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Review: Long Division Festival - Various Venues, Wakefield [Live]

Saturday 2nd June 2012 // A brilliant gathering in its second year gets bigger and better.

by phatty73, June 5th, 2012 and has been Read 1440 times.
Last Edited by: Jack Stovin June 5th, 2012.

It's been years since I visited the west Yorkshire city of Wakefield. Many years in fact, back when I was a young lad and my cousins lived in nearby Ossett. Therefore I expected things to have changed, for better, for worse I wasn't quite sure. To say I was pleasantly surprised would be an under statement of massive proportions. This place is unrecognisable, so much so that half an hour was wasted on the car journey when driving the wrong way and ending up at the ruins of the city's Sandal Castle. Lovely though these ruins are I didn't have time to be taking in historic stonework.

[Sandle Castle, Wakefield]

So running late, a car park is eventually found just off the main thoroughfare of Wakefield's Westgate and away to Long Divisions wristband exchange at 'The Jam Inn'.

Let me explain the ethos of Long Division if I may. This is an urban festival based around many venues in the city. Not just music venues, all types of venues from small pubs, a royal theatre to a small road between to bars via an 18th century orangery. All these venues are within 5 minutes walking distance of each other, which if you have ever been to an urban festival, is a massive bonus. It dispels the usually inevitable situation where you have just seen a band you love on one side if the city, while your next choice is on stage in 10 minutes, but 3 miles away on the other side of town.

Musically, the Division guys pride themselves on delivering local bands and artists alongside some big alternative names. This shindig is now in it's second year, and by golly have the organisers got some way to go to beat it again next year.

So, where was I? Oh yes, wristband exchange, the lovely smiley peeps handed said band over, wished me a enjoyable day and off we go. As stated before, it's been a while since visiting so after a bit of wandering, the loud noises of a band tuning up can be heard. When I say heard, I actually mean everyone in this main street can hear it. I decide to follow my ears and give the official schedule a miss for a minute, these ears of mine lead me to the Velvet Cocktail Bar, or more precisely, to a stage set up under the neighbouring hotel service access. No shit, smack bang in the middle of a sort of tunnel leading to a service yard is a stage set up with some sizeable speakers, the full kit and kaboodle! This is my introduction to Long Division. And I like it.

Limbering up on this stage are local Wakey lads Red Riding Quartet. The lead singer of this band of black clad guys is sporting a Deftones jacket, this is promising indeed. Upon them firing into their first track of the set, the suspicions they are fans of loud growly metal are confirmed, bass rumbles, drums (especially the incredible array of cymbals) crash, riffs are howled out. The noise from just three instruments and screaming growling tortured vocals from the front man is unbelievable, it is in danger of rupturing the foundations of the hotel above.

[Red Riding Quartet rocking it]

The stand out tracks in this half hour set from the 'local loud ones' are 'Kelly', 'Together' which is described as a sort of love song and an epic riff filled monster titled 'Holes' which, it is explained by our screaming vocalist, is based on a shooting in a local hotel in 1974.

As the set comes to a close we are informed there is an EP flying around by the guys entitled 1974, if you are a fan of screaming metal go dig it out.

Right it's time to consult the days running order to see who we have got next, my decision is made instantly. A two minute strut around the corner to the city's splendid Royal theatre for Glasgow chaps The Twilight Sad.

This all seated venue, ye olde red velveteen trimmed seats no less, is the perfect setting for the tortured accent heavy vocals and ear splitting gut punching sounds of this band, emitting from the huge bank of speakers side of stage.

[The Twilight Sad looking very cold]

The post-rock walls of guitar with added 80's dark electro keys bounce around this classic venue, shaking the ornate balcony with a semi-terrorising ominous tone. This wall is fronted by the bands singer James Graham channelling the spirit of Ian Curtis through his displays of un-nerving body language and far away eyes, almost as if he is cleansing his soul of unspoken ills. This display coupled with the immense bone shattering volume of the guys backing combines to make this a magical set, almost like a piece of musical theatre. The set is over far too quickly for my liking, but, it has given them at least one new follower. Epic stuff.

LISTEN // The Twilight Sad - 'Alphabet'

On to what seems the most popular venue of the day next then. The Hop, this is split into two venues, we have The Hop Downstairs which has a small corner stage and bar area which opens out into the courtyard/beer garden. This is an inspired set up, we dirty smokers can enjoy a cig and watch the band at the same time. Amazing. As it happens this was my vantage point in which I caught sight and sound of the brilliance which is The Do's.

[The Do's - see the t-shirt with a dog on it?]

Another Wakey band, well I say band, it is actually the guitar/vocals and drum duo of Elliott Oldroyd and Matthew O'Leary. As is the way with Urban festivals, a surprise or two is usually thrown up, a band or artist never heard of catches your ear, todays band is definitely The Do's.

LISTEN // The Do's - 'Leave This All Behind'

They have this semi-open air venue pumped up with their lo-fi twist on classic blues rock. The music conjures up images Jack White backed by Travis Barker, No Age fed on blues classics or maybe even a pair of Yorkshire bred Jay Reatards. Whatever, their off kilter loud rock please this crowd both inside and out, including yours truly.

As the feedback dies from that set, it's a quick hop (ahem, sorry no pun intended) up the steps to The Hop Upstairs, this part of the building is your classic gig venue set up, stage at the front with plenty of standing (or bouncing room in front of it), or at least there would be if the place wasn't absolutely rammed to the rafters for Leeds based indie-poppers This Many Boyfriends. This four piece have a massive following here today, a following so big that the bands lead singer Richard can hardly believe it, looking out at the sea of faces stage front he tells us he was expecting an empty floor. The band look humbled at the turn out, it's very endearing.

[This Many Boyfriends]

So without further ado they throw themselves in to what they are good at and what this crowd are here to see and hear i.e. an energetic set filled with fun, power pop indie.

LISTEN // This Many Boyfriends - 'I Don't Like You (Cos You Don't Like The Pastels)'

A set is pumped out to a rapt crowd, a set full of favourites. 'Starling', '#1' and 'I don't like you (cos you don't like The Pastels)' are all fired out in their inimitable cheery indie-pop way, almost like a young Wedding Present after too many Haribo and Panda Pops. Infectious stuff indeed.

This fast paced scruffy pop has gotten me fired up, what better way to satiate the need for more than to head straight back downstairs for the giddy fast paced modern C86 tinged indie pop of Sheffield's Standard Fare.

This trio throw out jittery jerk pop with bass lines and Indie chick vocals to kill for.

[Standard Fare - wearing a specials T makes you look special]

Their half hour set has the bar area bouncing, the wooden floor bends and creaks beneath my feet with the dancing of the crowd. Especially one particular vigorous mover and shaker is a fellow just in front of the small stage area. This man, carried away into another aural dimension is a big fan it seems. The rest of the crowd are big fans too undoubtedly, just not in such a limb throwing way. But, I digress.

LISTEN // Standard Fare - 'Suitcase'

This indie power pop trio hit all the right notes, they belong on a stage of much more size, especially for personal favourites of 'Suitcase' and recent singles club release 'Girlfriend'.

Just as my day is getting in to the swing, as the legs are getting moving to the great sounds, a phone call is received. A family 'situation' forces my enjoyment to be cut short. Damn!

So I have to leave it there, my apologies go out to the Long Division organisers.
From what I have witnessed however, in only it's second year, this 3 day urban gathering is going to bigger and better year on year.



Be prepared for a Wakefield version of Leeds Festival in coming years.

Long Division 2012, you were amazing and I for one cannot wait to come back...for the full three days next time.

More information on Long Division 2012 and the bands/venues involved can be found here.