soupcon of bands to give y’all a taste from the menu:

FRIDAY

The Beat ft. Rankin Jr at Studio 36

Having just arrived to the sound of ‘Too Nice To Talk To’, I closed my eyes and with a massive smile on my face, I was instantly transported to my ‘old’ school days trying to pluck up the courage to ask the love of my life (that week!) to dance at the youth club, oh dear…

The Beat were my favourite ska band alongside The Specials and their new incarnation didn’t let me down. From classics like ‘Mirror in The Bathroom’ to ‘Stand Down Margaret’, there wasn’t a “Whine or Grine” in the house and the whole place became one massive Skankin Rankin’ feel-good party.

Matthew Murphy (son of Rankin Roger Charley) and his band, are an absolute credit to his legendary father with a performance, energy and talent to carry on his true SKA legacy for decades to come. Forget “Strictly Come Dancing” - everybody “Keeeeeeep Skankin!”

Stereo MCs - Centre Stage

From one fun-packed venue to another, with massive Dancehall Vibes, we jump up to join in with our old friends The Stereo MCs. Laaaaard Have Mercy On You! If you dare say to me “We’re getting too old for this sh*t!

Rob Birch is testament to the saying “Age Is But A Number” rumour has it Rob’s a squash fanatic! I wouldn’t last 2 minutes on a squash court with this Peter Pan. I defy anyone to sit down in his presence, with more energy than a Duracell Bunny’s drumsticks, Rob and The Stereos bang out a host of absolute classics including ‘Step It Up’, ‘Ground Level’ and ‘Connected’.

Their epic 90 minutes performance deserves the Shiiine Olympic Gold of the weekend and anyone who couldn’t stay the course should hang their heads in shame, go back to their accommodation for a Horlicks, look in the mirror and have a bloody stern word with themselves! While we were all calling the St Johns Ambulance helpline!

Long may The Stereo MCs keep “Getting down and dirty” while “Elevating our minds!”

Saturday

Utah Saints – Skyline Stage

The last time I saw these cheeky boys was at Shiiine On Skegness last year as the last DJ Set to close the Saturday Night and they were absolutely epic! With an hour to go they declared “We’ve only got one hour left and we’re gonna play 100 tracks!” No chance, I thought to myself…Where were the adjudicators from The Guinness Book Of Records…? They pulled it off and I’ve never seen an end to a festival night when the clocks went forward like it…It was absolute dance mayhem, carnage, a true master stroke by the Saints and the Shiiine organisers. A beautiful “Where were you?- Cos I was there!” moment in history.

Fast forward to this year, (apologies in advance) but the major topic of conversation at the time, afterwards and all weekend with everybody who absolutely loves Utah Saints, was… WTF were they doing, playing at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon in the largest brightest arena on the site surrounded by fast food outlets and amusement arcades?!

Apologies to the Saints as they didn’t let us down music wise. Everyone from my immediate 20 strong crew of friends danced their old arses off, even making one of which (who says he doesn’t dance Ha!) resort to lying on the floor and start flapping like a fish!

That is testament to the Utahs’ talent and quality, who, no matter what time or place, could raise the headstones in any ravey-gravey-yard.

A montage of my Shiiine Crew, from a video of us enjoying the Saints.

Neville Staple, The Specials - Centre Stage

Sir Neville Eugenton Staple. What can I say, after all these years? I doff my cap to you M’Lud, as you sit comfortably in “The House of Lord High Ska Legends”.

As a young Northern “Monkey Man” living in Camden in the 90’s, I had the privilege of meeting my childhood hero, Terry Hall ,many times (usually in M&S looking really happy!). His loss left a hole in every true Ska fan’s heart. But the void has been truly filled at Shiiine On tonight and the fire still burns in all our hearts.

This was definitely one of my highlights of the weekend, from a band I’ve loved since I was 11 years old. The Specials have stayed with me throughout my life.

Every song is a beautifully crafted musical and lyrical masterpiece. So should you not have them in your Top 10 Bands of all time and ‘You’re Wondering Now’ what to do, I suggest you stop, take an afternoon out, listen to their genius, ‘Do Nothing’ and I guarantee you will ‘Enjoy Yourself’.

(Don’t tell anyone, but, I had more than a tear in my eye during their rendition of ‘Do Nothing’. Any band who can make you do that is truly Special).

Alabama 3 - Centre Stage

I first met Nick Reynolds in Camden in the early 90’s, in a previous life when his band, Octopus, signed to the label (Food Records) of my dear friend Andy Ross (R.I.P.). Then again, at his amazing ‘Death Masks’ exhibition launch shared with Howard Marks book launch for ‘Mr Nice’ (for which I was a young designer). I have never been in a venue with so many naughty, respected old London faces - including Nicks dad Bruce. The stuff of legend, indeed.

