Don't adjust your screens, non-Brits. I really am wearing a long sleeved polyester maxi, a sheepskin trimmed coat and a pair of knee high leather boots in August. When you're off to a festival you've got to dress for the weather no matter what the calendar says and this week we've been treated to conditions more like Autumn than the height of Summer.
You read it right, although we're not trading at a festival this weekend guess what we do on our day off? Jump in the van, drive north for three hours and watch some live music in a field, that's what. We're addicted to the whole festival scene, whether for work or play and it was the perfect way to kick off Jon's birthday weekend.
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| The windmill is a Lytham landmark |
Yesterday we travelled to the rather sedate seaside town of Lytham St Annes in Lancashire to see the Haçienda Classical, a collaboration between the DJs who shaped the sound of legendary Manc club, The Haçienda, Mike Pickering & Graeme Park and the Manchester Camerata, the city's experimental 60-piece orchestra. The location? The beach front, in the proms arena. In retrospect I should have worn a hat, the wind was relentless and my hair drove me daft.
Hey ho, bad hair's just a minor inconvenience when you're on the guest list.
The evening kicked off with electro band 808 State, followed by a stormin' DJ set featuring all the Madchester classics including The Stone Roses, Oasis and some band called The Charlatans. (Smile and think of the royalties, Jon.)
The main show, the Haçienda Classical, was truly joyful. We threw back our heads, danced with our hands in the air and sung along to every tune. Proper life affirming stuff.
Graeme Park sung Love Will Tear Us Apart (a tune which never fails to bring a tear to my eye), Bez might resemble a kindly uncle these days but his freaky dancing is still spot on and Rowetta, just like when she appeared on the X Factor, failed to hold it together and cried all the way through her performance.
More about Bez here.
A special shout out to last night's supporting crew, these Frye Campus boots. My trusty £1 car boot sale Aldo boots didn't survive the mud at Truck but, while browsing eBay for a decent replacement, I came across these (still boxed) beauties for a Buy-it-Now price of £35 - a saving of over £300! I wore them for 11 hours, dancing for four of them, and not a single blister.
My mate Alyson recently blogged about an article published in a Tory rag suggesting that the Over 40s were too old for festivals. In my opinion feeble click bait journalism like that should be treated in the same way as internet trolls and little boys who pull your pigtails in class and ignored. I can only imagine that the idiot who wrote the article has either never been to a festival or went to one & had his head rammed so tightly up his own arse that he failed to notice the average age of his fellow revellers.
The day I give up festivals will be the day I swap my psychedelic dresses for a beige cardigan and elasticated waist trousers ie., Never!
Clueless about Haçienda and the notorious 1990s Madchester scene? Watch 24 Party People this weekend and prepare to be enlightened.
See you soon!
Hey ho, bad hair's just a minor inconvenience when you're on the guest list.
The evening kicked off with electro band 808 State, followed by a stormin' DJ set featuring all the Madchester classics including The Stone Roses, Oasis and some band called The Charlatans. (Smile and think of the royalties, Jon.)
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| WEARING: Vintage St Michael tweed jacket, skinnies (newish, retail sale buy), 1950s Tootal scarf (car boot sale), Docs (Charity shop). |
The main show, the Haçienda Classical, was truly joyful. We threw back our heads, danced with our hands in the air and sung along to every tune. Proper life affirming stuff.
Graeme Park sung Love Will Tear Us Apart (a tune which never fails to bring a tear to my eye), Bez might resemble a kindly uncle these days but his freaky dancing is still spot on and Rowetta, just like when she appeared on the X Factor, failed to hold it together and cried all the way through her performance.
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| You're twistin' my melon, man...Bez does his stuff |
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| DJ legend, Graeme Park. It's his birthday this weekend, too. |
A special shout out to last night's supporting crew, these Frye Campus boots. My trusty £1 car boot sale Aldo boots didn't survive the mud at Truck but, while browsing eBay for a decent replacement, I came across these (still boxed) beauties for a Buy-it-Now price of £35 - a saving of over £300! I wore them for 11 hours, dancing for four of them, and not a single blister.
