Artsfest '09 - Well Done

I’ve just enjoyed a gratifying weekend of sunshine, melody, grub, cider and charming company along with an estimated 270,000 other revellers at Birmingham’s Artfest.

Now; maybe it’s my mind putting a glossy spin on life but as I was sitting on the, inevitably delayed, train to Walsall this morning I couldn’t help recall that the last 3 years have all delivered hot weekends for Artsfest. This weekend had a lot to live up to and it delivered.

Well done Birmingham.

Here are a few of the acts whose names managed to permeate the alcohol induced fog shrouding my brain this weekend;

Flatworld – A bit of Eastern European gypsy Balkan dance to start any day.

Is I Cinema – Some post-rock soundscapes. Best served chilled.

The Father Teds – Irish innit. Trad. Arr. Tunes.

The Acoustic Theatre – Now I think it was these guys that were playing some ace revival ska tunes.

Soweto Kinch – Sax, Drums, Bass and occasional M.C. Hmmm. It works.

Reverend & the Makers – Suprisingly fun (embarrassingly enjoyable)

Athlete – Suprisingly singable (embarrassingly enjoyable…. again)

As Sunday evening began to meander towards something resembling an end I found myself knee deep in discussion with a vast majority of the Rep bar staff. What a wonderful bunch of people they are (and that’s not purely down to the flow of cheap gin that was heading my way). Not one person had a bad thing to say about this year’s Artsfest, in fact, the general consensus was that Birmingham should hold more events like this.

Cultural capital 2012 was it Baron?