COVENTRY Music Museum Curator Pete Chambers BEM writes for the Observer.
SO IT came to pass another amazing Godiva Festival that saw the return of local icons The Enemy and The Selecter as well as new things to get crazy about like Two Tone Orchestra – Secret Symphony and those Cajun Roosters types, along with headliners Melanie C and Rudimental.
Once again local acts have been treated with the respect they deserve, many coming through the Godiva Calling competition.
So Friday began grey, dull but little to no rain, as Caitlin McCarthy brightened up the night in her cerise to the kind of perfect set we are used to.
Downdraft (Godiva Calling winners) were superb, as were the trio Cruel Hearts Club.
Back on the ‘Next Stage’ Ruth Kelly followed by Dean MacDonald, gave reason to why there was so much local talent on show.
The night ended with Coventry’s own legends The Enemy, blasting out on the main stage the complete ‘We’ll Live and Die’ album, and I was amazed to have a song dedicated to myself, thanks guys! What can you say about this trio of manic musical energy?
So Saturday – day two – began with some Asian Fusion, featuring The Bollywood Dance School UK, the Coventry legend Navin Kundra and Learning with Lyra – the 11-year-old singing sensation.
Meanwhile back on the ‘Next Stage’ we delighted in The Cajun Roosters featuring Horace Panter on bass, not Ska, not RnB but wonderful Cajun.
It’s joyous good-time music and they even did my fave Cajun song – a superb version of the DL Menard tune ‘The Back Door’.
Back to the main stage and I really enjoyed the sheer brass intensity of Two Tone Orchestra – Secret Symphony, giving a new ska life to some of Coventry’s most famous songs and a touching tribute to Terry Hall.
Then it was time for The Selecter, and even the sun came out for these Cov icons.
Massive thanks to Pauline for the shout out and dedicating ‘On My Radio’ to me. It means so much.
So the final day and Diversity just knocked me out and calling them a dance troupe is really not enough – their energy was boundless.
They were followed by Soul masters Oddyssey taking us right back in time and then it was the time for the last act on the main stage, the headliner Melanie C.
You knew you were among greatness as she climbed to the stage, and boom the whole place went mad as she closed yet another amazing Godiva Festival.
Coventry should be so proud of this festival and well done all involved.
What a celebration!