My mate Alyson recently blogged about an article published in a Tory rag suggesting that the Over 40s were too old for festivals. In my opinion feeble click bait journalism like that should be treated in the same way as internet trolls and little boys who pull your pigtails in class and ignored. I can only imagine that the idiot who wrote the article has either never been to a festival or went to one & had his head rammed so tightly up his own arse that he failed to notice the average age of his fellow revellers.
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| WEARING: Vintage Tori Richards psych maxi (clothes swap with a fellow Judy's trader), 1960s suede coat (Second to None, Walsall), Tribal coin necklace (eBay), Crazy sunglasses (given to me by a car boot trader as he hadn't got the 50p change he owed me) |
The day I give up festivals will be the day I swap my psychedelic dresses for a beige cardigan and elasticated waist trousers ie., Never!
Clueless about Haçienda and the notorious 1990s Madchester scene? Watch 24 Party People this weekend and prepare to be enlightened.
See you soon!
Can't believe you were in my neck of the woods! Did you visit the Wetherspoons in Lytham? It's a bit more swish than your normal offering (it's all a bit fancy for me to be honest!). Glad you had a good time.
ReplyDeleteWe were! We stayed at a lovely hotel called Mode and had breakfast in 'Spoons. At 8.45am there were already couple of pensioners already on the beer singing "We're alcoholics and proud", I felt quite at home! xx
DeleteHa! That's St Anne's, a proper swirly carpet Spoons. You might have met Jim, he's an early morning drinker, I meet him sometimes outside my shop, he tries to get me to go shoplifting!
DeleteI bet it was Jim, he seemed to know everybody! We popped into a chazza round the corner and I found an amazing 1970s Zandra Rhodes dressmaking pattern. Well, it would have been amazing if there'd been anything in the envelope! xxx
DeleteHappy Birthday to Jon.
ReplyDeleteYeah, what is it with all this, "People over such and such age, blah, blah, blah?" I can't imagine anyone takes it seriously.
Love that maxi and coat-they were meant to be worn together. Frye boots are indestructible-good purchase there (and an incredible price).
Thanks, Goody!
DeleteI seriously hope that nobody is fool enough to take any of that tripe seriously. Mind you, if they're foolish enough to buy a Rupert Murdoch owned rag they're probably not in their right minds anyway.
I'm hoping those Frye's last me till I'm in my eighties. I've been hunting for an affordable pair for years. xxx
Looks amazing....loving the boots....happy birthday, Jon
ReplyDeleteLove Trish & Steve xxx
Cheers, Trish & Steve! Hope you're having a great weekend! xxx
DeleteI adore your outfit!!!! 808 State!!!! Never stop---they can fuk off with the age approoriate articles.
ReplyDeleteI know! Nice surprise for the support act. We're usually too late to see it. xxx
DeleteA belated happy birthday to Jon! Looks like you celebrated in style. Great bargain on the boots xx
ReplyDeleteThank you! I think we could have gone into a special area with our tickets but I'd rather be in the mosh pit with the proper fans! xxx
DeleteWe saw some of it on tv it looked fantastic especially the collaboration with the classics. Happy birthday Jon boy have a good 'un xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lynn! It was brilliant, a proper life affirming, feel good evening. xxx
DeleteNow that looks fun! And way to tell them - the over 40 set is not ready to crawl into our graves just yet.
ReplyDeleteIt was great fun. Nice to be a festival goer rather than crew for a change! xxx
DeleteGood grief. I guess after 40 we are supposed to just retire to the rocking chair and knit?
ReplyDeleteYour outfit is fabulous! Looks like fun. You guys have an endless supply of energy it seems.
Happy Birthday to Jon.
bisous
Suzanne
I dread to think what we're expected to do. probably shroud ourselves in greige and shrink into the background in case our don't give a f*ckery and general fabulousness scare the youngsters! xxx
DeleteWoohoo! I sort of miss festivals.
