In the first of six daily previews of this year’s line-up at the Pikehall Y-Not Festival, we look at the acts playing the Acoustic Stage on Friday August 1st.
Acts are listed in order of appearance, with the first act due on stage at around 13:00.
Tickets can be bought on line via this link, with £5 from every ticket sale being donated to the Parwich Memorial Hall fund.
Today’s acts are: morninoonanight, Dave House, Anthea Neads, Toufique Ali, Danny Apple, David Gibb and Matt Henshaw.
1. morninoonanight
morninoonanight is the performing alter ego of singer-songwriter Bill Noonan (guitar, vocals and didgereedoo). An unsigned artist, Bill is variously based in Bournemouth and Luton. His influences include Biffy Clyro, John Mayer, James Taylor, Willy Mason, Metallica, Incubus, Jose Gonzalez, Damien Rice and The Mighty Boosh. His songs have been described as blending “sincere story telling” and a “warped sense of humour”, over “simple yet effective acoustic rhythms”.
Bill has supported the chart-topping Nizlopi (“The JCB Song”) on tour, and has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe and the Big Chill.
Sample lyric: “The milk is off, and that sour taste: it’s on your tongue, for far too long. You can’t scrape it off; it’s disgusting.”
- Listen to morninoonanight on MySpace.
- Watch a video (contains strong language).
2. Dave House
Dave’s second album See That No One Else Escapes has gathered praise from Phill Jupitus of BBC 6Music, who compliments him on his “wry eye for a lyric”.
“The tracks I’ve listened to are all belters”, says Phill, containing “moments of softness, moments of hardcore splendour”.
As well as his two albums, Dave has released a split 10″ single with Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly. He describes his music as combining “the punk background and sometimes similar vocal / lyrical approach of The Weakerthans, the pop sensibilities yet depth of Postal Service / Death Cab / Get Up Kids with the honesty of Billy Bragg”.
Sample lyric: “All I can see is flashing blue lights, beyond the cloud of dust and the lids of my eyes.”
3. Anthea Neads
Anthea, who has been songwriting for 14 years and singing “for as long as I can remember”, has a style which ranges “from gentle folk to quirky alternative, visiting laid-back and jazzy on the way.” Her influences include Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, Eva Cassidy, Beth Orton, Joni Mitchell and the Velvet Underground.
Sample lyric: “My friend, she sings songs of love. Her voice gives away how happy she is. She’s in love with her man, and she knows that it’s right. She fears the sadness I see, despairs at my shame and regret. She says love him or leave him, it’s not fair to keep hanging on.”
4. Toufique Ali
Toufique specialises in “Lo-fi Acoustic Garage Rock”, drawing his inspiration from American College Rock bands such as Pavement, Sebadoh, Buffalo Tom and the Lemonheads. Jeff Buckley is also cited as a major influence.
Listen to Toufique Ali on MySpace.
5. Danny Apple
Danny offers the following explanation for his performing surname:
1. He has a green guitar, indeed it is the colour of an apple.
2. He likes apples!
3. One day Danny was in town busking away when he was approached by a mate. Danny was eating an apple at the time. His mate said Danny! in a knowing and nodding way…. paused and then said Apple… again in a knowing nodding way. Hence Danny Apple.
4. Then of course there is the cider…
Danny’s influences include The Beatles, “good old fashioned rock n roll”, Small Faces, The Who, The Stereophonics, The Zutons, Oasis, Eric Clapton and Rod Stewart’s Faces. He is an established artist in his local music scene, which centres around Mansfield and Sutton in Ashfield.
Sample lyric: “Well I sit here on my own in a field, but you’re not there. And I’m looking through the window, and I’m gazing in a stare.”
6. David Gibb
Here’s how David describes himself:
If you’re the sort of person who stands in alleyways and spits all the time, I probably won’t want to be your friend. I won’t try to beat you up though, because my muscles are small and weedy and I cry easily.
David comes from Derby, and plays fun and mischievous acoustic folk-pop. He has performed live on BBC Radio Derby, and has received an approving nod from Radio One’s Steve Lamacq.
Sample lyric: “He sits on his windowsill, staring at the sky. He wears a paper hat, ‘cos it’s his birthday for just five more minutes. What is he looking for?”
7. Matt Henshaw
Although he usually plays as part of the band Censored, Matt Henshaw will be performing solo at the Y-Not. Matt comes from Ilkeston, and is influenced by Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Damon Albarn, Alex Turner, Steve Marriott, Ray Davies, Sam Cooke and many others. Along with his band, he runs a regular club night (Club S.O.S.) in Nottingham.
Sample lyric: “Walking by the riverside, I see the fishermen there in dismay. There’s nowt coming out of the Trent today, I think I heard one of them say…”
Listen to Matt Henshaw’s band Censored on MySpace
See also:
PARWICH.ORG 
New website up and new music in 2010 after a year and a half rest and peace time …