Review: Blow-Out – The Corner – 2 August 2013

Leftlion is now a well-established local publication, having started off as an online magazine (similar to ourselves), it is now a popular local newspaper and hasbeen going strong for 10 years come September, so they decided to host and celebrate their 10th birthday at The Corner at the beginning of August!

Arriving to a virtually empty room I did wonder where the party was at, however by following the sound of the happy tunes being played by RAPHAEL ACHACHE the fun was to be found in the yard. The start of the party, as any good party is, was very relaxed, there was face painting and a bbq with everyone sat around whilst Raph entertained with songs such as The Bare Necessities.

Following this everyone was encouraged inside for the next act, which was one for all the regular Guitar Bar goers, as JOHN MARRIOTT performed his unique ”poetry” over his excellent guitar playing. For those who haven’t heard John’s music before to help you understand his style a classic line would be “I’ll put some chicken in your mong bean dahl and it wont be halal”!

Thankfully it was starting to fill up by now as it was approaching 9pm and soon to perform was SAM JONES, another local act from Mansfield, who its rumoured Jake Bugg’s manager is interested in. However, the melodic punk sounds of Jones only held my interest for a little while and I easily got distracted by the face painters… on returning to the main room, with a beautifully decorated face, it was heaving and GALLERY 47 was on stage, another acoustic performer, very mellow with a head like David Gray, to me he seemed like a cross between Peewee Herman and Bob Dylan, but in a good way.

By half 10 the atmosphere was buzzing and you could tell you were on for a good night, and party poppers were going off left right and centre. At about 11pm THE AFTERDARK MOVEMENT hit the stage, ADM who lit up waterfront festival the weekend before brought the Leftlion party to life and filled the stage with energy after all the singer songwriter, they got everyone dancing as they performed songs off their new EP.

ADM are a hard act to follow but CAPPO managed it after a while and the crowd got on his side, and the party was back into full swing with lots of drunken crowd interaction, it was like an extended scene from 8 mile. Cappo sampled some classics and got right in amongst the crowd. He gave a word up to the lighting guys and deservedly so as they really set the atmosphere, including highlighting the massive “10” balloon.

It was just how you’d imagine a birthday party would be at almost midnight. Cappo was followed by THE ELEMENTZ and Friends, who really got the crowd going, the place was packed and expectant for who the mystery guest might be. Esther Van Leuven, a female vocalist, who performed with The Elementz, is a true talent and was soaked up by a lively audience.

It took till half one Jared (Wilson – Left Lion Editor in Chief) to get on stage, but he got a very warm reception and introduced the special guest THE PETEBOX. Seeing Petebox is seeing beatboxing at its very best and home grown no less! He brought the place down as expected.

Cheap bar, great music, friendly people, yard for the smokers, facepainting and a BBQ what more could you want from a birthday party?

Review by Josie Opal

Photographs by