Sunday 17/07/05 Day 3 @ Guilfest

July 20, 2005 by Victoria Goldsmith

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain provided some funky classic covers perfect for a sweltering Sunday morning. Sipping tea and listening to a Ukulele-d up version of Talking Heads 'PsychoKiller' was indeed a festival highlight. Chas 'N' Dave, however, were not. The Zombies played a note perfect set, only spoilt slightly by the egotistical bantering from Blunstone. We Oceansize can forgive this, because such fantastic renditions of 'God Gave Rock & Roll To You', 'She's Not There' and 'Time Of The Season' are still ringing in our ears. Their newer stuff, though incomparable to such strong aforementioned hits, proved testament to the duo's enduring talents, and coupled with an excellent new band, The Zombies were brilliant.

Elsewhere, Mancunian lads Oceansize pumped up the energy over in the Rocksound Cave with their guitar laid, infectious, epic craft, and proved why they were chosen to open the BPI stage at this year's South by South West festival over in Texas. Filling the awkward pauses caused rather frequently by technological glitches with endearing, self conscious banter, we quickly warmed to this ensemble of noise, melody, chaos and calm.

Provocative, posturing, and energetic are the three words suited to the task of describing the Rocksound Cave headliners The Glitterati. Glam rock in a perfect package, complete with the over confidence, posing and polished The Glitterati at Guilfest 2005 sleaze. That's what we at the 'Wise have come to expect, right? Wrong! Yes, they are all of that, but they are also really, really nice chaps! Constantly thanking the audience for “bothering to turn up”, anyone would think that their set was something to be endured. On the contrary – The Glitterati's energy is infectious, their crowd rapport is touching, and their song writing skills are bloody impressive! 'I'm Still Thinking About You' echo's an inspirational pain without becoming pretentious, and their debut single 'Do You Love Yourself' checks in with masters such as Bowie and Bolan to create a perfect, post-Darkness swagger of a song. In true glam sleaze stylee, there were stage invaders. Three to be exact. And yes, one did flash her breasts.

Guilfest this year was amazing, the weather even polished itself for the occasion! Really laid back, friendly, and with a non stop assault of top notch acts, all we can say is BRING ON 2006!