Cravenfest 2008! - 13th September 2008
Reviewed by Martin Stapleton
I am loathe to be critical about any promoter who puts his money firmly where his mouth is, but I'm afraid the 4th annual Cravenfest rather spluttered along instead of firing on all cylinders as it has in previous years. At £8 a ticket for an event that, this year, is aimed at a young audience, it's not cheap. A typical teenager has limited disposable income which, in turn, has been further eroded by the credit crunch. The band line-up also has to justify the ticket price and on the whole, it fails to ignite a discerning public, who vote with their feet and give Esquires a miss. There's no denying that there are some notable highspots which mainly occur downstairs in the bar.
The soon to be missed Richard Taylor started the level 1 show in his own inimitable style. Unfortunately, after three cracking covers I had to make my way upstairs to witness Underdosed. To be fair, they are marginally better than the adult-orientated 'dad rock' that is The Optimist. After being harassed to buy one of their CDs after a previous Esquires visit, we are now being told that they are available for free! I still refrain. Size Of The Sky raise my temperature slightly, but it is not until the arrival of The Measure that I get really excited. Their Bedford river festival performance was superb, and today is more of the same. The funky blues sounds are divine. At their end, it's a trip downstairs to catch Liam Vernon who starts by giving us a history lesson - 200 years, Botany Bay, heinous crimes! It can only be Verny Lee! This man is as much a part of Cravenfest as the carpet! And no, he did not fall off his stool! With Liam staggering his way back to the bar, the scene is set for Bedford's premier ska youngsters to skank the joint. I'm talking about Minimal Damage. The bar's 'mosh pit' is packed with dancing youngsters and it's truly the manic moment of Cravenfest. The crowd go ballistic.
Radiating Eyes are due on next upstairs, kicking off the best part of the day. This young punk quartet turn in a great performance. An urgency and all out attitude is switched on to ignite their fanatical support. Following are female trio Syren and female fronted Showdown City, who both play to a fairly deserted level 2. To the bands' credit, they put every ounce of effort into their Esquires debuts. Down in Danny's Bar, comedians Steve Day and Paul B Edwards bring the comedy store element to Cravenfest. It's a brave and original concept and it works.
The wonderful Amy And The Integrals precede those mighty Hekz boys, while Dunstable's leather jacket wearing rockers The Imperial Vipers headline with a sweating set. Downstairs, the evening is rounded off by a reunited Bowfinger. The original line up prove once again that "Everything is easy"!