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Review by Paul Towler

Photo's by Matt Collins

The cancellation of Ashton Court's second day may have been disastrous for everyone, but let's not forget what a memorable day Saturday was, especially if, like me, you're a fan of The Fall. Although we've seen several 'big name' national acts being booked for the festival in recent years adding to the usual showcase of local bands, I would never have expected the eccentric talents of The Fall to be billed as a headlining act. Needless to say though, I was delighted!

Since their beginnings as one of the more uncompromising bands from the late 70's punk era, The Fall have evolved to become a true British musical institution over the years. Very few bands can enjoy the luxury of being untouchable by the fickle fashion police, or impervious to media scrutiny. The Fall are an exception. The band have a totally unique sound, again, something that very few bands can truly boast. They deliver songs without any regular structure, opting instead for pummelling rhythms built on gritty bass-lines and pounding drums, punctuated by enigmatic front man Mark E Smith's trademark sneering, shouty vocal delivery.

Mark E Smith enjoys a notoriety for grouchiness that is unparalleled in the musical arena. His many feuds and on-stage brawls with ex-band members have been well documented by the media over the years. Despite such notoriety though, Smith is a true show-biz performer, and his renowned on-stage tomfoolery would be sorely missed if he ever changed. Somehow, the grimacing Manchunian has always come bouncing back with a new band line-up and new material consistently better than the last.

Inevitably, The Fall have endured a reputation for being unreliably volatile over the years. The band's last appearance in Bristol was no exception, with their date at Bristol Academy having to be rescheduled due to 'unforeseen circumstances'. I dare say some festival revellers probably had their doubts as to whether the band would indeed show up for Ashton Court, but what a thrill it was when they actually did! With a packed main stage arena, fans both young and old were treated to favourites from the band's current album as well as highlights from their last (and 24th) John Peel session.

The Fall's new pan-American line-up has already been hailed as one of their best incarnations to date, and as the festival programme pointed out, their latest album 'Reformation Post TLC' gained rave reviews everywhere. In today's ever predictable climate of bland, mainstream guitar bands, it seems quite absurd that the 50 year old Mark E Smith should still be more rebellious and more enigmatic than any of his younger contenders, but then again, there's no-one quite like The Fall!

If, by such unfortunate circumstances, this year's Ashton Court Festival really was the last, then at least the event's final billing ended in style!  Let's take this opportunity to thank the organisers for giving us many cherished memories over the years. Let's also hope The Fall return to play Bristol soon.