Now I have not been to many music festivals, despite living close to Reading and not that far from Glastonbury. So I was nervous about attending this live music event which promised to showcase the wide variety of musical talent that Basingstoke has to offer. Nice PolicemanAfter getting off at Basingstoke station I was very disorientated especially as I looked rather silly clutching both a large rucksack packed full of snacks, and a large camera. Walking through the town centre of Basingstoke did not help my unease as in order to get to the festival I had to walk through a very packed shopping centre, banging into everyone around me.  | | There was Traceurs at the Festival |
Getting many dirty looks as I accidentally knocked people out of the way with the camera case. Thankfully some very nice policemen pointed me in the right direction ( which happened to be in opposite direction from which I was originally heading) and I arrived just as the festival was kicking off. 5 Live StagesThe festival boasted five different live music stages, each showcasing different music styles. All hosted talented musicians, mcs and dancers, with audiences varying between tents. I did try and see as much as I could before I needed to leave earlier in the evening , however it was not possible for me to see everything, so I will try and review what I did see. One Beat Live Stage | | Chinese Dragon Dancers at One Beat |
The Live Stage focused on rock/ heavy metal musical talent from Basingstoke. I managed to see both performances from Sacred Flesh and Innogen. Sacred Flesh won Battle of the Bands in 2004, they were a heavy metal rock act complete with head banging, screaming rock lyrics and fantastic rock instrumentals. Now personally I am not a heavy metal fan, it tends to give me a head ache! But as rock acts go they did get the crowd warmed up perfectly for later acts, with a mosh pit beginning to form towards the end of their set. Fairfields and Friends World Beat TentThe Fairfields and Friends World Beat Tent showcased international culture and dance. They had performances from Chinese Dragon Dancers, Martial Arts Displays and Bhangra Dancers. Later the line up included dance troupes from Brazil, the US, Europe and the UK. It was great to see a tent which focused on the diversity of Basingstoke and surrounding area. The Chinese Dragon Dancers were really good, accidentally scaring several children. Global Triangle Tent | | Nina McCann performs in the Live Tent |
The Global Triangle Tent brought together a variety of musicians to celebrate world music. Hosted by DJ Inspirasian the tent was fantastic, as the rhymes created by such a wide variety of instruments filled the tent. These included accordions, jazz trumpets, flutes, African drums, electric guitars, all supported by instruments made from rubbish and the DJ. Drum Runners organised this tent and are a collection of rhombic drummers from Basingstoke. Their rhymes vary from the global tunes they were presenting when I was in the tent, to football supporter chants they showcased later. The Home Grown TentThe home grown tent was devided into two sessions, the first two hours were dedicated to acoustic music in a similar vein to James Blunt or Nina Simone. Then the stage changed to showcase Hip Hop DJs and producers. I was only able to stay so the first half of the set, so unfortunately was not able to review later acts who included Radio 1Xtra DJs Mikey T & Lumes. Nina McCann headlined the acoustic section, she is currently working on her second album and performed a variety of material from both albums. | 
