The third and final day and for the first time since arriving in Portugal I don't feel exhausted. Ruth and I spent a few hours in a spa and outdoor swimming pool in Costa da Capricio. When I went for a swim in the pool a family of ducks who were passing joined me for a swim. First time that's happened! To get there we crossed a monumental bridge that straddles the estuary Lisbon is situated next to. Definitely feel up for a good party tonight, perhaps we should have gone to the spa before the festival. Tomorrow we head up the coast to near Sintra where Ruth and I have booked a cottage until Friday. Apart from having to do some work on my dissertation (which I'm not going to do but it makes feel better writing it) I plan on a stress-free five days with plenty of sleep, food, booze and snorkelling. Friday we fly back to England and go straight to the Blue Dot festival at Jodrell Bank in Cheshire. To be honest, the line-up kicks the crap out of the NOS Alive offering with highlights including: New Order, Kraftwerk, Jon Hopkins, Squid, 808 State and others.
Uncle Fester
Smashing Pumpkins
Bon Iver
Unfortunately, my batteries didn't stay charged for long and I only managed to stay at the scenic dockside festival site until about one in the morning. I did, however, get to see Bon Iver who were a revelation. It would have been a struggle to imagine I'd have been blown away by some guy wearing pyjama bottoms, headphones and a sweatband whilst singing falsetto, but I guess it goes to show you never really know yourself. We saw Smashing Pumpkins, who Ruth loves, but I've always found them po-faced. To be fair Tonight Tonight is a good rock song and Billy Corgan guested on a New Order album and toured with them for a while so he has got some kudos. Tonight (just once), Billy is wearing some long cloak like garment which hangs below his feet and makes him look like Uncle Fester from The Addams Family. We did try and catch a bit of Thom Yorke but couldn't get near the tent, bet there wasn't much chance of him playing and Radiohead songs if that was what everyone was after.
I'm actually relieved the festival is over and I can have five days rest in the hills before heading to Blue Dot. I'm giving serious consideration to sticking to festivals in the UK, but there again might be nice to go to that one in Iceland. Anyway, can think about that another time though Steve wants to go to Sziget next year.
Bon Iver Setlist
