Glasto n that.

So everyone is Glastonbury-ing.

There's is a lot of really really good stuff this year, but none of it on the main stages which I think is better in a way.

It's interesting to see the difference in ticket buying behaviour this year. After last years' crap sound, crap weather and crap provisions for punters the Dunkirk spirit was replaced by miserable soggy crowds and many leaving early. I stuck it out and left on the last day to face the 11 hour drive home. All a bit crazy really. My highlight that year was seeing Fionn Regan. But overall didn't really like it.

Other than those who have work commitments, I don't know anyone who went last year who's going this year. Many are heading for other UK or European festivals. Which is sad as Glastonbury had become an institution.

Anyway, enough whinging. There's plenty going on which is worth comment.

The Chapman Family are playing for one thing and they are truly great. To date, I've found what they've had recorded a bit lacklustre, but only because I don't think they've been with the right production team to translate what they achieve live into record. I was talking to Kingsley a couple of weeks back and he mentioned the difficulty they'd had getting the sound they wanted. It seems he really likes the chaotic noise elements you'll get from the likes of Sonic Youth and such but wants enough control over it for the music to be accessable rather than too art rock/avent garde. I wouldn't know which tracks to recommend as I keep hearing different versions of everything so just get yourselves to the BBC introducing stage.

Mumford and Sons seem to be playing all over the damn place, good thing too. Their day job is as Laura Marlin's backing band but they have struck out and gone it alone with their M&S project. I saw them a month or two ago and really liked the stripped back, rootsy folk sound they play around with. The strength of their songs rely almost entirely on melody and strong lyrics rather than overly elaborate arrangements, which they could do as they're all fantastic musicians. On record their sound is a little more rounded and deep with lush vocal overdubs and a lot of subtle but

The Fox Cubs, remember them?!? One of our first submission on the Vox platform and how far they've come since then. It seems like only yesterday the were sleeping on my lounge floor surrounded by beer bottles n such after playing an End of Camden night. Really matured as a band and everything about them is very slick as regards presentation. Their newly recorded stuff out of Dave Eringa's studio has really nailed their sound and I'm envious of everyone who will see them today. I think they will come accross really well. I certainly hope some of my colleagues from Columbia or RCA will be there.

There's plenty more but I'm in danger of waffling too much.