It was a gray, wet Friday morning when we met Lee over by the merch tent. “We have arranged for the sun,” he said, “But it is taking a little longer than we expected to be delivered .... but do not worry, it will be here soon.” And as you know, what Lee wants - he gets.And so a weak sun broke through the clouds racing over Higham’s Hill Farm, and shone meekly down onto the joyful South London festival crowd during Friday and Saturday.
By Sunday afternoon - when the revellers had all but gone- and the site was closing down ... that familiar soggy darkness we have come to expect in 2012 once again descended.
First band to play the weekend were local lads ‘Colour Clouds’ in the Lava Lounge tent. Sounding like ‘The Smiths’, laced with lavish guitars graced with oodles of style and ingenuity, Adam’s vocals were charming and melodic . Other highlights in the big tent included the lusty and truly elastic vocal range, and gentle yet grand compositions of 'Dan Shears' who managed to squeeze in a very welcome main stage appearance... just a little after his magnificent Lava Lounge set.
The faintly pre-raphaelite charms of kookie, yet punky Norwich based (slightly naughty) band ‘The Brownies’ were followed by the Dublin based ‘Grand Pocket Orchestra’ whose weirdly random ‘chongo pop’ sounds were nutty and quite brilliant in equal measures ... huge, huge fun.
Bringing her own radiance to the day was sophisticated art rocker ‘Foe’. And she was followed by ‘Seye’ - with his powerful guitars and raging, unlimited expressionism. Seye was an immense festival success- with a truly barnstorming pop set.
The first day of LeeFest was magnificently topped off by ‘Slow Club’ and ‘Jakwob’ on the main stage.
Saturday brought Bromley’s own poetic and slightly geeky rock-orchestra - the frolicking joy of the ‘Van Susans’ to the stage.
Then someone pushed the power button - and turned on the pulsating heat of the ‘Santiago Street Machine’. This unbridled Manchester band got things moving and got the slightly sluggish crowd to their feet.
Those highly acclaimed rockers ‘Bwani Junction’ were followed by the most exciting and totally monster act of the festival. ‘Man Like Me’. This Camden duo (Johnny Langer and Peter Duffy) brought along their own brand of hi energy carnival fun. From crazy stunts to bold chants. This is what festival going is all about. Noisy, bouncing and beat-a-licious bravado. This band has once again demonstrated why they are known as ‘best damn live act in the UK.’ (Loud & Quiet). And they totally wowed everyone.
Boisterous dance-pop act ‘BIGkids’ were similarly lively - and were my personal favourite band of the festival. Brash, in-your-face pomp with huge glugs of oozy sex appeal. Brilliant. ‘Bastille’ and ‘Mystery Jets’ headlined this most amazingly friendly boutique festival.
Big big thanks go out to all who made LeeFest 2012 such a huge success. Thanks to the musical acts - for putting in the maximum effort - and it’s all for charity. Thanks to the sound people and the stage managers for getting timings and sound more-or-less ‘spot on’. Thanks to all the side-show people, the lounges, the cafes and the chill-out zones- for extending the party atmosphere way into the small hours. And thanks to all the revellers for keeping the weekend on the ‘safe side’ of fun filled sonic-fuelled chaos.
Thanks to all the organizers and planners, we know that it takes months to prepare for something like this.
But special thanks must go to Lee. Thank you for creating this. And thank you for organizing the sun.
© Neil_Mach July 2012