ReplyDeleteThat maxi is divine!
I doubt beige will ever be in my Indian wardrobe either. Elasticated churidars and patiala pants probably will though ;)
xox
You need to organise on by you - we'll come! xxx
DeleteHi Vix, what a great time you must've had.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to Jon, too! (I wonder how he feels watching the Charlatans...does it make him cringe? Or feel happily nostalgic?)
24 hour party people has been on my list of things to watch for ages, I'll have to get round to it.
Xxx
Thanks, Jess! He doesn't mind hearing/watching The Charlatans - it's when we all start pointing at him and shouting - "Oi, that's you, that is!" that completely embarrasses him. Poor old sod!
DeleteLet me know that you think when you ger around the watching 24 Hour Party People. xxx
Happy Birthday Jon!
ReplyDeleteSeriously...over 40 too old for festivals. My partner and I laugh when we go to concerts etc.; the crowd is aging right along with us!
Thanks, Sue!!
DeleteYou're so right, I often chat to people who were going to festivals before I was born. they're usually even more hardcore than us 50-somethings are. xxx
How fantastic, I would have loved it. Age is no barrier!!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to Jon.
You look fab, the weather didn't cramp your style at all.
I loved 24 hour party people. Loved, Love will tear us apart and, speaking of which, the film Control is one of my favourites.
Have a lovely weekend xxx
It was ace. If they tour by you I recommend you go along. You'll know every tune! xxx
Deletethe march of the cripples at the scooter rallies goes on and on ....we get fewer every year . But the youngsters seem to keep appearing , i had an odd conversation in the toilet queue with a twenty something bloke with the bad paul weller hairdoo and daft lambretta clothing . He asked had I been a skinhead chick , he said he was into Northern soul and seemed shocked when i said i was that old i had actually been to Wigan Casino loads of times and that my only memories were that it stank , your feet stuck to the floor and all you could get to drink was pop and water ...lol
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a girl next to us. When she found out that our mates worked at The Hacienda she kept asking who everyone on the stage was. She didn't even recognise Bez! xxx
Deleteas an over 60 person, whoever thinks those "your too old" articles are cute, can kiss my .....awesomeness.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Jon!
Thank you!! xxx
DeleteHappy birthday, Jon!
ReplyDeleteYou guys always have such a good time. You look the best, that's for sure!
Those over-40 articles are insane. Wait until the authors grow up and realize how much better life is when you don't care what the articles say.
Thanks, Bobbi!
DeleteThose writers are just sad, attention seeking losers, aren't they? I bet the nearest they've got to a festival is looking at their kid's Facebook photos. xxx
Looks fab - we are going to our first festival and we are - let's just say over 60, well over 60!
ReplyDeleteYay! that's brilliant, Maureen! Not being afraid to try new things keeps you interesting! xxx
DeleteYou're looking amazing, whatever the weather! And what a great event: no wonder you danced and sang along! Oh Bez, he's a legend in his own right, isn't he? Love Will Tear Us Apart is one of my all time favourites, and always makes me choke up too. Happy birthday to Jon! xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ann! I'll never forget hearing Love Will Tear Us Apart on the John Peel radio show in 1979, it was mesmerising! xxx
Deletegorgeous ensemble you´r wearing!!
ReplyDeletebut - it makes me sweat a lot - its like a tropical rainforest here! *love will tear us apart*** gives me goosebumps every time i hear it..... and that event wakes up so much memories of my wild youth in berlin....
happy happy birthday to jon!!!
xxxxx
I think we need to visit you, I'd kill for a tropical rain forest right now. Jon's threatening to book another week away, he's had enough of coats and boots in August already. xxx
Deletecome over - i´ll dust off the guest room!! ;-) xxx
DeleteDon't tempt us! xxx
DeleteI had never heard of Hacienda, but after watching your short video clip, I can see why you were dancing your heart out! I used to love going to the two major summer music festivals we have in my city, but the crowds have become ridiculous, and I realize I just can't handle being around that many people anymore.
