Reviews / Bristol festivals
Review: Good Times Live, Yate – ‘Not too polished – and that’s its charm’
Good Times Live feels slightly rough around the edges but full of people actually there for the music and the relaxed vibes, and this is what gives it it’s charm.
Set at the Ridings in Chipping Sodbury, it’s still small enough to feel personal. You can get from the bar to the front of the stage in a couple of minutes, food queues don’t take half your evening, and there’s none of the endless wandering you get at bigger festivals.
Six days of music near Yate was enjoyed by a crowd of all ages in dazzling sunshine
But at the same time, it’s grown enough now to pull in artists like the Human League, Madness, Jessie J, Tom Odell and Emeli Sande without it feeling too ambitious.
Friday night proved that.
Good Times was full of families enjoying picnics and soaking up the sunshine
By the time Tom Odell walked on stage, the field was packed but still relaxed, with everyone slowly edging closer to the stage as the light dropped over the site.
It felt more like a giant outdoor gig than a huge commercial festival, which suited his set perfectly.
Odell kept things simple for most of the night. Piano, live band, no massive production tricks. His songs are already built for that sort of atmosphere — emotional without feeling overdone, quiet enough at times that you could hear the crowd properly singing back every word.
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The newer material was well received, but it was Another Love that everyone was waiting for.
The second those opening piano notes started, phones shot up across the field and suddenly everyone was singing. Loudly. Arms around each others shoulders. One of those festival moments to be remembered.
Jessie J was another headliner over the weekend’s series of shows
There was something nice about seeing a performer like Odell in a setting this size. At larger festivals, sets like this can disappear into the scale of everything.
Here, even from further back, it still felt connected. You could actually see the expressions on stage rather than watching everything through screens.
While it wasn’t slick or polished, the all-important atmosphere made up for it
Support from Matt Maltese earlier on was a good fit — dry, awkward, funny in places, and exactly the right sort of warm-up.
Good Times Live still feels like it’s figuring itself out a little bit.
There was entertainment for the kids which, in turn, kept their adults happy
A ride on the big wheel offered a great view across Chipping Sodbury and beyond as the sun began to set. Face painting and a sweet stall were there for the kids. There was something for everyone.
But that’s sort of the charm of it. It doesn’t feel too polished yet. And right now, that’s probably why it works so well.
All images: @darrencphotography
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