Reviews
Artist:3 Daft Monkeys
Venue:Poole Park
Town:Poole
Date:19/08/09
Website:www.myspace.com/3daftmonkeys
Poole Park festival was a two day affair over the bank holiday weekend. There were the usual opportunities to get ripped off, buy junk food or simply to bask in the rare bank holiday sun.
Running over the Sunday and Monday, it has to be said this was not the best organised event, especially when it came to disabled access, the exception being the music, free to all those that wanted it, courtesy of the local music venue, Mr Kyps.
Other commitments meant that I couldn’t make most of the event, but my schedule was carefully manipulated so that I could be in the park for top festival band, 3 Daft Monkeys. Soaking in the sounds and the rays it seemed to be absolutely the right choice.
There’s a reason why 3 Daft Monkey’s have acquired themselves a reputation as one of the best festival bands in England, the strength of their set. They are a band that knows the audience they are catering for and deliver to it.
Taking songs off both of their most recent albums, 3 Daft Monkey’s dragged a fair few people out of their heat induced lethargy, got them on their feet and a whole host of them dancing.
Strong fiddle lead tunes knocked out at an energetic setting soon built up an atmosphere that it was difficult to ignore, whatever your age. Aging hippies danced alongside the twentysomethings and their kids reminding people that when it comes to music, there is no generation gap, only music that moves you and music that doesn’t.
There were people up and dancing that wouldn’t know 3 Daft Monkeys from the Artic Monkeys or the Monkees come to that. When the time is right and your mind is open, the rhythm will find you out and a good time will come to you whether you want it to or not.
This was a time for letting yourselves go and enjoying the moment for what it was. With an English folk undertone, 3 Daft Monkeys set up the moment and encouraged the crowd to respond. Some bands are best in clubs, others seem at home in stadia, an open stage in the blazing sun would seem to be the natural location for this trio.
Bank holidays can still be wild, even when they’re not wet, sunshine and monkeys would appear to be an ideal combination.
Neil King