Sleeper's will probably be a better review than mine as I was only there for the Saturday and Sundaybut I'll give my opinion anyway.
Invertigo were the first band on that I saw and I was very impressed by the music.Very melodic and may have even bought their cd if it wasn't for it being my first day. I thought the vocalist wasn't as good as the music deserved but he did look like Rafa Benitez and it was only a minor problem.
Casual Silence played some really good songs and the vocalist had a great voice on him.I was surprised that he announced they were splitting up after Summer's End and I'll be looking to find some of their back catalogue.
Day SIx I wasn't really looking forward to from what I'd heard other people say about them but,after a while,I started to enjoy them for what they were.At tmes frenetic guitar playing and some serious gurning from the vocalist/guitarist with a few quieter moments thrown in.
I really enjoyed The Tangent and they were the highlight of the day for me.I'd not heard too much of them before(only Down and Out In Paris) and I was really impressd with the sound and the playing so much,I bought my first cd of the weekend in their latest "Comm"
I was a little disappointed in Arena,as they were the band I was looking forward to most on the Saturday.I can't put my finger on why because they did put on a good show.Maybe I'd built them up too much.I did buy Pepper's Ghost though.
Sunday started with Concrete Lake who,for me,were the surprise package of the weekend. Some great prog with some well written and well crafted songs,heavy in places but shifting quite easily into more gentle and melodic sections in most of their songs.I'll be keeping a look out for these guys,who are supposed to be going into the studio in the New Year.Oh.... and the whole band seemed to be on springs as they bounced up and down alot.
Credo were excellent and a track they played called "Insane" persuaded me to buy "Against Reason ".They reminded me of Marilion in places but that's no bad thing.If you get the chance to watch them on their next tour,you should go.
Headspace weren't my cup of tea,I'm afraid, and I left after 20 minutes to grab some food in a pub somewhere, but what I heard sounded ok
Magenta were bloody excellent and my highlight of the weekend. Christina's voice reminds me of Annie Haslam and they didn't put a foot wrong.
Caravan was a really great end to the proceedings.It was the first time I've seen them live and I'd go again.There was good banter between the band and they seemed to be really enjoying themselves up there which always makes for a good gig, imo.
That's my first review and it may not be a good review and I'll probably neeed a lot more experience of writing them before you get a good one,but you have to start somewhere