ReplyDeleteCan't believe it's that cold over there already! We finally got a break yesterday from a week of 30+ degrees celsius temperatures.
You should watch 24 Hour Party People. The early 1990s Madchester scene was insane!
DeleteThis was a particularly well behaved crowd so no pushing and generally nice behaviour. xxx
Love your lovely yellow boots and Jons jacket. Happy birthday Jon. The image I had of Vix in beige made me laugh out loud.. That was a great pic of the windmill.Never give up having fun.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sally! Isn't the windmill lovely? Apparently the Victorian residents of Lytham St Annes wanted it knocked down as they considered it an "ugly, industrial eyesore!" xxx
DeleteUgh over 40s too old for festivals? Probably written by the same people that write women over x shouldn't wear x or plus size women shouldn't wear x - gross. Let's just all do what we want and enjoy our lives! Also I love your frock, I feel like English summers must be like Wellington summers (let's not put all NZ summers in there, some parts of the country does get summer)
ReplyDeleteI think our Summers are very similar, wind, cold, rain....in fact our winters are often better, probably because our expectations are lower! xxx
DeleteI won't even CONSIDER that you will ever wear beige, Vix! You are such a cool woman - and in this fabulous outfit of sheepskin coat and the psychedelic dress I'm back there in another time too. Happy birthday to Jon! The music sounded fantastic (and great price for the tickets!) Absolutely agree with you re who the heck is this person saying over 40's are too old for festivals! They need to get a life before it's too late!!! Hope you're having a great weekend. xx
ReplyDeleteI reckon the person who wrote the article was probably born middle aged, boring fool! xxx
DeleteLooks like a blast! Happy Birthday Jon! Whenever someone says I can't so something because I'm over 50 I say f**k you! Ha! I've earned the right to do what I want! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laurie! Yes, we've earned the right to do what we want and we shall! xxx
DeleteThe music sounds jazzy and really happy! You and Jon look SUPER stylish! Your new boots are just fantastic, what a great buy! Hope the rest of your weekend was as fabulous as the start! We don't have to give up what we love, ever, period. <3
ReplyDeleteThanks, Natalia! xxx
Deletea perfect way to celebrate a birthday!
ReplyDeleteI heard about that article, what nonsense. I didn't go to my first festival until I was 39!
It was a great birthday trip!
DeleteIsn't it nonsense? Shows how out of touch the right wing press are. xxx
Over-40s too old for festivals? Pah! I'm constantly surprised by how moderate the younger generation are - they drink less, party less... Festivals need the over-40s to bring the atmosphere without worrying about whether their outfits will look good on Instagram.
ReplyDeleteYou're dead right there, Mim! With the youngsters it's all about pouty selfies and designer wellies, I don't even think they've heard of most of the bands before. xxx
DeleteWhat a load of CRAP about over 40's and festivals. I think most of the people watching The Levellers with us at Folk by the Oak were over 40! I love your sheepy coat- very cool!
ReplyDeleteIt also strikes me(as a useless under 40!) that most of the people who work hard to make ANY events happen these days are over 40. My generation and under are far too lazy and wasting their time pissing about on Social media (I am including myself in this!).
I totally didn't realise that Jon was in the Charlatans! I knew he was well known and in a band but I forgot he was in that! I used to listen to them as a teen!
Nice to see an actual orchestra playing at a festival!x
The Levellers! Lots of my friends go to their Beautiful Days festival and not one is under 40.
DeleteSocial media has a lot to answer for. I'm always amazed by the number of people taking selfies on their phone rather than enjoy the music. xxx
People who think that about the over 40s can piss right off, I plan to grow old disgracefully. Love Will Tear Us Apart always sends a shiver down my spine and a tear to my eye! I've had computer woes which drove me to distraction, but I'm finally back. xx
ReplyDeleteIt's good to have you back, bloody technology! We might be a bit useless at the technical stuff but us overs know how to have good time! xxx
Delete