Jimi Goodwin’s set was cut short yesterday due to electrical storms that magically transformed Glastonbury from a grassy paradise to a, well, muddy paradise.
But despite this, Goodwin was not to be deterred and after the worst of the thunder and lightning had passed, he came back onstage and sang to the die-hards in the crowd, unamplified. “Oh well – I tried” he exclaimed, before departing to an appreciative and slightly damp gathering.
The storm turned out to be the biggest since Noah turned to Mrs Noah with a look of concern and said “I think we’re going to need a bigger boat”.
The crowd dispersed quickly for safety – yet it had all started so promisingly….
In his former guise as Doves frontman and bass player, Jimi Goodwin has produced some of the best and most interesting rock music over the last fifteen years. Debut Lost Souls won a Mercury Music prize nomination in 2000, a feat replicated by second album, the number one hit “The Last Broadcast”. “Some Cities” followed in 2005 followed by “Kingdom of Rust” in 2009. But the band grew tired of the treadmill of touring and announced a hiatus in 2010.
Thus it was good to see the release of Goodwin’s first solo album in March this year, the excellent, if oddly titled, Odlulek, accompanied by a support slot on Elbow’s UK tour.
Goodwin played Glastonbury’s Park Stage, a place set a good 20 minute walk from the rest of the festival and to get there we ran the gauntlet of Arcadia, with its 100ft high motorised spider DJ.
Goodwin required no such bells and whistles, if we can reduce a gargantuan fire breathing robot DJ-ing spider to such humble terms.
“Didsbury Girl” from the new album got an early play and looks were exchanged around the crowd – it was all very reminiscent of Goodwin’s former band – and in a good way. Indeed, fans also got to hear Doves deep cut “Sulphur Man” just before the set was cut short after 40 minutes, but I’m sure Goodwin will be back – hopefully in somewhat happier, and drier, circumstances.
Every record tells a story 
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