High Voltage - July 10
Steve and his band
Steve with Transatlantic
Steve Hackett, Steve Wilson, Nick Beggs, Fish and Mark Kelly
They used to say that if you stood at Picadilly Circus for long enough you'd encounter everyone you'd ever met in your life - eventually! The High Voltage festival last weekend on 24 / 25 July proved to be the literal depiction of that old adage. I swear I met at least half the music business backstage at Victoria Park plus friends old and new across the various sites...
It's probably too early to say whether 'Voltage' will become a permanent fixture over summers to come but I thought the organisers had come pretty close to creating a rock 'n roll Disneyland for all the family - from the air guitar zone to the dodgems, helter skelter and waltzers with legions of bands thrown in including yours truly.
Transatlantic asked me if I'd join them for their encore on Saturday - The Return of the Giant Hogweed. I had great fun turning the beloved beast into a police car siren chase at the end...
Then with my own band on Sunday, we enjoyed playing to a fantastic crowd. Through no fault of our own the Hackett band set had been cut from an hour to forty minutes, which is often standard practice at festivals. Despite that we were still really glad to be there and it was all a thrilling extravaganza for everyone.
Must dash - I've got to get to the gate for my flight to Italy!
Captain's log, Gatwick Airport, 27 July 2010. The month of Augustus approaches..
Amanda and Steve
Nick
Steve
CLICK HERE to see some more pics of the Steve Hackett Band at High Voltage, taken by Mia Rischmann
