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The logistics of this November’s Duchesstival were certainly ambitious; With 19 acts, totalling at 10 hours of live music over two stages, it’s clear that the brains behind the bash wanted it to be a show to remember.
Those familiar with The Duchess will already be asking questions: Two stages? At The Duchess? Indeed. In order to cater for all tastes, the event was split between alternating ‘electric’ and ‘acoustic’ acts, offering a variety of sounds and giving the organizers enough time to setup the other stage for its next act. The smaller acoustic stage was situated at the back of the seated area opposite the main stage, separating it both sonically and physically from the band stage, giving some necessary light relief between some of the more raucous electric acts of the lengthy proceedings. But let’s take a look at some of the highlights...
Veteran York rock n’ rollers The Buccaneers romped through a set that redefined blues rock. With a vocalist that could make sand-paper sound smooth but also capable of a mellow croon, the trio could easily ride on the tailcoats of a certain set of chart-topping Kings. Following in suit were the mighty Hijak Oscar, delivering a lashing of high-octane New Orleans blues-gone-bad. The septet certainly give a heavy share of talent per square foot on The Duchess’s modest stage. As eclectic as they are impressive, Hijak Oscar leave you hypnotized in the swirl of a hurricane of their own design.
Alongside the more established names on the roster, the event also gave an opportunity for some up-and-coming acts to throw down the gauntlet. Testtone 3 were one such act. The three piece dance-rock outfit, made up of just a guitarist/lead singer, bassist and an over-enthusiastic but also multi-talented synthesizer/DJ character, unleashed a performance that raised the stakes for the rest of the event. With a foundation of colossal synth beats, embellished with ragged guitar riffs and brought to a fine focus with three-part vocal harmonies, the three delivered showmanship and a solid performance in equal proportions. The Testtone boys are certainly ones to be watched in the future.
The acoustic stage boasted a list of York song-writing greats concluding with the ever-inspiring and equally charming finger-picking folk maestro David Ward Maclean who unveiled some new titles as well as slipping in a cheeky Nun joke. Unfortunately what this stage gained in intimacy it lost in sound quality, allowing crackles and feedback to invade the mellow tones it should have defined.
Whether or not it was the rain keeping gig-goers at bay, the turn-out was moderate and by final rap-rock act Dead Rebellion, just a score of people remained. However, taking a clear cross-section of York’s abundant music scene, this November’s Duchesstival confirmed one thing without a doubt: these city walls have more than enough talent to boast. This year’s Duchesstival is over. Long live Duchesstival!
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