Gig Review: Live at the Lido 2013

Live at the Lido is becoming a well known event in the Ilkley area, and this year's one day festival proves why its reputation is growing. First up are Asylum (3/5), who start the day with a cheerful set of covers; The Artic Monkey's I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor being the best received. However, it's Black Clover (4/5) who are the first band to get a real reaction from the crowd; their powerful brand of punk rock providing much excitement. They're also the only band today who play a spontaneous encore, tearing through fan-favourite Here We Go Again after demand from the crowd. Things take a step back in intensity when Texacana (2/5) take to the stage; their American influenced country failing to lift the audience. Happily, Beth Armitage (4/5) is better received, with sing alongs, waves and, remarkably, small mosh pits breaking out throughout her set of acoustic numbers. She also sets herself apart from the majority of solo artists in managing to play an entire show without any backing at all, and her version of Rihanna's Diamonds gives the crowd the opportunity to make diamond shapes with their arms throughout the rest of the day. And the day continues to improve with The Concetines (4/5), who despite a diminished crowd turn in a superb set powered by speedy drumming and powerful bass lines. It's a standard La Fin? (3/5) can't quite live up to, but their alternative rock still keeps the audience baying for more. However, the music really steps up when Marc and Abi (5/5) arrive. Their musical talent is clear from the start as their impressive blend of country and folk inspires the crowd into a bizarre range of dances, from waltz to funk. It's testament to their strength as musicians that they keep everyone hanging onto every note without playing anything resembling rock or metal. The Puppeteers (4/5) also put on a strong showing, their self described bluesy rock sounding more violent and powerful than those words could ever encompass. While their set is given a strong response from the crowd, it's Notion (5/5), who get the biggest response so far. While being sponsored by a tuxedo company might not be the most rock n' roll thing to do, they more than make up for it with their "perfect for moshing" style of music, and the crowd react accordingly. Headbanging, circle pits and even a couple of walls of death break out throughout their set, making them possibly the most intense band of the day. And it doesn't let up with Clear (4/5) whose energetic set of covers provides the backdrop for further moshing and dancing. For middle aged ladies and gentlemen, they have a remarkable ability to pick the tracks a young crowd will dance to, and a Song 2/Smells Like Teen Spirit medley and versions of Call Me Maybe and Pumped Up Kicks are greeted with perhaps the best reactions of the day. Unfortunately, by the time Boys Off The Bench (3/5) appear, the night is drawing in and the rain is falling fast, meaning that they play to a significantly smaller crowd than the bands who played before them. It's a shame, because their set rivals many of the earlier bands. Still, the rain doesn't stop those sticking it out to the end from enjoying themselves. And a little rain is hardly going to stop Shatter the Skies (5/5), as their monolithic metal ignites the remaining hardcore metallers to mosh and headbang till the bitter end. Their set is so powerful and intense that even such rarities for a metal band as a cello and keytar don't seem a step out of place, and their stunning cover of Slipknot's Duality provides Live at the Lido with a phenomenal finish.