Summer Sundae, Leicester, 2010

Belated review of this festival now. We were lucky enough to win tickets through Go Leicestershire, along with fancy-pants hotel accommodation, so we weren't immersed in the full festival experience. This along with the, er, modest size of Summer Sundae made it kind of feel like a weekend away during which we caught a few bands in the local park. In fact, that was exactly what it was. However it was a very nice local park, with tasty food and some great bands.

It was very family-friendly, with lots of cute things going on like this Punch and Judy show.

Music highlights included the lovely Laura Veirs, with her new band the Hall of Flames.

Tunng were without a doubt the band of the festival for me. Last time I saw them, at the Band on the Wall in Manchester, they seemed nervous to be back, but this time they through themselves into the set with abandon, and I loved it so much I had a little cry. There had been wine that afternoon. Got a good feeling about these guys, think they might cross over to the mainstream if they carry on producing songs of this quality.

This was the first time I'd caught Liam Frost ( and live in Manchester, I know!) and it was everything I had expected and hoped for - gentle, heartfelt songs sung simply with just a guitar. Beautiful.
The Besnard Lakes were our last band of the festival, and although they didn't maybe click with the Sunday afternoon crowd they put in an impressive effort on one hours sleep in 36 hours, and since seeing them live I'm starting to really enjoy the album. They're growers I reckon.

All in all a good weekend. Would I go back under my own steam? Maybe not, but something like this closer to home would be a proper treat. Get on it Platt Fields.