Annie hits Roskilde, part 2
Catching Orange Blossom
Of all the bands playing at Roskilde the one I really wanted to see was Orange Blossom. I’ve been playing their music for the last few weeks on Radio 1 and getting amazing reactions. Now I had the chance to see them playing live. Their tent was jam packed (they went on stage just as England began the ill-fated meeting with Portugal). And Primal Scream had just launched into their set on another stage. Orange Blossom play beats with an Arabic flavour. Their lead singer Leila is French, their drummer/programmer is from Mexico City. They’ve just come back from playing in Palestine, and they mix Palestinian and Israeli music. You could not have a more potent force than that! Despite the heat inside the giant marquee I felt that familiar shiver up and down my arms and legs when I hear music I'm really feeling!
Going to extra time
Some guys in the backstage area nearest Orange Blossom’s HQ, where I hoped I could meet and chat to them after their set, were clustered around a very small TV set under canvas. They were wearing yellow and green T-shirts, and were cheering Portugal. The score was still nil-nil. Then extra time. Surely not again… not penalties. I now had just half an hour to try to meet up with Orange Blossom, and then race back and start my ‘chill out’ as it had been designated set, on the other side of the festival site. Extra time, extra time... no goals.
Then I found Carlos, the extrovert drummer with Orange Blossom. We exchanged words, photographs, email addresses. An interview was recorded.
Back on the TV it was still extra time. The whistle blew. Now the penalties. You couldn’t NOT watch it. Was there time? Could I watch the end of the match and still get right across the site in time for my next set? The production manager called Ed, my friend and acting tour manager. Where were we? Would we get to the Lounge Barn stage in time?
Primal Scream were banging out their big-gig tunes from the Orange stage. Later they told me that at the end of the World Cup match one of their crew had held up a board at the side of the stage, on it written “ENGLAND…-” Aargh! They couldn’t read the other word!
So here we were, watching England play Portugal in Germany, listening to a commentary in Danish, surrounded by Brazilians. Now that’s what I call proper World Cup action! It's going to be another one of those 'where were you when England lost to Portugal on penalties in World Cup ’06?’, and you’ll always remember! Just like maybe you’ll remember where you were when England crashed out in 1990, 1998, 2002 and 2004...
Lounging around on the indoor beach
Now, another experience. The Lounge Area of Roskilde festival (maybe it’s a new addition this year, maybe not) is actually located in a huge cow barn. Room for 1,200 people. Indoors, there is a purple haze of dimmed lights, and sand under your feet, so it's like an indoor beach at night! With polystyrene rocks strewn around the place to lean against, and a long, long bar - open all night - to prop up. Really strange, but kind of really nice. People lolled, monged, and chilled. 'Mmm', I thought. This is too good a space to just play background music. These people have had all day to sleep, catch up, rest up. It’s time to PARTY!! So by stealth, I cranked the music up to 134 bpm, and soon people were up on their feet, making shapes, boogying about. Its like the new Lost Vagueness at Glasto.
Then it was time to do a bit of partying myself, and checking out the rest of the festival. I’d go back next year for sure, it is superb. And I’ve got my eye on that night beach to return to, for some more shenanigans! The local Nordic population are of course mostly blond and they certainly proved they know how to have have more fun. On the way back to the UK I met fans from the U.S.A who had been at Roskilde who raved about Tool, The Raconteurs, Deftones, George Clinton and all the other bands I managed to miss - yet again!
Roskilde rocks resoundingly! Thanks for having me!
Love Annie
Related links:
www.roskilde-festival.de
