London gets Concrete and Glass Festival

London gets Concrete and Glass Festival

2 October, 2008 | 9.31AM

• Written by: Mark Treadwell
• Filed under: Music News:

London seems to be getting new festivals thrust upon it every single year.

The reception to these, whilst initially optimistic, have often post-event become simply a question of “why?”

Good line-ups have meant tickets have sold out, yet poor sound, heavy-handed security and inadequate public amenities have recently meant that any carnival spirit has been replaced with sighs and shrugs and promises to one’s self not to return the following year.

So we come to Thursday and Friday’s Concrete and Glass, yet another new festival set within the urban inclines of the East end. 

Some of the failings that have been part of the other pretenders to the festival throne have undoubtedly fallen foul to over zealous, council-enforced pressure. 

Concrete Glass it would seem will get around this as instead of taking place in an inner city park it instead aims to use the plethora of Shoreditch venues to host a right royal shindig. 

Bands include the mighty TV on the Radio, as well as Fujiya and Miyagi, and the stupendously named Holy Ghost Revival. 

Alongside these, parties are being thrown by Bloggers Delight, Greco Roman and Border Community, with DJs such as Pilooski (hopefully not recreating his musical murder of a set at this year’s Sonar) Capser C, James Holden, Blank Tape and an intriguing disco set by dubstep don Skream.

Alongside shit loads of acts, bands and DJs, there are art exhibitions running Thursday and Friday, as well as lectures at venues including Cargo, The Whitechapel Gallery, Plastic People, Catch, Shoreditch Town Hall, The Macbeth and Hearn Street Car Park. 

Also, perhaps the most optimistic thing about this newbie is that it is in part sponsored and promoted by Hackney council.

Tickets are a bargain £22.50 per day and you still get the weekend to recover or carry on as you wish.

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