All Tomorrows Parties

In 1999 Belle and Sebastian main man Stuart Murdoch organised a music festival in a south coast holiday camp.  This was not only a festival with a decent line up of bands, it was a festival with real beds, real toilets, and real showers.  A sandy beach took the place of muddy fields, and even when it rained on the first day an indie supergroup formed from Belle and Sebastian, V-Twin and Sodastream busked to keep the queue entertained.  Amongst the fans who flocked to the event from around the world were many members of Sinister, Belle and Sebastian's unofficial mailing list.  For the Sinister massive Bowlie was as much a social event as a musical one, and when Looper's appearance in the football competition clashed with their soundcheck a replacement five-a-side team was hastily formed from the Sinister presence.  The team went on to the final of the competition where they were only defeated on penalties by the Camera Obscura team.

When a second event was organised by Mogwai, was cancelled, and then rescheduled for April 2000, many of the Sinister crowd returned, hoping to recreate the atmosphere of the original event, and also to take their rightful place as champions in the football competition.  Representing Slot Jockey they achieved a glorious victory against the NME in the final of the five-a-side, but how did the rest of the festival compare to last year?   We decided to find out.

Joe Brooker

How did you get to Camber Sands?

The sun shone with optimism as I headed up the track to London Bridge. Then a train past villages with exciting picturesque names, about which I must remember to write a song or two. Pluckley. Headcorn. But not Bat And Ball. Ashford International: thrills of hi-tech railway travel of the future, a Trans-Connex Express. The Eurostar hurtled past and made space-age noise better than any ATP act. Each train to Rye was crammed with pallid Kids dressed in the motley uniform of... The Kids, sardine-packed against windows as though being shunted across a refugee border. The sense of *convergence* was momentous. Rye felt like a branch line stop out of WH Audrey. Shopping in Budgens: the intriguing contrast and ambiguous mixing of two worlds, the locals and the visiting subculture, if it can be so called. Swelter of the bus stop; abominable rudeness and arrogance of the kids - another kind of 'kids' - on the bus. It was gratifying to hurl insults at the departing vehicle.

There were loads of bands playing over the weekend, roughly how many did you manage to see?

Um: most of : High Llamas, Delgados, Stereolab; Snow Patrol, Sonic Youth; Wire, Mogwai. Fragments of Alfie, The For Carnation, Gorky's ZM, Papa M. Probably more that I don't recall right now. Plus: One member of the Boo Radleys. Wandering members of The Chemistry Experiment, Bug, Holiday, the Foxgloves, and Belle and Sebastian. Backing vocals from Alasdair Cook.

Did you see any bands that particularly impressed you?

Not *particularly*, no. Of a bad bunch I think Delgados and Stereolab may have stood out - but even they were poor.

Were any bands a real disappointment?

Yes: Delgados, Stereolab (!), Sonic Youth, Snow Patrol... Every single one, in a sense, save that I wasn't expecting much from some.

What did you do when you weren't watching the bands?

Not necessarily in this order: Eating (whole wheat bisk in chalet); drinking (overpriced bar booze, plus glorious delights of plenty gin back at chalet); inviting people back to ours; following people back to theirs. Playing footy on the beach. Taking countless photos. Wondering why I hadn't put a film in the camera. Loading camera. Taking countless photos. Walking. Talking. Comparing the environment to university. Feeling that I knew people better, and liked them more, the more time went by. Meeting new, unknown people. Forgetting their names. Staying awake. Eating more whole wheat bisk. Cooking pasta and losing a fish slice. Feeling grateful to Nick Dastoor for rescuing fish slice. Hearing that 60s Who good, 70s Who bad. Debating whether Stereolab had been a disappointment. Tingling with expectation of the hours still to come, the things still to do, with people I liked. Buying honey at 9am. Eating it like I was back home. Hearing the Go-Betweens, and still feeling them not up to the Cure's level. Hearing Diana Ross, and thinking her appropriate. Looking at the skies. Writing notes. Scribbling lyrics I'll never use as an attempt to pass the time while the Sonic Youth impostors droned on. Becoming excited and impressed at the progress of Slot Jockey in the football. Devising anti-NME chants for the final. Listening to Papercuts' C188 CD in the early evening sun, and thinking the disc had finally found its proper moment and made perfect sense. Partying without going out. Staying awake. Playing songs by Lloyd Cole, Belle and Sebastian, Glen Campbell, Shop Assistants, etc. Watching the sun rise. Going to the beach alone on last morning and bashing out old Glo-Worm and Castaway Stones hits for an empty stretch of sand and dog-walkers. Leaving in a very poor state, wondering whether I could make it home after such minimal sleep.

