This weekend sees the return of one of our favourite local festivals in the shape of YNot, which takes place in the midst of Derbyshire, last year we had a fantastic time despite the fact the site became a complete mudbath – check out our review here – and we’re eagerly anticipating heading down there again – and hoping it’s a bit drier.
One of the best things about YNot is that as well as having internationally renowned acts performing they also have a pretty damn good selection of our Nottingham friends playing across the weekend, not least on the Hog and Barrel stage, a particular favourite stage of ours.
Here we take a day by day look at the Nottingham acts playing across the weekend.
FRIDAY
The Quarry Stage, as always, will open with a selection of artists chosen by the BBC Introducing team each day, among them some Nottingham artists and first up representing our fine city on Friday is the excellent JOEL BAKER. Joel currently resides in London – where he works in the Houses of Parliament by day – but is a Nottingham boy and will this year be playing the Notts Rocks event at Royal Concert Hall, before that though he’ll be performing his wonderful, heart-felt tracks at YNot Festival and we highly recommend check out his set.
Joel Baker
As previously mentioned the Hog & Barrel Stage is always a great place to catch Nottingham performers and this year looks no different, on Friday you can expect a wonderful mix of soulful gospel and blues from MATT HENSHAW, while fresh off their Splendour opening set the excellent KETO will be performing – you can check out our interview with the bands front woman Leah Sinead at Splendour here.
Meanwhile in the Saloon Bar you’ll be able to see a performance from Beeston singer/songwriters JOE BARBER.
Saturday
Last year SAINT RAYMOND was one of the BBC Introducing acts on the Quarry Stage, since then of course things have continued to grow for the young singer-songwriter with tours supporting Ed Sheeran and a main stage slot at Splendour, he now returns to YNot to once again play the Quarry Stage but this time he’ll be playing much later in the day as one of the main supports to the headline act. Get along to catch a set by a performer who could well be playing the main stage in the very
Saint Raymond
near future.
There will also be two Nottingham acts earlier in the day as part of the BBC Introducing selection. ADY SULEIMAN hails from Liverpool but now calls Nottinghamshire home, the singer quickly picked up a loyal fanbase when moving to the city – as his two recent Rescue Rooms shows proved – and he’s sure to be a hit on Saturday. Meanwhile THE GORGEOUS CHANS will also be taking to the stage, the former Future Sound of Nottingham winners have been rather quiet of late but that only makes us more excited to hear what they have been working on.
Over on the Allotment Stage you’ll be able to see a set from electronic dance duo ONE BOMB expect an electronic fusion of house, garage and bass creating futuristic harmonies and awe-inspiring sounds.
As ever the Hog & Barrel Stage will be the place to be for much of the day with some of our favourite Nottingham acts performing. THE MOST UGLY CHILD are fresh off the back of their excellent EP and will no doubt end proceedings in style under the H&B tent (we anticipate hay fights again!). Bluegrass/Americana MO MORRIS & THE STRUGGLING STRING BAND and their will be acoustic gems from Mansfield’s JAMES DALBY.
Josh Kemp
A firm favourite of ours JOSH KEMP will be back at YNot once again and will, as ever, be well worth checking out with his catchy tracks and brilliant use of a loop pedal. We expect the Hangover Song will resonate with many among the YNot crowd.
Expect knee slapping fun with THE MISK HILL MOUNTAIN RAMBLERS and beautiful melodies from the wonderful ANWYN WILLIAMS.
Over at the Saloon Bar you can catch a set of blues brilliance from RYAN THOMAS.
Sunday
Sunday will see one of the hottest Nottingham bands of the moment AMBER RUN taking to the Quarry Stage for what is sure to be a highly popular set as the band continue their meteoric rise that has already taken in the likes of Splendour (check out our chat with the band at Splendour here), Reading and Leeds and now YNot. Joining them on the Quarry Stage will be indie rockers HOUSE OF THIEVES.
Baby Godzilla
Anybody expecting a more relaxed vibe for this final day will be rudely surprised when BABY GODZILLA take to The Giant Squid Stage for what will no doubt be an insane, high tempo, in your face set from these boys, earlier in the day, on the same stage, you can expect some brilliant metal from EMPEROR CHUNG who are not to be missed.
Over on the Allotment Stage we’re looking forward to seeing a set from HUSKIES who we missed last year thanks to the weather.
There is, once again, plenty to enjoy on the Hog and Barrel Stage with ROGER AND THE MASCOT, an intriguingly named indie band will be wrapping up things in the H&B tent and will no doubt do so with as much joy and energy as when they performed on the stage last year.
Ryan Thomas
RYAN THOMAS will perform his second set of the weekend, expect more bluesy magic from Ryan which we’re sure will go down a storm and make sure you’re up and out in time to see the excellent 94 GUNSHIPS get things underway on Sunday, you will be glad you did.
So as you can see there is plenty of Nottingham goodness to enjoy – and no doubt we missed some such is the plethora of performers across the weekend. There is of course masses more going on over the three days and we’ll take a look at some of the other acts performing tomorrow.
If you’re at YNot this year we’re sure you’ll have a great time and we might just see you there, if not head over to the official website and see if they’re are any tickets left, though they were in short supply last we heard.
Ynot Festival runs at Pikehall, Derbyshire from Friday 1 – Sunday 3 August 2014.
