Ricky V the V.I.P. (Very Insubstantial Poster)

So after six months, sadly, as of yet-unblogged due to my own gross ineptitude, in the lovely Delft as part of my Erasmus Mundus Masters, I have arrived in the headline slot: three and a bit months in Barcelona!

After arriving I managed to avoid a repeat of hostelgate as in Dresden and find a flat with two of my wicked coursemates in Barcelona. Phew. With that milestone out of the way, I was free to start enjoying my time here and the cultural hotspot I have found myself in! Oh and study or something.

I’m not sure if you have heard of Barcelona, but it is a city in Spain. Spain is in the south-west of Europe. In general, the rain falls on or near the plain. Within Spain, there are many historical districts and Barcelona lies in one of the proudest in the nation, if not Europe: Catalonia (Catalunya in Catalan).

Having pride in Catalonia is the norm out here, with residents all extremely proud of their catalan heritage. In fact, this is part of the reason for the popularity of FC Barcelona. Back in the dictator Franco’s wacky regime of terror, it was banned to speak any regional dialects or show any allegience to seperatist causes. With Catalonia such a place with mass desire for seperation, it was seen as too risky to join a pro-Catalan independence group and, as such, people who held this view would join FC Barcelona - membership of which was far less risky whilst still portraying the same message. In fact, El Clasico (the match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid) is seen as so important to the nation of Spain because it is a modern parrallel for the civil war - the sectarian Catalonian-based Barca vs. the pro-state, capital-based Real. Hence the Barcelona club motto ‘More than a club’.

Essentially, though, Barcelona is a city very proud of it’s Catalan heritage, with many of it’s population keen for independence for Catalonia from Spain. Everywhere you go you see the red and yellow striped flags of Catalonia hanging from the endless apartments. Within the flag displays, seperatists can be identified by their flags of yellow and red with a white star on a blue background, as shown below.

The pride in Catalonia in Barcelona is everywhere. Once a year, however, it is literally inescapable in a festival of Catalan pride and independence ‘La Diada Nacional de Catalunya’ (The national day of Catalonia). This festival sees the residents of Catalonia take to the streets during the day to march and then, in the evenings, party like the Spanish know best.

This year’s event was one of the largest on record, with 1.5million people taking to the streets of Barcelona to march. 1.5 million people. 1point5. Million. Wow! With One-Direction-esque screaming and more flags than you can shake a stick at, it was an impressive sight.

It was a brilliant festival of independence with no violence or negative energy, just a celebration of cultural indivuality. All very positive (as demonstrated by the quite adorable sign below) and a great big party! With such positive emotion, it’s hard not to get behind the Catalan cause. I feel that a similar event back home would invariably turn to violence or some sort of trouble.

Within the mass crowds there is a Catalan tradition called Castells - human towers built by local people, climbing up each other to create a human summit. They are truly incredible and there seems to be a channel on the local television devoted purely to showing the best towers from this year’s celebrations. Including the falls, which are nasty! One of the greatest craziest parts of it is that the very top of the towers, often 5 people high, are formed by little children in little helmets! Those kids have more guts than I could ever hope to muster together! It’s an activity that brings together the whole community and they were doing it all over Barcelona.

In the evening, the city put on a massive free concert of purely Catalonia acts. There were a few bands, the highlight of which was a band called Pastora. I think that’s what they are called, but I’m keeping an eye out for my new favourite Catalan band! The gig was massively well attended by 300,000+ locals, and included some impromptu Castells - below you can see my friend grabbing a grope whilst ‘helping’ in the construction process. The party-Castells were defintely a highlight of the parties, only rivalled by the presence of people who walk around with carrier bags of cold beers, walking through the crowds selling their wares. It may not be service with a smile, but I enjoy the presence of beer on my doorstep (which seems to happen ALL over the city at anytime post-sunset!).

All in all, this time in Barcelona is a fantastic opportunity to not only absorb some sun (read: avoid burning my pasty white skin), but to gain some insight into a new Catalonian culture. So roll on the Catalan - now I’ve celebrated it’s existence I should maybe try and become part of it for three months!

Leicester’s shot at the summer festival pie, Summer Sundae, had its two pence worth on the 12^th-14^th August for its 11^th birthday. First impressions of the festival is that its on brilliant site - nestled just out of the Leicester city centre, the complex includes Leicester’s steeped-in-history De Montfort Hall - the home of Leicestershire theatre for years. With access to the stage in the hall, itself, and a number of other stages a stone’s throw away in the surrounding botanical gardens, it is certainly an attractive locale.

Perhaps it is this location that is part of the festival’s appeal as a family-favourite. The most popular demographic was most definitely families and with loads to keep kids occupied, it really was a great place for parents with kids in tow. As a single, twenty-two year old, there were times when walking through these areas, I felt a bit confused and, probably looked even more so confused. However, the music on offer was, mostly, not aimed at the youth market (minus the inclusion of Sunday’s headliners McFly) and this is where I hoped to feel less out of place.

