When you’ve never been or seen something before you always build your own mental picture in your head on what it would look like when you finally get to see it. Now this is my very first but certainly not my last Split Festival and all I can say is we were not disappointed. I had pictured that it was an open air event with the stages outside and due to the poor weather expected that everywhere would be a bog and we would get wet through, thankfully their was a massive big top and a smaller tent so everything music wise was safe and sound inside. The organisers had also put matting down all round the big top again a great way of saving the grass but also stopping you getting muddy.
The taxi driver dropped us off at the site and we made our way down into the Sports field.
We nipped into the Little Fringe tent and caught the tail end of  Mick Rolfe  watched by local hero Frankie (he of the Heartstrings!!) who had everyone smiling with his catchy songs and his inbetween song banter.

After this we nipped into the bar (be rude not to!!) and watched the end of the game surrounded by The Futureheads who have a very close relationship with Ashbrooke Sports Centre, Split and obviously Sunderland itself.

To get The Drums and The Charlatans to headline a festival in Sunderland a few years ago would have been impossible, but due to all the hard work put in by the organisers and the festival now into its 3rd year and still going strong, bands are wanting to play festivals that offer something different to the norm which is what Split does.

Over the 2 days the bands that are on are an equal mix of local up and coming acts and nationwide celebrities.

Anyway onwards, next up we wander down into the Main tent grab a book of beer tokens and wait for our first act for us of the day. Sadly we miss HYDE & THE BEAST but to make up for it I purchase their new cd SLOW DOWN.

GANGLIANS, who my mate informs me are all the way from California take to the stage and play what can only be described as a 25 minute set of Beach Boys surf crossed with the lo-fi sound of Pavement. They were superb.

Next we take in DINOSAUR PILE UP from Leeds who aren’t really for me but each to his own and remind me a little bit of The Foo fighters with Feeder thrown in!

They are currently recording their 2nd lp and writing “about a million songs a minute” accordying to their website which to me is slightly worrying!!!

THE KING BLUES are next up and what a great mix of idea’s and sounds these are, they mix ska, hardcore punk, drum and bass and lead vocalist Jonny Fox even playing the ukulele. They started off in 2004 as a two man ska outfit but since then have grown their line up in size and are now a loud tight politically charged force. Their latest CD Punk and Poetry is another I add to my list of to buys after todays excellent set. Watch this space as these guys are going to be BIG!! You read it here first! They are supporting Billy Bragg next month on tour which stops off at Teeside uni but be quick this show is another one off (http://www.seetickets.com/Event/BILLY-BRAGG-THE-KING-BLUES-AND-SOUND-OF-RUM/Teesside-University-SU/586730) and is possibly BILLY BRAGG’S very first show in Boro!!

Quick trip to the bar and we get ourselves settled for Sunderlands newest kings of pop (for this year anyway!!) FRANKIE AND THE HEARTSTRINGS.

I watched these guys for the first time this year at DEER SHED festival and they were quite possibly the best band of the weekend (on the main stage that is!! I think someone will disagree with me if I said on every stage!! Eh Admiral Fallow fans??!!)

Frankie is a brilliant frontman and from the moment they arrive on stage he has everyone gripped. Their catchy songs grab your attention and watching Frankie zig zag around the stage like a young Brett Anderson has everyone’s eyes glued to the stage.

Their appearance here today is their 3oth festival show this year which is pretty impressive and this Friday (23rd September) they fly out to Australia for a 2 week tour.

Their set was sadly cut short on the last song due to a power cut which caused a heated row side stage. Frankie said “Its a shame because  your last song is often your best. If we can make it happen we’d love to put on a gig in Sunderland again before Christmas to make up for what happened” So watch this space!!

He also said to end the festival season here in Sunderland was a very emotional experience.

And all I can say is if they keep performing gigs like this Split may have already found a future headliner!

Now the crowd are well and trully ready for the headliners, The Charlatans and so are we!!

We make our way to the front of stage and get an excellent view point right in the middle. The band walk out minus Tim and start up the intro to Forever, after a short while on bounds Tim wearing a french style beret on his head!

After seeing The Charlatans last month at Galtres festival I had to see them again and with no dates on the horizon for a while this show was one that I wasnt going to miss. They played the usual hits (set list below) a slightly shorter set than Galtres but non the less packed with all the crowd pleasers.

After a while Tim’s ooh la la beret came off and there it was again his Kurt Cobain blonde mane!!! I dont want to sound mean but every time I see The Charlatans year after year Tim is becoming more and more feminine with every year he gets older. He is still a great front man dont get me wrong but he certainly seems to be in touch with his feminine side!!

Anyway the final song arrives, Sproston Green fires up and the crowd dance and sing every word. It still sounds as fresh today as it did 20 years ago on their debut album. And thats something people out there should remember The Charlatans are still fresh, original and as needed now as they were in 1990.

We make our way from the tent back to the bar and for some bizarre reason start drinking Jack Daniels like its going out of fashion!!

We head in Sunderland, I leave my two mates asleep in a bar but cant find the travelodge and have to go back for them after completing a circle of the town centre and arriving back at the same place I started.

What a day out and trully what a great festival to have attended. I wish I’d gone last year and the year before. One things for certain we’ll be there next year and the year after.

Forgive me for meandering but I keep thinking of things to add, its not just a great festival for music, there was loads of stuff for kids to do, bouncy inflatable slide etc, great food courtesy of Stacie Stewart, reasonably priced bar, fair priced tickets with early bird option for the bargain hunters and on the Sunday great comedy between 5pm and 7pm in the Fringe tent.

Final thing to add before I stop, it was all really well organised, I never saw any trouble and a special thanks to all involved for putting this event on!!

Tell your friends SPLIT FESTIVAL, ASHBROOKE SPORTS CENTRE, SUNDERLAND IS WHERE ITS AT!!!

Visit www.splitfestival.com to see all the acts you missed! Thats if you didnt go mind!!

Finally The Charlatans set list in full:-

1. Forever
2. Just When You’re Thinkin’ Things Over
3. Weirdo
4. The Misbegotten (I think  )
5. Smash The System
6. Impossible
7. One To Another
8. The Only One I Know
9. Senses
10. Oh! Vanity
11. Blackened Blue Eyes
12. North Country Boy
13. Sproston Green

By Andy on September 24, 2011