Alabama 3, are the only band worthy of reminding me of that night because you know they’ve definitely been there, seen it and done it all before you ever dreamed or thought about it.

They are a unique fusion of deep south London and American style personified. No other band on this planet comes close, in terms of commanding the respect they’ve earned over the years. The second their train pulled into town, we were steamrolled with their dirty f*cked up take on ‘Hotel California’ followed by ‘Mansion’ and ‘Up Above’.

On their epic Sopranos theme tune hit ‘Woke Up’, Larry Love tipped a massive nod to the festival and sang “Lord above things ain’t been the same since Shiiine walked into town” “Hey but you’re one in a million”. Larry Love, Nick, Zoe, Mark, Olando and James, certainly are…

Embrace - Studio 36

“All You Good Good People” who hail from Yorkshire just like me! (I’m going to get slated for that - LOL). As a proud Yorkshireman, Embrace never let me down. They were the perfect anthemic sing along to headline a Saturday night at Shiiine.

The venue was absolutely packed to the rafters with 1000’s of adoring fans singing along to every word of a set filled with such classics inc. ‘Come Back To What You Know', ‘ Ashe’, ‘Gravity’ etc. Danny, Richard, Steve, Mike and Mikey are testament to quality songs and longevity.

They look no different from when I saw them first arrive in London in the early 90’s, so either they’ve aged well, or like me they all had easy paper rounds when they were little lads!

As songsmiths, they demand the respect they deserve and are aging like a fine wine. To say I was nearly set upon by a group of adoring female fans, for standing in front of them while taking a photo, speaks volumes.

In future, (if they haven’t already), these boys deserve to have a Blue Plaque in Bailiff Bridge, or at least the Keys to the Village and possibly The World, never mind West Yorkshire.

Steve Lamacq - Reds

No Shiiine Fest would be complete without a grand finale Saturday night DJ Set from our very own, Godfather Of Indie - The Don Steve Corleone Lamacq

As a young lad I remember going to bed and tuning into The John Peel Show for the first time on my Transistor Radio, pressing record on my tape cassette machine, while holding the speaker close, to make mix tapes from the best new bands of the night. (Steve will remember)

JP was waxing lyrical about an unknown new band called James and played their song ‘Hymn From A Village’ - a cacophonous racket of a song after which, he tipped them for great things in the future. One of 1000’s he championed over the years (and was very rarely wrong).

Steve MC Lamacq, has taken on the baton so to speak and has run thousands of musical miles since then. What he’s forgotten about music far out reaches what most people will ever know.

In my early 90’s days in London as a musician, promoting bands, DJ’ing and running indie nights, Steve was a constant support and face in attendance. If there was ever a stick of rock made in his honour, it would have the words “Steve Lamacq” at both ends and “Indie” all the way through.

What a special, sublime DJ set to end a brilliant Shiiiney Saturday Night. Mr Lamacq, keep doing what you do - cos we salute you!

(Apologies Steve, no photos, everyone knows you!
Also too busy jumping around like an Indie Kid!)

Sunday

Deja Vega - Skyline Stage

I met these boys in my chalet at Shiiine Minehead two years ago…

We sat up for hours listening and trawling though decades of music together and that truly makes a great band for me. Their musical appreciation and knowledge belied their tender years, hence the amazing set they woke everyone up with on this lazy Sunday afternoon.

Songs for my Sunday alarm clock never stopped from the start including ‘Mr Powder’, ‘Pentagrams’ all the way to ‘The Test’ at the end,leaving it ringing in my ears long afterwards. To me they’re a perfect fusion of The Strokes meets War On Drugs.

In my mind once again (note to Shiiine Orgainisers please!) the venue and time didn’t really do these guys justice and I’m looking forward to them getting shifted many more rungs up the ladder to a later, darker, more suited festival slot next year.

Hopefully a happy case of Déjà Vu for the boys from Vega…

The Bluetones - Studio 36

On to my old mates Mark, Eds, Scott and Adam - a band that really do get better as the years go on. Love ‘em, like ‘em or loathe ‘em (and very few do) nearly everyone in Studio 36 tonight knows the words to every song - making it the biggest and best festival Sunday sing along.

Between songs, our ‘Resident Raconteur’, Mark Morris, held the crowd in the palm of his hand with his quick wit and repartee, reciting anecdotes and stories, giving the crowd a well deserved chance to get their voices back.

