IndieCentralMusic @ Flying Vinyl

I love records. I could go on all day long talking about how much I love records; everything from the old smell to the crackling of the needle shredding on the plastic. It’s incredibly hard to have a strong distaste for records. They are simple just cool A F. So when the opportunity comes along to attend a small music festival with an insane lineup celebrating vinyl, it’s hard to say no.

Flying Vinyl festival (if you haven’t heard) is a small organised festival that happens yearly as a kick-off to the season with the intention of celebrating the beauty of 7”’s. An important festival none the less, this year marked a solomon celebration to a very special band that was supposed to be playing. Viola Beach. A tragedy which shook the underground music scene. Bands alike such as Asylums, Juice and much more paid their respects to the young men that tragically lost their lives earlier on this year.

A spot which could never be filled was bestowed upon a band that I had never heard before. Juice, a sleazy Birmingham-based guitar band. Their erry Shoegaze style that packed a punch really surprised me. I don’t know where these guys have been hiding? I, unfortunately, couldn’t grab them for a chat but would recommend these guys to all that are fans of The Amazons.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to stay for the entire festival and I did spend most of my time running around like a blue-arsed-fly. I did, however, manage to catch Asylums play an unbelievable energetic performance which deafened me for about a week. I’d heard of Asylums and their more American garage style of rock, but I hadn’t seen them live. I have blown away with random exuberant movements and very peculiar and questionable hand gestures and a lot of jumping. It was sheer chaos and crazy arse riffs. I could feel my heart beating out of my chest as lead singer gazed into my soul whilst he stood on the rails, balancing like a crazed child at a steam fair.

After talking to many of the regular subscribers of Flying Vinyl, the general consensus and all-around opinion about the festival was very honest and quite frankly humbling. It seems that Flying Vinyl really is a fantastic organisation that is in it for all the right reasons. It’s about giving the opportunity to a lost art form, and one that is subsequently dying. Pressed 7” and live music. Vinyl is a part of music history. Music would not be around today without the mass production of records which then led to CDs.

On a personal note, I’d like to thank the guys at Flying Vinyl for their brilliant hospitality, helpful nature, and great music. I will be sure to return next year!