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What began life as what must have been one helluva birthday barbeque celebrated its 10-year anniversary this weekend.
(Set in the grounds of Standon Lordship and surrounding farmland.) Standon Calling has a boutique, initimate festival atmosphere providing a musical education for those who don’t know much about up-and-coming artists and a veritable feast for those who do.
And for those who don’t care about the music (say what!!) there’s always sock wrestling, dressing up and a dip in the pool on offer.
Saturday night’s delights started with Norwegian Electro-Pop group Casiokids fizzing out some electro pop bubbles (to an increasingly excitable crowd), whilst a short amble away (over in The Crooked House tent) London quartet The Magic Numbers played their usual brand of feel good melodies with smiles all round to a packed in crowd.
On an all together different note British Sea Power stared down Saturday by belting out some seriously rocking tunes whilst frontman Yan tambourined the bejeezes out of his guitar (it’s so hot right now).
Tucked away in the Cowshed North West DJ Collective (and our personal favourite) CantMixWontMixShdntMixDontMix used their musical jedi powers to provide the perfect party vibes with their popular dance selecta.
Back over to the Main Stage and a gigantic laser cube display accompanied French DJ Etienne De Crecy who joined the disco free fall that was the all night flat out partying.
Saturday night messiness eventually fizzled out into the inevitable Sunday chill out.
Temporarily partied out Standoners collected on the sunny field of the Main Stage and were eased into the days entertainment by the soothing acoustic sound of, Brendan Rogers who in the party spirit performed his moving melodies in drag.
Swinging Folk-rock band Gabby Young & Other Animals turned the atmosphere up a notch with big beautiful vocals and jazz band sound, followed by Fools Gold who transported the growing crowds to someplace tropical with their unique brand of dance inducing Afropop.
Phenomenal Handclap Band kept the tempo up with their energetic performance, the most eagerly awaited performance of the day were Danish Indie Pop band Efterklang who arrived fresh out of Belgian Juvie (tis true, albeit only for the night) and performed an uplifting a polished set.
Suitably warmed up, oiled up and back on it Standoners gathered force at the twisted licks tent to sample some of Spanish Dance band Deloreans euphoric wares.
Warming themselves up for headline act of the night DJ Giles Peterson. Whilst over on the Main Stage, the biggest name at the festival Buena Vista Social club were preparing for their piece of Standon pie.
The party looked set to continue once again well into the night, as Standoners baked from the sun, quenched from the tree bars offerings and pumped up from the exquisite selection of beats, melodies and tunes headed off into the sunset to squeeze every last drop from quite possibly the best birthday barbeque they’d ever been invited to.
For music highlights visit the Diesel U Music radio mixcloud site. They recorded live from Standon Calling and have killer shows from some of the acts. http://www.mixcloud.com/dieselumusic/