Placebo (ever receding, I don't care to remember)
Utterly shit grunge band rejects. About the worst band I saw.

Frank Black (front, 100%)
The god himself: for he has made uk-indiedom in his image, but slimmer. He played mostly from Teenager of the Year, and some from the Cult of Ray. Came on, played songs back to back (only pausing to change guitar nearly every song as he trashed strings all over) without any chit chat, didn't play the current single, cool 'don't give a shit about anything but playing the music' attitude. At first he seemed a bit too casual, as if he wasn't bothered at all, but then he really got into it and was superb. His guitarist was mimicking him as well: funny.

Gene (front, until girlfriend went wonky, 100%)
Excellent live, although Rozzer's Joe Cocker dancing is pretty much naff. Played new stuff and old stuff, b-sides. Much better live than on the album(s). I was impressed. The highlight was him sitting on the edge of the stage and poking the security guards hat with the mike stand. Childish, but hey, aren't we the kids?

Prodigy (Milling around, 50%)
Great fun from the hatstand lads. I wouldn't listen to it at home, but the live show is excellent.

Strangelove (near front, 100%)
Amazing: so much improved since last time I saw them in October. Played the good stuff from 'time for the rest off your life' and new singles: but with an amazing intensity matched by the bands performance. Real anger and aggression, but a fantastic control of his voice. My mate thought they could be the new Suede. Not sure, but they kick the old Strangelove's arse. One of the most inspired performances of the bands seen.

Cocteau Twins (back, 60%)
Very professional and great, but not a hardcore fan I can hardly tell the songs apart. Still, I enjoyed when changing hands with the mike on the last song she attempted to sing to her empty hand. Ha ha. She cracked up, then that was it.

Bowie (wandering, three songs)
'Under pressure', 'We might be heroes' were fine, not tampered with. I really like Bowie ... but not his new music much. I was not covered by blue dust. It's not confusing these days. I like girls.

Urusei Yatsura (back, two songs.)
Easier to see than Sonic Youth. Now pass the duchee to the left hand side ..

Quickspace Superpost (middle, one song)
Quickspace happysong? was brilliant. I was really sorry I didn't see it all.

Kula Shaker (s.f.a.)
Could you get in? Arse.

Prolapse (wandering about, not much)
Thought what I caught was dreadfull. Shame, because I was chatting a bit with the blokes before and they lent me their programme for a sec. Didn't seem too friendly .. but neither was I.

Flamming Lips (walking away fast, 25%)
Dreadful grunge-noodling combination. Don't think they are always like that though ...

Beck (back, one song)
However often the Beck experiment fails, devil's haircut is a solid tune.

Dodgy (middle, 80%)
Fine, played all the good stuff. Didn't catch 'Staying Out ..' though, probably they opened with it. 'Melodies haunt you' was superb, but when the crowd were expected to join in they didn't, so they played 'Stir it up' instead. Anarchy or what? And by the way Dodgy, i've got bleeding degrees and etc. in political subjects so don't give me your crap lectures on society eh. Shut up and play ...

Foo Fighters (back, 50%)
Were a lot better than I expected, but as Grohl was saying he'd like to play a new set of songs (which we heard a few of, were pretty good) the kids kept hassling for old stuff. Are they thick or what!

Manic's (back, three songs)
Heard the good song.

Perfume (back, 50%, sadly.)
It was Rare i was waiting to see, but didn't. Perfume weren't the same shit band i saw a few months ago at all. Now they're a shit version of Pureessence. Avoid.

SuperfurryAnimals (front, 100%)
Song in the charts, here come the kids, surfing over in waves. Still, I'm not going to rant about that. I'm taking the tablets. Live they really really rocked hard, even if the lead mike didn't work for the first two songs. 'Show me magic' is a poor album track, but a great live bash. Yep, they are officially able to cut it.

Bis (middle, 90%)
I wanted them to die, I wanted to laugh, but after a slightly shambolic opening and poor stage pressence from all, turn the music on and they rock harder than The Clash did. Also had the oldest audience and youngest two (if you get that). Some new songs began to sow the seeds in my mind the album might not be sgit. Real eye openers. BUT STOP ORANGE WHATSIT SINGING!

Baby Bird (middle, 100%)
Vying for most entertaining act, songs were very good., but how he plays the audience. Great laugh. Hecklers were savaged. Go see Baby Bird. I expected a Tindersticks style, but got the respctable end of caberet a la Divine comedy.

Lush (front, 100%)
Superb, perfect. Better than a few months ago because Miki was pissed and really went for it rock goddess style, showing off her knickers. (In total i saw 6 female leads knickers, a new record.) All the current Lovelife singles. Awesomely tight and totally rocking. Should play a larger stage than this.

Cecil (front, 100%)
Went on the strength of 'My neck' single, and saw about the most entertaining show there. Cecil hinself is a true scally: inside out filthy t-shirt with his name spelt wrong on. Hecklers beware: "I know I'm a scouse twat but you're just a twat". He tied up a cameraman in his mike lead, jumped off the stage into the bin of drinking water ... twice, tried swinging on power lines ("they won't let me, it's like fucking school here"), went rampaging through the audience, and still managed to sing powerful rock seriously whilst dangling his privates out and mooning everyone. Not only this, I got home to find he's sent me a video of the next single - and not of his arse as i'd expected. Looking after the fans or what? Five star twat - go see.