How did it compare to Bowlie last year?

I spent that in London. Compared to that, ATP was much more of a 'South Coast Pontin's' experience.

Do you think you will go again next year?

To London, certainly. To Camber Sands, not unless there's a pop festival on.

Alasdair Cook

How did you get to Camber Sands?

By bus from Glasgow then a long arduous train journey from London to Rye. Finally a bus to Camber.

There were loads of bands playing over the weekend, roughly how many did you manage to see?

About 6 I think.

Did you see any bands that particularly impressed you?

Yeah, I thought Stereolab were very good and also Gorkys, who I'd never seen before.

Were any bands a real disappointment?

Mogwai were a little disappointing, given they were headlining.

What did you do when you weren't watching the bands?

Drank, won the five-a-side football competition, caught up with lots of friends, made some new ones, sang, burned copies of Select on a big fire. The usual...

How did it compare to Bowlie last year?

Slightly different feel to it, no B&S obviously which takes something away. Overall possibly not as good as Bowlie, but still fantastic in it's own right.

Do you think you will go again next year?

Definetely, unless I'm unlucky enough to have exams at the time.

Kevan Cooke

How did you get to Camber Sands?

The train and then the bus, both of which were entirely unprepared for the thousands of extra passengers.   We were waiting ages for a bus in Rye, and the schools chucked out just before the bus finally arrived, resulting in an unsavoury slanging match with the hard schoolgirls sat at the back.

There were loads of bands playing over the weekend, roughly how many did you manage to see?

I think I saw just two full sets all weekend, and glimpses of various other bands that mostly weren't my sort of thing.

Did you see any bands that particularly impressed you?

I've been left a bit cold by Stereolab's recent releases, so seeing them play on top form was like falling in love all over again.  Labradford were absolutely stunning, and I was left wishing I'd managed to get there earlier when I caught the end of Pram's set.  The best thing I saw all weekend was actually Joe Brooker's acoustic set on the beach as the sun came up on Sunday morning, the kids were chanting his name as he disappeared over the dunes.

Were any bands a real disappointment?

Not really, though I'd expected something more from Wire - they sounded like a second rate punk band to me.   Maybe if I had a better grasp of their historical context I might have better appreciated what they were doing.  My biggest disappointment was that Tindersticks weren't playing - they'd been on the original line up last year.

What did you do when you weren't watching the bands?

Eating, drinking, telling Sinister's five-a-side star player Alasdair Cook that he had to play however ill he was.   Marvelling at Calumn Shearer's ability to talk anyone into doing anything.

How did it compare to Bowlie last year?

The security guards didn't threaten to throw us off the site this year, which was nice.  Overall it lacked some of the magic of last year, but was still an excellent way to spend a weekend.

Do you think you will go again next year?

Oh yes.

Travis Elborough

How did you get to Camber Sands?

I seemed to be travelling by a series of cattle trucks until someone reminded me it was actually a couple of trains followed by a bus.

There were loads of bands playing over the weekend, roughly how many did you manage to see?

I took a rather lax approach to seeing the bands. There were few bands whose entire set I watched. I tended to pop in and see a few numbers or noodles and then wander on. I probably saw at least 15 or so bands in this fashion.

