Soundle Music Festival ’25 – Day Two

Queen Victoria Hall, Oundle
Saturday, 7^th June 2025

On the Saturday of the Soundle Festival my body clock ignored how tired I was from the previous day of travelling and concert going, so it blithely woke me up at the usual time of 6am and all attempts at going back to sleep were futile. But I did manage to stay in bed until a more civilized time for a weekend.

Having risen, breakfasted and explored the picture postcard beauty that is Oundle, it was time for the start of day two of the Soundle Music Festival. As it was a gloriously sunny day I was glad to be in the shade of the Queen Victoria Hall, but thanks to all the audience the heat soon followed me. But as soon as the music started I forgot about that and enjoyed another day of exceptional music.

BUZZ ELLIOTT

Of all the people performing over the weekend Buzz was one of the two acts that I had previously seen before, so I pretty well knew what to expect. Larger than life with clothes that proved he is no subtle or shy wallflower and his personality ensured that, despite being a solo act, he seemed to fill the stage. Wild fun mixed with off the scale talent ensured that he delivered a set list over flowing with plenty of magnificent Prog and rock covers.

At first he did seem a little nervous, which he put down to being nervous and the accidental head butting of the microphone was met with laughter which Buzz took in his stride and made it look like it was all part of the performance. With just a guitar and a few electronic gizmos he had everyone in the palm of his hands and gave people what they wanted to hear; enjoyable music.

Starting off with his own improvised tune, which was in places akin to early Pink Floyd, I others a less adenoidal Neil Young followed by hints of classical guitar. A great start that only got better as he went on. He then performed a superb cover of Wizard by Uriah Heap and, to prove that he knew what the audience liked, he sang I Know What I like (In your Wardrobe). Sorry, I had to do that. I promise not to do it again.

There were joyful covers of, amongst others, Peter Gabriel, Lindisfarne and Focus and his Russian version of the Tetris theme tune was either mad or comic genius, or perhaps both. But whatever it was it was hilarious. Definitely unusual but it certainly demonstrated his fingering skills. Of which I will avoid any of my own jokes on that point.

Finally he ended the set with a superb rendition of Tubular Bells where he even created a sound loop, exited the stage and joined the audience so that he could enjoy his own music before finally returning to the stage for more comedic antics with the sound. I could try and describe it all but I think you needed to be there. Just consider it a reason to go see him live, if you get the chance.

GENIUS THE FOOL

Yet another band I was not personally familiar with but I do know a few people who have seen them live and they did ensure me that I was in for a treat, and they didn’t lie. Hailing from Yorkshire they already ticked my primary box for greatness so all they had to do was tick the rest to get full marks, which they did with aplomb. But I can’t be biased, after all not everyone is lucky enough to have been born in God’s own county and with the added attraction of having Erin Bennett, of EBB, as guest backing vocalist the review of brilliance could almost write itself.

Emma Caplan, the lead singer, might look petite and tiny but do not let initial appearances fool you. The voice is belting and she has stage presence that would have given a less dead version of Tina Turner a run for her money. At times sounding like Carol Decker and at others like a less gravely voiced version of Bonnie Tyler she, and the whole band delivered power ballads that would have made Diana Warren feel jealous.

With many more modern bands, especially those that I encounter in the Progsphere, I often wonder if they had been around in an earlier age if they would have captured the public zeitgeist and reached heights that are often out of reach to them today, as tastes are now more interested in more anodyne and safe styles of music. Genius The Fool are one such band that makes that question loom large in my mind. Had they been around in the 1980’s, a time when big hair on both men and women was seen as a good thing, would they have been bigger than T’Pau or touted as the British version of Heart? Who knows, but I do know that it was a pleasure to witness such a great band. Exceptional musicians, combined with well sculpted songs and a stunning front singer are enough to make me happy, even if most of the other music listening world is missing out.