With an atmospheric indoor stage, covered tents and the open air main stage, Summer Sundae had the opportunity to present a range of performances that you would struggle to find elsewhere. This was summed up most impressively by King Creosote and John Hopkins’ performance indoors, in the hall. With grand piano, soaring vocals and soft guitar, the majesty of their work would feel lost outdoors but, insider De Montfort Hall, you could hear a pin drop and the atmosphere created was like nothing I have ever felt at a festival, with the audience responding with one of the warmest applause of the weekend. It was beyond doubt that King Creosote and John Hopkins killed it and, part of this was due to the unique venue at Summer Sundae’s disposal.

Conversely, when the Maccabees and Example were taking to the main stage they had the vast crowds in the palm of their hand, enjoying the welcome opportunities that come with festivals to enjoy music out in the elements.

The line-up, however, was a confusing one. At some points the stages were the home to ‘alternative’ music sat awkwardly next to past-it-pop acts. Never was this more pronounced when Bellowhead, the 11-piece art-folk band, were followed by Reef, that band who that one song in 1996 and haven’t released an album since 2000. I mean, come on. What is the crowd meant to do when the line-up is so juxtaposed?

With other brilliant performances from Admiral Fallow, Warpaint and Elliott Morris, the festival, to me, seemed to be doing a better job at serving the alternative fans, of which there were many. As a city that doesn’t see much off the beaten track, the ‘alternative’ population of Leicester were out in hat-wearing-force and this is where the festival succeeded the most. The Maccabees headlining, not Newton Faulkner. Everything Everything, not Showaddywaddy.

 Overall, Summer Sundae is a festival that is brilliant for the festival family-goers and that I think would be the perfect first festival for a 14-year old experimenting with daytime drinking and wearing hats, but for the young-adult audience such as myself, Summer Sundae will live and die by its line-up. And, for me, this year, the festival just fell short. Next year, with the addition of a few more credible, rising, non-sweary artists, the festival can continue the growing name it is gathering to both young music fans and families.

3/5 Stars

On the 5^th of July, 1841 Thomas Cook created tourism. An audacious claim, you may think, but Mr. Cook (now of high street AND ad-break fame) was the first to offer the public away-day excursions for a fee. The trip may have been a modest eleven-mile journey from Leicester to Loughborough, but the ball had been set rolling. Ever since, Thomas Cook, and a growing clan of travel agents, has been encouraging us all to explore those lands that fall beyond our immediate gaze.

Sometimes, though, once cannot see the forest for the trees. How many of you have ever visited Leicester? As a city, Leicester may have something to offer the younger populations who can drag their parents around the National Space Centre, or to middle-aged visitors who can visit the cities Museums or venture farther afield to nearby Rutland Water. But I am 22 (just). Where do I (and you, our most favourable “youf” audience) fit-in to Leicester’s attractions?

Having grown up in Leicestershire, I feel I can tell you where Leicester fits into youth life: Summer Sundae.

The Summer Sundae Weekender is Leicester’s offering to the nation’s festival corpus. Set in the city icon De Montfort Hall and its gardens, the tranquil and appealing environment promotes a  festival vibe that is best observed horizontally: chilling to the max. With a drink in hand. And a little cocktail umbrella in it. And the obligatory ‘festival’ straw hat.

The 2011 line-up is brimming with premium alternative-to-pop talent, epitomised by the Friday night headliners The Maccabees who look set to kick-start the weekend with their engrossing, life-affirming approach to music and performances. Add in the appearance of local Ashby-de-la-Zouch heroes The Young Knives, riding high after their successful and acclaimed third album, Everything Everything, and Blood Red Shoes and Summer Sundae is lining up to showcase a fine mix of alternative festival crowd pleasers.

Offering  a host of artists climbing their way up the ‘recognition’ ladder (see: Kitty, Daisy and Lewis; Dry the River and Admiral Fallow) in addition to the likes of Example, mass-guilty pleasure McFly (I swear they are the only band who can have an album called ‘Motion in the Ocean’ that I won’t instantly disown) and Newton Faulkner even the more mainstream (not said with the disdain that the word receives in the NME, but through a broad smile and open arms) among us will fee fulfilled  in a weekend that caters for all.

Set in mid-August (12^th-14^th), Summer Sundae has a good track record of falling in the best that East Midland’s summer can offer and, festival revellers are likely to actually need that ‘festival’ straw hat for practical as well as fashion/scene requirements. So that’s a positive, scenesters.

The great, the unmistakeable and the unquestionable Steve Lamacq once described Summer Sundae as “The Grandson of Glastonbury” and I feel that nicely sums up the festival’s vibe. Summer Sundae is a festival that is often at risk of being overlooked but, if you were unlucky enough to miss out on tickets to the big-G, then maybe it’s time to visit Leicester for it’s very own Summer Sundae Weekender. August 12^th is time for the tourists to return.

If you would like to be one of the tourists tickets are still available: http://summersundae.com/tickets

For further line-up announcements and more watch this (web)space: http://summersundae.com/

Summer Sundae: 12-14^th August, De Montfort Hall Gardens, The Birthplace of Tourism (Leicester).