SALISBURY enjoyed three days of live music at the weekend, and all in a good cause. Glastonbelly 2015 brought together more than 20 musicians and groups who played to raise funds for the Trussell Trust.
Glastonbelly organizer Gary Sarum put out a Facebook appeal explaining what the event was about and asking if anyone would like to perform. He made it clear that there would be no payment - not even free beer - in order to maximise the benefit to the Trussell Trust.
He said: "The response was fantastic. Within days more than 20 people had responded asking if they could play."
As a result Gary was able to program a full series of events, with Friday evening at the Winchester Gate and all afternoon and evening Saturday and Sunday at Salisbury Rugby Club. In all, 24 acts performed.
Friday night at the Winchester Gate had a loud guitar and heavy-metal flavour. The evening kicked off with duo Mighty Magic Animal, where Adam Varney made his guitar sound like bass, rhythm and lead, sometimes all at once. Falling Stacks, from Bristol, were next. Their sound is minimalist and doom-laden - and very effective. The evening finished with Salisbury's Eden Lake who nearly tore the place apart with their heavyweight monster metal riffs.
Saturday's session at the Rugby Club started in complete contrast, with solo acoustic sets from Chris Wynn followed by Lucas Hardy. The volume rose somewhat with a brilliant set from the Sarah Harrison Band. Sarah has a fantastic powerful voice, and sang and played with real passion. The day continued with a tremendous variety of music, before finishing with sets from Slowtalk, then finally Newcombe & Roach. They are emperors of Salisbury's dad-punk scene and closed the day in fine style.
Sunday also started gently with several acoustic sets, starting with Not Like Moses. Things got a lot louder with the Rapido T Lusso Duo's remarkable surf guitar. Next up were Pink Diamond Revue, who had travelled from London specially. Their dark spooky psycho-electronica would normally suit a dark stormy night, but they still managed to conjure up a tremendous atmosphere on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Sunday night's headliners had to pull out at very short notice due to injury, but Salisbury favourites Break Cover very kindly stepped in at the last minute to provide a grand finale.
Gary said: "Many thanks to all the musicians - more than a hundred - who offered to perform, to everybody who helped, and to the Winchester Gate and Salisbury Rugby Club for having us. Glastonbelly will be back next year - bigger and even better."
Glastonbelly 2016 is already in the calendar for August 4-6.
Complete line-up:
Friday at the Winchester Gate: Mighty Magic Animal, Falling Stacks, Eden Lake
Saturday at the rugby club: Chris Wynn, Lucas Hardy, the Sarah Harrison Band, Erase/Replace, Andy Clare, Tim Madden with Axle Osborn, Blackwater Void, Robb Blake (The One Man Ska Explosion), Lump, Slowtalk, Newcombe & Roach Sunday at the rugby club: Not Like Moses, The I's, The Mosquitoes, Modern Honesty, Rapido T. Lusso Duo, Pink Diamond Revue, Carpet, The Hereafter, Passenger Club, Break Cover
JOHN PALMER
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here