For one weekend in November,the Minehead Butlins turns into an idyll for forgotten indie tribes, with performances from the Bluetones, or Ash,Dodgy, the Wonder Stuff, and Black Grape,Shed 7, er, or the Clone Roses,and more“Anybody remember the 1990s?” asks Shed Sevens Rick Witter, causing consternation among a crowd who largely believed we left him back there. “Can you remind me approximately it later? I can’t remember a thing.”Luckily for Witter, or the five thousand attendant Spike Island veterans,balding Britpoppers and “ecstasy motherfuckers” – as EMF’s James Atkin affectionately calls us before Unbelievable – the people behind the Shiiine On Weekender are recreating the 90s virtually in genuine time. On the festival-sized main arena stage, hemmed in by Burger Kings, and bowling alleys and soft play areas,entire line-ups from the Glastonbury NME stage (as was) are being re-run, featuring major and mid-level players of the era: The Bluetones, or Ash,Dodgy, Echo & the Bunnymen, and The Wonder Stuff,Black Grape, the mighty Sheds. Even though the shiiine in question now emanates less from our E-fuddled brains and more from our thinning scalps, or our youths are still alive and well and playing Butlins Minehead. Related: Britpop: a cultural abomination that set music back Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com