Greenbelt 2012

I drove home from Berlin on Thursday to play at (a very muddy) Greenbelt Festival in Cheltenham. As ever, it was a bit of a frantic blur - I played four times, introduced a showing of Seasons, did a Pecha Kucha presentation and compered a stage for a day - but it was also an incredible time filled with great music, great friends and happy smiling people.

Speaking of smiling people, this is Mason who played with Timbre at the festival. It was a bit of a reunion for Timbre, Denison Witmer, Immanu El and I, because we all met at Frizon in Sweden a couple of weeks ago. It’s hard to explain how happy Mason’s face makes me feel. I wish I could see it every day.

Just another awkward photo.

Immanu El stayed at my parents’ home for a couple of nights and, as you can see, I introduced them to a traditional English Sunday roast at The Muggery. If you ever visit my hometown of Upton-upon-Severn, this is the pub to go to. There are mugs everywhere. 

Aside from Sunday roasts, I got to see lots of my favourite bands. Rams’ Pocket Radio were a particular highlight. You really ought to listen to them.

This is Immanu El and I in front of my house. Despite dressing all in black, they’re actually not goths. You can listen to them on SoundCloud.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end. This is Denison and I in The Jesus Arms (Greenbelt’s very muddy pub) feeling sad about being separated by an ocean once again. Denison, aside from being one of the nicest people I’ve ever met (ever), is also a very snappy dresser and shared a few valuable fashion tips with me, for which I am eternally grateful. You can listen to his latest record here.

If you came to see me play, sang along or said lovely things, thank you.

See you next year!

Tack!

On Thursday I went to Örebro in Sweden to play at Frizon Festival. From the minute that I was picked up at the airport in Stockholm, to the time that I was driven back to the airport two days later, I was surrounded by so many wonderful Swedes and such utter loveliness that it made my heart hurt. It really did.

This was the first show that I’d played since moving to Berlin at the end of June, and I sort of wondered whether I knew how to play my songs anymore. A few mistakes aside (I blame it on having to play a red keyboard rather than my usual black one) I had the best time. It was one of my favourite shows ever. Thank you, Swedes.

I even got to go on a talk show with this man, Pelle. We also went on a date together and ate tex mex. This is Pelle with his tex mex voucher. I never get to go on talk shows. Thank you, Pelle.

On Friday morning I went cliff jumping with the lovely people in the picture above. On the left is Derek, an American guy who wore a ring that was also a bottle opener. At one point, Derek and I jumped into the quarry together and then raced to the pier on the other side. We both got super dizzy because of all the cold water and the blood rushing to our heads. I got extra dizzy because I was swimming in my boxers and they kept falling down, so I had to keep turning around to pull them up. I lost the race and then felt sicker than I’ve ever felt in my life. 

Although I lost the race, it’s worth noting that Derek is a badass (he has back tattoos) and an ex-triathlete. Here’s a video of us jumping in!

Also on the cliff jumping team was Timbre and her band. I’m pulling a weird face in this picture because a) I was pretending that I didn’t like Timbre, even though I do, and b) I was still feeling weird and delirious after all the cliff jumping. 

Aside from playing my songs and cliff jumping with nice people, I also got to watch some other great musicians. On Thursday I watched Immanu El play their lovely post-rock complete with strings and brass. On Friday I saw Jonathan Johannson play Swedish electro-pop hits. The lighting was spectacular (the picture above is from the show) and he is just so good. 

My only regret is that I didn’t stay for the last day so that I could see The Chariot and Denison Witmer. However, I did meet Denison and he is one of the nicest men I’ve ever had the pleasure of talking to.

If you were at Frizon, all I can say is tusen tack. I had the best time. See you next year?

Tack! 

Luke

P.S. If you’re heading to Greenbelt Festival in two weeks (like me) then get excited: you get to see Timbre, Denison and Immanu El!

P.P.S. Thanks to Victoria for the photo of me and the red keyboard.