Coventry Music Articles by Pete Clemons: Godiva Festival 2021

Godiva Festival 2021

Roddy (Radiation) Byers at Godiva Festival

After a couple of years away the Godiva Festival was back. And what an apparent success it was. What follows is a snapshot of the weekend, through my eyes only, and far from an attempt to cover the entire event. Apart from the music the Godiva Festival offers so much more.

Friday: With the gates due to open at 6pm, and the first band due on the main stage at 10 past 6 it was always going to touch and go, given the rightful and totally understandable security procedures that were in place, as to whether they played to any audience at all.

On the face of it, it seemed a little unfair given the effort of how the earlier main stage bands had battled through various stages of competition just to get there. That said both The Bad Divine and Candid stepped up to the plate and performed really well. So much so that they were far from upstaged by the more experienced headliners Therapy? And Supergrass.

Those who are now approaching middle age will certainly remember The Colosseum. Not that I was a frequent visitor to what is now known as Kasbah but Friday evening kind of reminded me of a 'Colly revisited' night.

Saturday: Yet again the earlier bands suffered almost the same fate as happened the previous evening. That said the main entrance had improved its throughput time for ticket holders and other entrants.

The result being that The Lloyd McGrath Collective and The Astras had a larger audience. Both bands giving a great account of themselves no doubt winning over a new legion of admirers. Not only had the entrance to the venue improved but so too had the weather.

Next up on the main stage was Roddy Radiation and the Skabilly Rebels. There was an audible gasp as Roddy entered the fray. He really did look the business dressed in 1950s style, three quarter length blue jacket complete with bootlace tie. That sense of audience reaction seemed to be picked up on stage and that, in turn, inspired the Skabilly Rebels into turning out a powerful performance.

As someone, far more wise than I, whispered in my ear at the end of the set 'that's what a not to be mentioned band is lacking right now'. And I couldn't help but agree. Later on during the afternoon, with the weather getting better by the hour, The Selecter turned out an equally crowd pleasing performance that include many of their hits.

Sunday: As I wandered around I was treated to Bollywood, Bhangra, Izzy Derry and, closing this most memorable of weekends, Sister Sledge. Again, the weather was on top form, almost touching 30 degrees.

Izzy Derry left an impression by way of being an acoustic performer with a difference. She was accompanied by a keyboard player who really added to her sound and contributed to the overall ambience.

Sister Sledge on the other hand just knew how to bring pure joy and energy. The funk influence of Nile Rodgers and Bernie Edwards was all over this performance. Hit after hit had a field full of people of all ages dancing from beginning to end.