INTERVIEW: The Cribs
May 26th, 2011 
SimonButcher
One of the best acts at this year's Friends Of Mine festival had to be Saturday's headliners, The Cribs, who followed Buzzcocks on a bill which provided raw-punk power for both young and old alike. The Wakefield trio, who were once dubbed 'the biggest cult band in the UK,' by Q Magazine, are back on the road after a nine month break. We were lucky enough to catch the band soundchecking early on the Saturday morning and managed to interview Ryan Jarman later that evening. He talks to... Read more »
INTERVIEW: Karima Francis
May 24th, 2011 SimonBland
Karima Francis has returned from the brink. After exploding onto the scene back in 2009 following an exceptional performance at Manchester's In The City festival, she was quickly snatched up by Kitchenware records. Before she knew it her future had begun to take shape. Francis plunged into the deep end: appearing on Later with Jools Holland, scheduling a relentless tour all while a multitude of music press were tipping her as 'the next big thing'.
Then she disappeared.
What followed was a period of healing and introspection... Read more »
GALLERY: FOM fest Day 3
May 23rd, 2011 SimonBland
One of this weekend's highlights has been checking out the amazing photo's taken each day by Shirlaine Forrest. For day 3 of Friends of Mine fest she braved the elements and darted around the whole site, snapping The Charlatans, Young Knives, Yuck and The Fall for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!
(more...)... Read more »
FOMfest Day 3 Round-Up
May 23rd, 2011 SimonButcher
We popped our heads out of the tent early Sunday morning to see a few people battling bravely against the breeze while attempting to pack up their things on the final day of this year’s Friends Of Mine Festival. At one point even a gazebo turned into a makeshift kite with four people each holding desperately to a piece of string, trying to clamber back some sense of authority over the elements. This theme would certainly continue throughout the last day.
Wind, rain and hail had... Read more »
PREVIEW: Yuck, The Lake Stage, 19.15
May 22nd, 2011 SimonBland
Part American, part British band Yuck will be hitting the Lake Stage later tonight...well if the weather lets them that is. Leading the way in the so-called shoegaze music scene, the band released their brilliant self titled debut earlier this year – a Northern Noise fave.
(more...)... Read more »
INTERVIEW: The Travelling Band
May 22nd, 2011 SimonBland
Saturday was not only the biggest day for Friends of Mine festival, it was also judgment day. We spent the last twenty minutes of our lives catching up with Adam Gorman and Jo Dudderidge from The Travelling Band. Fortunately we survived and went on to watch them perform a stunning set on the Lake Stage at dusk.
It’s 20 minutes until the end of the world, is this where you envisaged yourselves to be?
Jo: To be honest there’s worse places to be. We’ve got... Read more »
FOMfest Day 2 Round-up
May 22nd, 2011 SimonButcher
The second day of Fomfest kicked of with a death threat. Apparently today was to be judgement day, rumours that The Rapture was to be set upon us at approximately 6pm made us think that we’d better get out there and judge some bands before the forecast doom.
Things got off to a great start as we awoke to a soundcheck by The Cribs. We dashed down to catch an almost exclusive 10am performance on the Satellite Stage to see them rehearsing material Read more »
BREAKING NEWS: BOWL & BIG TOP CANCELLED
May 22nd, 2011 SimonButcher
Here is an official statement concerning The Big Top and Bowl Stage:
"Due to weather damage last night at the Bowl Stage and Big Top, FOM Fest has taken advice and is closing these venues. We are sorry that many of the artists planned for these areas will not now perform. We are arranging DJ sets in and around the Bulmers Bar in Arena 2.
The following bands will now play in House Party and Arena 2.
Walls, Chapter Sweetheart, Flats, Joseph Coward & Girl Peculiar.
Thank you for... Read more »
PREVIEW: Karima Francis, Capesthorne Arms stage, 22.30
May 22nd, 2011 SimonBland
Day three and the parties almost over...but not just yet. If you survived last night’s torrential downpour and you manage to not get blown away by today’s gale force winds, here’s who we recommend you catch today.
Hailing from the seaside town of Blackpool, Karima Francis will be filling the intimate Capesthorne Arms stage with her double punch of sensitive guitar sounds and larger than life vocal talents later this evening. Having wowed fans at Manchester’s In The City fest, (the North’s equivalent of South... Read more »
INTERVIEW: Emmy The Great
May 22nd, 2011 SimonBland
One highlight of Saturday’s line-up was catching Emmy the Great perform material from their second album Virtue on the main stage. We caught up with frontwoman Emma Moss and bassist Euan Hinshelwood before they went on.
This is one of your first shows back after a yearlong break, do you find it difficult to get back into the swing of doing live shows?
Emma: It’s not something we’ve had to do too many times, we’ve never had a year gap like this since we started... Read more »
