Day 2 ( Saturday ) at BBC 6 Music Festival, Victoria warehouse, Manchester 01/03/14

Day 2

After yesterday's quality line up of bands and D.J 's i'm buzzing to do it all over again, this time starting the day at the 6 Music Fringe in the Victoria Warehouse building attached to their hotel. I make it in time to the talking heads room to see BBC Breakfast anchor man Shaun Keaveny who's interviewing the always engaging Peter Hook ( hooky ) from that Joy Division/ New order.

Wandering around i chat to record store guys who have stalls selling tapes , vinyl, etc Rough Trade Records, i chat to one from Sunderland Pop Rec Ltd, who turns out to be Frankie Francis from Frankie and the Heartstrings, who are on rough trade, he tells me he loves his vinyl. I catch a live act The part time Heliocentric Cosmo Drama After school Club with their cosmic jazz. Walking around after i spot Gideon Coe, Steve Lamacq, Mary Anne Hobbs, Craig Charles and Shaun Keaveny himself, who i get a few words with:

 Me: So who you most looking forward to seeing today? Shaun: Lykke Li, Bombay Bicycle Club. If you could pick 6 Music headliners living or dead? Shaun: Led Zepp obviously ( him being a huge fan ) Beatles, (Rock N Roll -Hamburg years ) Me: If you could pick a band that 6 music doesn't play on the station, to add to line up? Shaun: The Volunteers, who did at one point ask me to join, not sure if their still around but they sounded like Captain Beefheart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JHwCADIBjU

( Bladder Of Life E.P )

Time to go and catch Electric Ladyland controller Nemone  in the cool Silent disco room, a great idea, no people over talking each other, just headphones on, shut up and dance. The clued up beats and breaks D.J drop's new Tune https://soundcloud.com/jagwar-ma/uncertainty-ewan-pearson-remix  as her opener, then takes us through a journey of Electronica and House, she's clearly enjoying herself.

 Afterwards i find myself backstage for a chat Me: Hi Nemone, when you heard you were to have your own Electronic show , it must have been tough choosing the first tune, what did you go for?   Nemone: Definitely, i finally chose Simian Mobile Disco - It's the beat   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swZtcuS7iLw&feature=kp

Me: Are there any artists /producers you would love to have on your show? Nemone: Ben Pearce, Kraftwerk and Daft Punk, who i have spoke to on the phone but was it them?  Me: What is your 6 Music highlight so far? Nemone: Meeting and interviewing Derrick May today, he's such a legend and visually stunning to see Me: Who do you plan to see today? Nemone: Jaguar Ma, Lykke Li and James Blake.

If you love all the things Electronic then head down to Nemone's Show every Friday night 12.00am http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01s9ky3

To the Main Stage for the first time today, a massive warehouse space , the stage decorated with lite up trees, fellow Nottingham lad Jake Bugg is introduced by Shaun Keaveny . Confidently the young singer/songwriter launches in to Trouble Time , Dylan esque vocals and Seen it all with it's Country tinged indie pop.

The long hall like space of Stage 2 is rammed for Swedish singer/songwriter Lykke Li who i only catch briefly , she showcases a new tune No rest for the wicked, i'm stood in the Silent Disco listening when suddenly the busy dance floor all sing along at the same time ( i can't hear what their listening too ) to a tune D.J Kwes drops, so head phones on i hear  80's soul/disco classic Luther Vandross - Never too much. Seriously uplifting Saturday grooves, everyone is smiling.

Up next Eclectic world music loving, legend Giles Peterson goes all Cuban on us then brings in a Micheal Jackson - Thriller Mix. The veteran D.J is throwing down some shapes all in time to the music. Quality stuff.

It's down to the reliable Franz Ferdinand who wave the Scottish flag to tear up the main stage , the packed to the back crowd hang on to every word Matinee, Do you want to and their anthem Take me out. Solid set.