At one point he asked the crowd; “Admit it, you’ve all been drunk since the moment you got here?” continuing with ”…Cos we have!” - which received the loudest roars of laughter and cheers of the night

Their set was by no means a modest “Slight Return” and opened with “Bluetonic” followed by “Solomon Bites The Worm”. Other familiar songs included ‘Drive Thru’, ‘Cut Some Rug’ with the rousing round-off, ‘If’.

No Ifs, no buts, it’s gotta be The Bluetones for any festival line up. I hope to see them at Shiiine On next year. Long may they keep returning.

Neds Atomic Dustbin - Centre Stage

In the words of one of my photographer mates Deano, “Jon get yourself over to Neds now, the crowd go Bonkers!” and off their Conker’s. They didn’t let us down.

You wouldn’t think all us Shiiiners were three days into a festival watching the boundless energy of the Ned’s and their adoring fans tonight. I can’t believe it’s 30 years since they smashed the indie scene with their ‘Elements’ EP. Watching them tonight transported me back to Camden all those years ago.

They’re hopefully playing two nights at Dingwalls in December. For anyone lucky enough to get a ticket, what a reunion that will be!

These stalwarts of the 90’s “Stourbridge Scene” (alongside Pop Will Eat Itself and The Wonderstuff) firmly stamped themselves back on the indie map with tonight’s high octane energy. Their set was VICTORIOUS - Another highlight of the festival, if not one of the best performances of the weekend.

Sunday 29th - Lightning Seeds - Studio 36

Many Moons ago… I had the privilege of going to watch The Mighty Reds at Anfield with my mate Jason Starkey and we met up with Ian and his little son Riley. We walked up the steps to our seats with ‘The Life Of Riley’ blasting out over the stadium speakers. Little Riley turned to Ian and said “Dad they’re playing my song!”. What a beautiful moment in time.

Watching Riley tonight (as an accomplished guitarist in his own right), perform alongside his dad, was another brilliant moment. Nowadays, Riley may be taller, but I suggest Ian is ten foot prouder!

The Lightning Seeds began life at the end of the 80’s scoring a debut hit in ’89 with “Pure’- and Broudie was a one man band. Their present line up are seamless. Ian remains our ‘Poet Laureate’ and ‘Age Old Ambassador’ of Indie Coolness. Although at one point he confessed to the crowd that he was overheating, he laughed and said “It’s boiling in here – who made me wear this bloody jacket!”

Their set highlights for me tonight included ‘Perfect’, ‘Pure’, ‘Life of Riley’. Pure and simply sublime, The Lightning Seeds are the perfect Band to close another amazing Shiiine On festival.

So… how to sum up another brilliant Shiiine On Festival Weekend?

A gathering of beautiful, happy friends. Like-minded people celebrating their love of quality music and freedom of expression.

On behalf of the organisers, the bands and 99.9% of positive souls attending, I feel the need to air the only negative comment of the weekend - from the 0.01%:

I came across on the Shiiine On festival live feed. A naysayer expressed their disappointment at the amount of people dressing up and wearing daft costumes having a good time. This poor lonely person said that ‘nich (er! wrong spelling mate) or big name and serious booking artists’ (ref: John Power) would not be interested in playing at Shiiine in the future. Calling people ‘Billy Knobby’ for dressing like Smurfs or Ali G etc. As my dear 87 year old mum says (whilst rolling her eyes) “There’s always one Jon, eh?”

Let me tell you my ‘Little Billy Knobby No Mates Friend’…if you didn’t enjoy yourself this year - next year you know what to do! LOL!

So now I’ve got that of my proud Indie chest! I go back to the start of my review…

Question: What is the ‘True Spirit of Indie?’

Answer:

Independent Music covering any genre - From grass roots to worldwide success - that was originally written, performed and released on small independent, often, self-funded record labels.
Creative Freedom and Self Expression - Being able to dress how you want, when you want, to reflect and pay homage to yourself, your mates and the music you all love.
Community Spirit - Spreading the word enthusiastically about the latest new act/band you’ve seen or heard - through word of mouth or social media, helping grow a new or old talent fanbase, whilst making or meeting like-minded friends along the way.

This for most of us, is the ‘True Indie Spirit’ of this beautiful festival weekend… and may it Shiiine On for many years to come

Finally, a little ‘Guess The Set List Game’ for ‘Indie Trainspotter Geeks’ like me…

Answers on a Skeggy postcard please…See y’all next year ☺

Northern “Jon Skinny” Stephenson

In the meantime, there’s the Shiiine On Weekender, Minehead in November: