Festival Review: End Of The Road - September 2021
When many have fallen before it, End of the Road pulls through with a party to round off possibly the toughest two years imaginable for the festival industry.
In this time of complete uncertainty for live music and events it’s a wonder any independent festivals made it through the last eighteen months at all. Despite landing at the tail end of summer, the many months of planning, booking, and commitment it takes to put on End of the Road left it far from safe. But luckily for us it pulled through, and now in its 15th year, defying all the odds, we had a worthy celebration of all the amazing new music that has got us through the mess of the pandemic. With headliners ranging from Hot Chip to Sleaford Mods through Johnny Greenwood to King Krule, a perpetual showcase of rising artists, and enough secret sets and guest appearances to keep you constantly on your toes, it’s been a true salvation for music lovers after the starvation we’ve had.
Set amongst the lush greenery of Wiltshire, the surrounding woodlands play a huge part in the secluded and relaxed escape that EOTR offers, with each stage owning a different environment of its own making. In the largest opening of the arena you’ll find a central island of food stalls, clothes boutiques, benches and fire pits, for all the best festival atmosphere, ahead of the main stage - the Woods stage - where uniquely skyrocketing talent Katy J Pearson draws the first major crowd of Friday. Later, in the unexpected sunshine, Teleman bring boldly fun modest grooves. Meanwhile in a clearing the trees lies the Garden stage. As well as a regular spot to catch the famous End of the Road peacocks, the area plays host on Friday to some very captivating solo artists, early on with strong Irish representation from Aoife Ness Frances and then CMAT, before one of the fastest rising stars on the lineup, insanely talented and only 21-year-old Arlo Parks.
Back on the main stage, “special guest” (in an entirely special lineup) Damon Albarn takes to a career-spanning setlist to punctuate his latest solo efforts with laidback Blur and Gorillaz moments. Firm favourites for a good time, Hot Chip then take to the stage to bring the party back to life. Along with a dance-inducing hits-filled set they drop their much loved covers mix on us: frenzied Beastie Boys’ ‘Sabotage’ into Springsteen’s ‘Dancing In The Dark’ and LCD Soundsystem’s ‘All My Friends’. Expert headliners who really know how to show the people a good time. If you can then manage to cram yourself into the Big Top tent within 15 minutes, it’s a dream scheduling of disco sleaze masters Warmduscher who take us into the night. The starry circus tent plays host to many oddities over the weekend, but this south London band of mavericks are well known for putting on the wildest of times.
Just when you thought your night might have peaked, there’s the surprise of two secret sets in the Tipi tent, tonight being a reappearance from Katy J Pearson, before a special set from Japanese psych wizards Bo Ningen, in their first UK show since before the pandemic. It feels so significant to be in the midst of the success of this event that’s been so long in the making.
By Saturday we’re a bit sun-kissed but more than ready for more. The Golden Dregs put on a perfectly funky start to the day, basking in the rays once again. Another best-kept-secret of EOTR is the Piano Stage hosted by Line of Best Fit - hidden away amongst the trees, each day revealing a lineup of 15 minute sets, including a compulsory surprise cover from each artist, within the setting of a quaint living room. Back under the sweltering canvas of the Tipi, Caroline display their absorbing multi-instrumentalist capabilities, with the 8 members onstage swapping between guitars, percussion, brass, clarinet, violin and cello, effortlessly. Shortly after, Lazarus Kane raise the heat some more with their wonky disco punk, but it feels so good to have a messy boogie. Out at the Garden the fun continues with indie festival favourites Squid, who play the best selection from their Town Centre EP and debut album Bright Green Field, including an even more raucous version of ‘Pamphlets’ than usual. The Comet Is Coming are bringing their otherworldly jazz energy in style tonight, while on the other end of the spectrum organic punk grit from the likes of LICE or Sleaford Mods keeps you firmly rooted in reality. Still after more? Secret late night sessions tonight come in the noisy form of Chubby and the Gang and Giant Swan.
One chaotic music-filled day transcends into another, and sadly our last, starting with an abrupt wake-up in the Big Top from Oldboy, before a definite Sunday highlight and future must-see for everyone, Billy Nomates. A femme twist on what Sleaford Mods were doing last night, she is pure high energy, sharp wit, and bold beats. She may even bring out Jason Sleaford for one track, but the ability to command an otherwise empty stage and demand attention is fiercely all her own. Bringing us back down a level is hazy Girl Ray in the sunshine, before Mercury Prize nominated Black Country, New Road drop in with their hectic jazz influence.
Back to the unexpected on the Piano Stage, Leeds lads Yard Act dazzle with paired-back versions of their own tracks, before inviting Katy J Pearson back once again to collab on her ‘Miracle’. Of the many acts on this lineup, recognition has to be given for the strongly diverse female representation going on here, and it’s clearly no effort at all. Other festivals take note. Porridge Radio crash through their grizzly heartfelt poetic punk, as cool as ever, before a real special booking, Little Simz, blows everyone’s minds with her powerful rap artistry.
A bit of a different headliner, Archy Marshall aka King Krule brings the urban to the rural to close off the main stage, but in true EOTR style that’s far from the end of things. Black Country, New Road return for a last shindig in the Tipi, now more intimate and chaotic than before. They even drop in an MGMT cover. The last unexpected guests are spangled noisemakers Horsey, who also invite tourmate Krule back for a last romp. As with other nights there’s more fun to be had at the silent disco or at star-studded dj sets aboard the Disco Ship out amongst the woods, late into the night. Does it ever really have to end?
The struggles to put on a festival of any quality at this time are unimaginable. End of the Road have managed to put on one of the highest quality, most thrilling lineups, and with the least time and financial security. We don’t want to begin to think of this world of live music being threatened again in the way it has been, so let’s just start to imagine what an unstoppable joy next summer could be.
Words by Alice Jenner
Photography provided by Practise Music