Food time and i interrupt long standing 6 music presenter Stuart Maconie who is trying to get some himself, he very kindly agrees on a few questions; Me: Hi Stuart, what has been your highlight while being on 6 music so far? Stuart : This festival, it's great, also having Scott Walker and Richard Branson on my shows. Me: Is there anyone else you would love to have on? Stuart: No, not really, i think we've just about had everyone on we wanted ( I joke " What about Biff Byford from Saxon? " A Rad/Mac day time show in joke )  Me: What's been your festival highlights?  Stuart: Connan Mockasin  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkNwuY2JUHQ  

  and Graham Massey's Sun Ra Arkesra tribute at the Radiophonic Workshop at the Fringe http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03x12d8 Stuart has some very interesting show's on 6 Music: Freakzone & Frekier zone: Bizarre, strange & wonderful sounds can be heard.

Finally, Me: Out of today's Headliners, which one ( The National, James Blake ) are you going to see? Stuart: The National. 

Which takes me back to the Main stage to witness one of the best Alt - Rock bands of recent times doing their thing. Introduced by Adam Buxton as a quintet of super rockers. Lead man Matt Berninger walks back and forth in between lyrics like a expecting father in a waiting room. The tight band provide uplifting moments in live music especially the brilliant Blood Buzz Ohio from the stunning High Violet, hair up on the neck moment, the crowd hang on to their words. During Mr November lead man climbs the barrier in to the frantic 5000 crowd strong hold, then makes his way on top of a speaker for Fake Empire, at times taking the mic with an intensity, like a geography teacher having a breakdown at a karaoke night. A band i remember first seeing in a almost empty tent at T in the park festival many years ago. Tonight they prove why their a perfect headline act.

Meanwhile Mercury prize winner James Blake is ripping up Stage 2 with deafening beats, i'm ordering a drink and the bottles are shaking on the bar. Mixing spacey jazz like vocals, delicate piano key notes into Jon Hopkins style Electronic beats. I've been told all weekend how good he is live and i must admit not being a huge fan, that their right and i'm impressed. Especially loved  The Wilhelm Scream  http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/8dc08b1f-e393-4f85-a5dd-300f7693a8b8  James thanks Mary Anne Hobbs for championing him from the beginning of his career. A huge highlight of the weekend and one to see in this years festivals.

( Thank you 6 Music for Photo's )

Living (low bass playing) legend Peter Hook is dropping a remix of Joy Division's - Love will tear us apart in the Silent Disco, suddenly the song in our ears is gone, Pete can hear, he carries on, then realizes the mistake, he brings us back smiling ( literally a silent disco ) I'll forgive him for dropping a EDM tune after he follows it with a sun drenched Ibiza style house tune. Uplifting set none the less 

Carrying on the sunshine vibe is Film Directer/ Musician Don Letts who drops dub/reggae version's of Coldplay's - Fix You and The Smiths- Stop me if you've heard this one before. I catch Don as he comes off the stage. Me: Don, if you could curate a  6 music stage, who would headline, living or dead? Don: Got to be Bob Marley as i used to look after him.

It's all up to Funk N Soul presenter/actor Craig Charles to close the event in the Main Room, still a lot of festival goers hanging on in there as Charles turns the place in to a northern soul dance floor, a false start with no sound but he's back and rips up the floor and raises the roof with his trademark Funk N Soul floor fillers like Micheal Jackson Classic Rock With You, Gil Scott Heron and Marvin Gaye.  Craig ab libbing along to every song, giving it all, sweat flying off him, enticing the crowd to jump up and down ( which we happily do ) before shouting "REST " A quality set.

 If you haven't heard his show : Saturday's 6-9pm then now is the time http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0072ky7 Perfect cooking along music show, and a perfect end to a fantastic first festival from 6 music. 

Hat's off to the organizers and staff at Victoria warehouse. Hopefully a festival, first of many and back at the same venue.  Hope those reading this and haven't tuned in to 6 music before will now, with so much diversity in shows on offer, there's something for all. Hope to be back there next year.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music