Another group added to the list of bands I’d like to see in concert again. And, of course, being a northern band, they will have no problem playing in the North where fans struggle to travel all the way to such distant venues as The 1865 or are too canny with their money to go to London every week to see bands.

LONG EARTH

Having all their albums I have long been a Long Earth fan and despite several attempts I’d not been able to previously see them live. Therefore Soundle finally allowed me to tick another band off my bucket list. However, before I start with a review of the concert itself I think I must address the elephant in the room. They have a new singer, Maaike Siergerist and, thanks to the rotating line ups that Prog bands often have, she has some big shoes to fill. There might be some who have loyalties to previous band members but I tend to find that Collins verses Gabriel type arguments and debates swiftly become tedious and create divisions where they shouldn’t exit. Both were great lead vocalists and created something wonderful so I think it only fair and right that the new line up should be judged on how I saw them, which is exactly what I will do, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t use the records, in my collection, as a basis on which to compare and form an opinion.

So, where do I start? Maaike’s voice was obviously different to her predecessors but that didn’t detract form the songs and in many places actually added to them. Songs like Moscow and Winter were given a more dream like quality than the more direct prog originals although I think I would have to hear her sing My Suit of Armour a couple more times before I make my mind up on that. But with a few new, as yet unreleased tracks, such as Colours, which hints at a more ethereal direction, there are definite signs that Long Earth will carry on with their rise in the rankings as one of the top prog bands out there. But I think it would be unfair to focus on one person, when the rest of the band were also exceptional. David McLachlan, the bass playing back bone of the band and Renaldo McKim on guitar were a tight unit while Mike Baxter on keyboards and Kenny McCabe on drums were no slouches either and ensured that a fantastic set was delivered.

EBB

It was only a year ago, at the previous Soundle Festival that I first saw EBB and since then I have seen them a few times and I plan to see them a lot more times as well. However there comes a point when a band this good gets reviewed numerous times by myself and other TPA reviewers that it gets hard to use superlatives that have not already been used before. Therefore, if there is an element of repetition then please indulge me.

There is energy in abundance when EBB perform and it seems to emanate outwards filling the audience with a joy that destroys any fatigue form two solid days, and nights of sitting listening to so much quality music. In many ways EBB are like old school Prog where everything is theatre, enhancing the music so that it is a show full of mini plays. However the light hearted acting, that could be performed at the National Theatre, is taking Prog to new heights.

The set has changed slightly from last year but, having seen both a couple of times, the one thing I do notice is that there is always something new to see. At one performance you might be transfixed by Kitty Biscuits zestful and crazy dancing but you might miss out on something on the video screen. Another you could be transfixed by Nikki Francis on the saxophone or Suna Dasi’s vibrant keyboard playing and fail to see Bad Dog, on bass, as he makes hilarious facial expressions and does his best to ensure that Erin Bennett doesn’t have it all her own way in the centre of the stage.

But the musicians do not have it all their own way either. There is a seventh member of the band who might not sing or play an instrument but her presence on the stage is a key element of the show and EBB would be a lesser band without her. In various costumes, including harlequin and Arsenal kit (and the heckle from one of the audience must have been the funniest moment of the whole weekend) the character of ‘Jenny’ was a key dramatis personae.

I always enjoy all of EBB’s songs so picking favourites is always difficult but I have always enjoyed The Mirror and found Animal to be mesmerizing, in a rather surreal way. And if No One’s Child, along with the accompanying video, doesn’t leave you moved then you must have a heart of stone.

Long may EBB perform and long may I be at their concert to see them. Entertainment on so many levels.

[The Gallery features a small selection of the photos taken by Chris Simmons at Soundle ’25. If any of the bands would like high-resolution (high-res) images you can get in touch with Chris: HERE]

Soundle Music Festival – Facebook Group

Related posts:

Soundle Music Festival: Day One Prog For Peart 2023 – Day Two Prog For Peart 2023 – Day One Fusion 4: Day Two