Journal, Music

Glasgow Summer Sessions 2019

Carol had got me tickets to see The Cure and the Foo Fighters for my Xmas present. I had never been able to experience the Foo Fighters live before so although it was a good seven months away, I couldn’t wait to see them.

Getting to see The Cure was a bonus because I didn’t know much about them at all. The ticket had come as part of the only package Carol was able to get for the Summer Sessions. Live music is live music though, and they are one of the biggest bands from the last 40 years!

An open-air event at any time during a Scottish summer is a gamble but with it being in August I thought we might get lucky. For TRNSMT, in July, we were especially so. However, in the lead up to the Summer Sessions, the rain was relentless and about a month’s worth fell in the week running up to the weekend. Bellahouston Park didn’t stand a chance of hosting thousands of people without it being a mud bath!

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Journal, Music

Pure evenings

Back in August 2003 I attended The Leeds Festival, the equivalent of The Reading Festival but held in northern England and easier to get tickets to. Unfortunately, the evening we were supposed to drive to York to stay with our friends before the festival began, I suffered an eye injury.

Although the eye doctor had reluctantly agreed that I could attend the event, her conditions were that I shouldn’t drink or be physically active. Drinking and bouncing around are two of the numerous things that make music festivals fun, so although I put a brave face on things it wasn’t the experience I hoped for.

On Friday we saw a few good bands and paid fleeting attention to the one album wonders making up the numbers. All the while I felt like I was there in a somewhat observational role, even for bands I was a fan of, like Sum 41 and Good Charlotte. (Don’t judge, this was the early naughties!)

The next day followed a similar pattern with a long wait for the headliners, Linkin Park. Then, as dusk approached, Placebo took to the stage and just absolutely blew me away. I didn’t have to be drunk or jump around to enjoy their performance. It was more than enough to lean back, fill my ears with the music and let it all soak in.

As the sun set it was suggested we pretend it was daybreak instead, while the band played their anthem; Pure Morning. It was a feast for the senses and an absolutely magical moment that made me a fan for evermore.

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