V97 set list : 17, August, 1997
Hylands Park Chelmsford, U.K.
I wasn't feeling to great in the morning, I was still suffering from
the day before, with sunburns, blistered feet and cuts and bruises from
crowd surfing!
Groups of particular interest on Saturday included;
Embrace, Symposium and Ash. Blur were fairly good as well.
Anyway Sunday- I arrived at the venue about 1pm and it was very hot
(as was the day before- in the high 80's).
Saw the end of Nowaysis (oasis tribute band), who were not very well
appreciated and bottles and rubbish were thrown at the band!
Had a few drinks and then went to Hurricane No.1 who were quite promising
and look to become a big group for the future.
After a quick snack we went to see Echobelly, my favorite band of course!
I got right down the front and was ready to rock.
They came on right on time at 3:25 and the crowd started to jump, even
before they had started! I could tell it was going tobe a good gig.
Sonya was wearing her camo trousers and a greenish coloured top (the rough look!)
I was so into the music and jumping around I lost track of what order the
songs were in, but some of them included;
I cant imagine, today tommorow, Insomniac, World is Flat, Natural Animal,
Something Hot, Atom, King of the Kerb, Great Things, Taste of you and the
brilliant finale which was an incredible version of Dark version which seemed
to last ten minutes!!
The new guitarist Julian who replaced Debbie seemed just as good, if not better.
It was the twelfth time I've seen Echobelly and it must have rated in the top 3
Echobelly experiences.
Any band after Echobelly seemed tobe very ordinary, but Placebo, Beck and
The Prodigy also deserve a mention.
Thats the end of the gig report now I'd like to share an experience I had which was
as good as the gig...
While wandering around the Main stage area I spotted a 'NME signing tent'.
After a quick look at the line up I spotted Echobelly were signing at 7pm!
Anyway at 6:30 I started queueing, I had just bought a programme because it had
a small picture of the group (something for them to sign).
I got the front of the queue and at this point I was so nervous! I was trying to
think of some good questions etc.
I was handed an Echobelly B/W photograph for them to sign which was quite nice,
(no Debbie or Julian just the four).
First up came James the guitarist and we had a chat about this club
(Camden Underworld in London) which I had met him before.
Secondly Glenn (the co-song-writer other than Sonya), and I chatted to him about
all the previous gigs I'd been to and that I thought Glastonbury was disapointing
which he agreed and said they were in the right mood that day, but he felt todays
performance was good.
3rd came Debbie's replacement Julian, he seemed such a good bloke (one of the lads)
He said that he has only been with Echobelly for about 2 weeks and he had to learn
15 songs in a few days ready for these festivals!
Next was Sonya and everything I said seemed to come out right, she was so friendly
and we seemed tobe talking for ages! I asked her questions about Debbie and if they
had seen each other since the split and she said that they had an arguement and that
was it! I asked if Echobelly were doing any more gigs this year, unfortunately they
aren't, but going on a big tour next year some time.
I got Sonya to sign my photos etc and I gave her a kiss goodbye! (WOW! :-)
At this point there was a big queue behind me because I was talking so much!
Last but not least was Andy the drummer who I did not talk to much, he seemed quiet.
I will frame the signed photos and put them up my wall to remind of V97 probably my
favorite Festival ever!!
Hope you enjoyed the report as much as I experienced it!!
(reported by Alex from Essex, UK)