Reviews

The harbour carnival is always a popular event involving various water based activities such as dinghy racing, canoe jousting and man powered flight. This yeah though saw an extra event with a small stage on the crown pier featuring some great local music.

The Rise Band.

When I first arrived I assumed that the PA system was still being set up, however, as The Rise Band started into their first song I, and the rest of the crowd, realised that was it. Even with some of the worst sound I have heard on a local stage The Rise Band's original tunes still shone through and proved once again that for a band on only their second gig they really are a great prospect.

Their sound, which mixes rock, metal and rap to great effect drew quite a crowd tonight and I for one am looking forward to seeing them play again through a better sound system.

Schema.

After a bit of a break while some of the Gay Army troops did some work on the PA it was time for new trio Schema to take to the stage. While they've been playing as a trio for only a few months all three members of the band are known on the island for their work with other groups, and tonight they lived up to the expectation.

Combining mellow jazzy sounds with a bit of funk they ran through a set of covers to which they gave their own unique take, a real highlight of which was a Radiohead song that sounded like it had been run through and early Jamiroquai filter. Schema continued to pull people in as their sound seems perfectly suited to out door sunny summer evenings.

Another band playing only their second show were on next, in the form of Day Release. Having gone down well opening the Beer Tent Stage at this year's Greenman Chaos Weekend, tonight the band didn't seem to be on quite the same form they were then.

Day Release.

This didn't stop them being entertaining however as their set of pop rock covers drew a large crowd and got a few dancing on the pier, it was just a shame that for all the talent clearly present in the band they didn't seem to be gelling tonight.

The covers continued as Stratosfear stepped up to the stage and tonight really seemed to be in their element. When last I saw them play, at the Hogwash, Stratosfear didn't seem able to connect with crowd, tonight though was a different story as the crowd continued to grow and many began to move as the bands music really came to life.

Tyler of Stratosfear.

Stratosfear though didn't just play a set of covers as they introduced us to a few of their own originals tunes including a storming number called 'Wasted Weekend' which seemed to go down very well with all those present.

Finally on the Crown Pier tonight came the dark disco delights of Gay Army. While the sound system once again caused problems for the band they got through this with aplomb, really putting their all into the performance.

Gay Army.

Starting off with an opening salvo of 'Fire!', 'U.N.S.A.F.E.' and 'Purple Hearts' it seemed a majority of those left in town following the man powered flight had headed up the pier to watch the Army in action. The band's frustration at the equipment really seemed to bring out the intensity in their performance with Rear Gunner Reilly and Major Dirt particularly kicking up a storm.

While as ever, Gay Army's music wasn't the easiest to dance to, it didn't stop a few from trying and the rest of the crowd seemed greatly appreciative of the post punk, synth-fuelled sounds the band presented.

While the music at the Harbour Carnival may not have sounded as good as it might have thanks to the PA system, all the bands put in their all and showed what a varied collection of music is available on the live scene in Guernsey to many audience members who may not have experienced it before.