Ruby (front, 75%)
My she's grim in the flesh. Excellent, but bascially just a perfect reproduction of the Saltpeter album - which is not a bad thing, I've just heard it a lot that's all. So I decided to catch the end of Scheer.

Wannadies
(front, 100%) ... were flat today. The sun went in for their set for about the only time this weekend, and it felt like it. Very good and all, and whew, what a babe she is, but lacked commitment. Still, the three new songs sounded very good if they can buck up a bit.

Massive Attack (going to bogs, took ages, who cares)
Sounded poor. Hardly recognised karma Korma Keebab. Really sounded boring.

Bjork - or 'goldie' as she now looks. Her hair that is. Sorry. (far, far away, 100%)
Dreadful. Same old same old set she seems to have lost interest in, remixed by Goldie. I, like most of the audience seemed to, stayed just for the fireworks. Must have cost well over 20 quid. She didn't even do an encore because no-one seemed to give a toss. She didn't.

Scheer (front, 20%)
Played Shea brilliantly, but the other three songs just seemed weaker versions of it. I can see why some hate 4AD having a metal band, but if they can learn some variation then they could could, be great. Ok as was ...

Audioweb (middle, two songs)
Came in to find the big man in great humour, kicking out large. Serious audience commitment, and real atmosphere. Pity I missed the rest. Do go see them - they are towering. Remember - THEY ARE AUDIOWEB FROM MANCHESTER.

Catatonia (front, 100%)
Very good. Last ime I saw them they had a dreadful sound mix: this timed they were just great, but the new songs seemd very familiar.

Nut (front, 100%)

My girlfriends pick of the fest. Could have been great but the power cut twice, so all we got was a few half songs and the last singlke, brains. She's an ugly little muffin, but seemed to have it all: great voice, good band, and a variety of songs to take them a cut above most competent bands. One to watch.

Mice (front, 100%)
No mission covers (some were dissapointed), but an All About Eve cover from the band that is ... All about in a portugal kit and kinky boots. A real classs act: All Above Eve play britpop.

Trashcan Sinatras (Back, 50%)
Ho hum. Very nice I'm sure but it's time to get a chicken balti and some coffee.

Goya Dress (Front, 50%)
At the keyboard they become Tori Amos, standng it's Veruca Salt. And there's nothing wrong with that. A good band.

Symposium (back, 20%)
Decent britpop band closing with an ironic cover of 'Hard Day's Night'. Ironic covers are soooo passee darling ...

Dave Devant (middle, 100%)
'I think about you' and 'pimlico' are superb. Without the act his ziigyesque songs would make David Bowie wish he'd never gone shit. With the act he is unstoppable. Same set I've seen before, but It's that good I'd see it again and again and it'd still kick anything else at any festival ... ever!'s ... arse. See him now. Experince the Spirit wife. If you're gifted you'll be able to see spectral roadies on stage too ...

Linoluem (front, 100%)
'Smeer' was a great single, but the rest of their songs are really great too. If only their releases weren't 4 pounds ... definitely worth a few quid to have a look at if you like dark brooding pop.

Honeycrack (back, 15%)
"they're too nice" said one rocker to another. Pleasant as always.

Drugstore (front, 100%)
Dave Devant excepted, this was THE set of the festival. Coming on to play her 'isobel kills things with her hair song' by herself, the band joined her and the stage pressence she carries is awesome. Totoally comiitted, beautiful songs with menacing currents and ... oh, just perfect. The Radiohead cover reveals the power of Radiohead songs they just can't reveal through their sugar coatings. She even threw her knickers into .. the floor, and hurt a security guard by attempting to throw a drumstick to the crowd. She cannee throw but what a gal.

Cardigans (front, 100%)
Lovely lovely. But not black Sabbath. At all.

Marion (back, 100%)
Thin bob's boys really rock out, with a new song!!!!!! and a variation on an old one to boot. 'Time', 'Sleep', etc, all the usuals in one of the few sets that seemed to engage the crowd who probably didn't know them and get genuine converts. The guitarist went loopy smashing amps and guitars and yes, Marion deserve to play the enormodomes. In such a big place they were totally at home and in control like the Mission had never been exiled from the charts. Yep, thin bob (aka. Jaime)'s funy albino eyes can't hold them from magdom. Glad I saw them recently in a tiny club. Best had stop liking them then ...

The Fall (far back, lying down, 100%)
Crap. But he didn't care he got the worst response on the afternoon mainstage.

Echobelly (front-ish, 100%)
Poor mix tastic, but Sonya rose above like a tiny swan thingy. Awesome, so suited to a huge arena. Yes indie kids, we've now truly lost them from indiedom. Played the corkers from both albums, and Dark Therapy b-sides (buy that single now!). Respect to the kid next to me who didn't clap hands a la Queen or act like the other 'kids', but was dead cool but into it. And thanks to the punks waiting for the Pistols behind me who were having a shower. Bastards.

Terrorvision (back, 30%)
Someone needs to tell them they are a great pop-rock r&b band, and a terrible metal grunge band. At least they played 'middleman.'

Sex Pistols. (back then backer than that, leaving the arena ..., 75%)
Just play 'Anarchy in the UK' uncle johhny ... thank you. His voice is still amazing but where's the conviction? Bet he's not had one in years ...

Reef
Only joking.