Compass point is a yearly event of local urban music. Bands come together to play this two day event. The first day is Rock/Emo/Metal music with such bands as Midasuno, Dopamine, Shaped by Fate, Biffy Clyro etc etc. The second day is a collection of hip-hop and drum and bass music.
At 5pm on Friday 5th August 2005 the gates open but there was no mad rush to the ticket booths, no queues as long as your arm, no pushing and shoving. The atmosphere was very relaxed, most people still sitting in the park sunning them. As people slowly filtered in through the very small entrance way with the odd bag check here and there, one lonely bottle of cider abandoned by its owner at the gates, you entered a different world. The two stages were all set up and ready to go, the half pipes lined with skaters were in full swing, 50/50 grinds, kickflips and nose grabs galore. Laughs and cheers as skaters didn’t quite make that move they set out to do. This small event had a completely different atmosphere to the surrounding park, even though only a steel fence separated them.
The Blackout were one of the first bands to play and they certainly were a taster of what was to come. Dedicating one of their songs to Pete Sake who are to be splitting up later this month, Sean, the lead singer certainly knows how to work the crowd. Trying to crack jokes here and there, poking fun at themselves and keeping the crowd entertained. Everyone knew exactly what he was trying to do though, keeping the attention off the lead guitarist who frantically tried to tackle his tangled wires.
Shaped by Fate were one of the main bands to steal the show. “Moshing” is the only word that springs to mind here. Even though I am extremely biased when it comes to this band (seeing as the lead singer screamed in my face at one of their gigs) there is no doubt that this band have conquered the local scene and have an extremely fast growing, loyal fan-base. The lead singer of “Shaped by Fate” was soon in the middle of the crowd, Scott from “Midasuno” followed suit and had the entire crowd singing the cathartic chorus of 'Tear'.
As the evening grew, so did the dichotomy, especially when Dopamine and Hondo Mclean were playing at the same time. What was surprising was the fact that Dopamine were playing on the smaller of the two stages, the stage inside the extremely small tent. However, they still had the last laugh as the tent was at bursting point will all their faithful fans singing their hearts out to the opening song 'Mr Jones' followed by a collection of songs from the album 'Auditioning My Escape Plan'.
It’s easy to see how the media can hype these events up with clever camera angles of the stage and the crowd, making them look twice as big. At least the music was true, honest, and unique talent, which Compass Point celebrates. As the dark and cold set in it seemed a good time to call it a night. The security guards looked just about ready to go home as well, maybe not their scene but certainly the few hundred people’s inside.
An honest, enjoyable and laid back approach to celebrating local urban talent. Funeral For A Friend played compass point two years ago and have proved that if you keep pushing you can achieve anything. How many of these local bands will follow in their footsteps?
|
