Ray's Gigs

Daily news and reviews of gigs bars clubs restaurants product launches films theatre fashion shows books art galleries hotels competitions interesting places to visit ...and much more!

Sunday 01 August 2021.

Sunday 01 August 2021. Happy Birthday to Def Leppard singer JOE ELLIOT who is 62 today. -------- ZZ Top have resumed their American tour , just two days after bass player Dusty Hill died. They have their long time guitar tech as his replacement. Oddly he also has a long beard, but surely that cannot be real. ------------------ Tuesday 03 August 2021. Happy Birthday to TONY BENNETT who is 95 today...yes 95!. Happy Birthday to JAMES HETFIELD who 58 today. ----------------- Thursday 05 August to Sunday 08 August. WILDERNESS FESTIVAL is held at Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire. This mixed arts festival of live bands, poetry , well-being experiences and much more is now sold out. Wilderness Festival is a 10,000 plus capacity event each day. I will be going to this festival for the first time this year. Will be nice to be in some proper countryside, but daily rain showers are forecast. 🎟️ Wilderness Festival 2021 is the four-day festival combining live music, arts, wellbeing and an array of theatre, artisanship, late-night parties, outdoor pursuits and culinary experiences in the Oxfordshire countryside. The Wilderness Festival 2021 will be headlined by DJ Jamie XX, English hip hop musician Loyle Carner and British drum and bass band Rudimental.The festival will also feature Bicep - the electronic music production and DJ duo from Belfast, original Reggae selector David Rodigan and The Outlook Orchestra. 🏡 Cornbury Park Estate, Ascott-under-Wychwood, Chipping Norton, United Kingdom. ---------- Really nice to be in the Cotswolds countryside. It was a bit muddy as it rained quite a lot for two of the four days. Very hilly too, which was not a good place where there was loads of slippery mud. It is a massive site with other 20 small stages / areas including the main arena one. Loads of various types of posh glamping here. Bands/Acts i saw at Wilderness... Fri - headliner LOYLE CARNER ---- South London hip hop rapper did a good set. SPORTS TEAM --- London indie rock band played a nice set, including "Here's The Thing". Their upcoming UK tour sees them headline Brixton Academy on 25 Nov 2021. Sat - headliner JAMIE XX --- XL Recording artist who is a DJ and re-mixer did a good set. BICEP --- Electronic dance duo from Northern Ireland have quietly become very popular. They headline three nights at Brixton Academy in Sept 2021. Sun - headliner RUDIMENTAL --- I have seen them a couple of times before, supporting. The crowd loved their electronic dance sound. At the end of their set was a nice full fireworks display. DAVID RODIGAN & The Outlook Orchestra. Legendary DJ gets various vocalists to sing his fave reggae, soul and ska classics. A great vibe here although the music on offer wouldn't be my first choice for a festival. Many different djs and bands playing dance tunes at the smaller venues, along with all the other stuff. The Valley was a stunning steep area that was the main choice for the hardcore ravers as it was open to 4am on Friday and Saturday night. Many of the sophisticated crowd were in fancy dress / wacky outfits. Every morning at 8am,dozens would swim in the lake, complete with trained lifeguards. Many animals including deers were very near to the campers. Very enjoyable four days here. Felt totally frazzled from the camping when i got back home on the Monday. Wilderness got great reviews from the main newspaper press this week.