Did you see any bands that particularly impressed you?

Stereolab and the High Llamas were both magnificent and Pram were quite jolly.

Were any bands a real disappointment?

I'm not sure if i can say I was really disappointed by Arab Strab and SFA, I never expected them to be any good in the first place, but they did at least confirm my prejudices. Plone were rather slack, even though they did have a few technical problems, they hardly exerted themselves.

What did you do when you weren't watching the bands?

Enjoyed the convivial company of other ATP-ers, basked in the glow of the sun on the sandy beaches. Watched Planet of the Apes and Play it Again Sam on the chalet T.V and I think there might have been the odd glass of beer or two.

How did it compare to Bowlie last year?

Er unfortunately I was unable to go last year so I can offer no comparison.

Do you think you will go again next year?

Yes. Only wild horses and a line-up of Goth bands would probably keep me away.

Stephen Hewitt

How did you get to Camber Sands?

It was a rather convoluted journey, National Express to London, Tube across London (next morning), Train to SuperSpaceAgeAshford, Train to Rye, Bus to camber, with various walking bits inbetween :)

There were loads of bands playing over the weekend, roughly how many did you manage to see?

Errr, um, Arab Strap, Stereolab and the Delgados were the only bands i saw the complete set of. Saw portions of For Carnation, Plone, Pram, Bardo Pond (although i thought they were Sigur Ros at the time), Gorkys, and a five minute gap between Fly Pan Am and GYBE, oh and nattered to my mate for the first 20 mins of Mogwai

Did you see any bands that particularly impressed you?

The Strap, as usual, were ACE, although it was the most sober i've ever been when seeing them (possibly the only time over the weekend i *was* feeling sober). The middle of the set (Here We Go, New Birds, Girls of Summer) was explosive. The For Carnation were pretty kewl too, but I was surrounded by WANKERS talking very loudly during very quiet music.

Were any bands a real disappointment?

Not really, as i stayed in the bar instead of watching Sonic Youth :) (whatever you do don't forget Jim's eloquent review of Sonic Youth ie pulling his t-shirt over his head and then banging it against the wall). My only disappointment was the lack of an indieschmindie disco to dance the nite away

What did you do when you weren't watching the bands?

As far as i was concerned the bands were getting in the way of the boozing and socialising. Watched the footy, went to the beach, had a party, called people fackin' cants, met lots and lots of lovely people, sang china in your hand and other GRATE 80s hits, discussed and disected the new B&S album, oh, and drank copious amounts of BOOOOOOZE

How did it compare to Bowlie last year?

The weather was a bit better, the music was less to my taste, they didn't run out of booze behind the bar, the bar was open later, I knew some people before i got there, I met loads more people. Overall probably not as exciting as last year (it was my first time seeing B&S, and meeting sinister types) but still a bloody good weekend (and we won the footy this year :))

Do you think you will go again next year?

Weeeell, if everyone else is, i suppose so, go on, twist my arm a bit more :) Short of being penniless on the streets I imagine I'll be going again. What do tortoise sound like anyway?

Sean Hopson

How did you get to Camber Sands?

i drove in my super 70's sporty car but i left too late and missed scott 4 :-(

There were loads of bands playing over the weekend, roughly how many did you manage to see?

went to check out loads, but stayed for only a few whole sets....these were stereolab, ligament, ..and you will know us by the trail of the dead, sigur ros, mogwai. not very many is it?

Did you see any bands that particularly impressed you?

...and you will know us by the trail of the dead. completely unexpected and the best band all weekend. i'd read some reviews which had described them as some kind of goth/prog crossover. how far off the mark can you be?

Were any bands a real disappointment?

wire (dull). sonic youth were unbelievably bad and there should have been a riot. i used to *love* sonic youth...they were great live...ah well.

What did you do when you weren't watching the bands?

played football :-) ate cheese snadwiches drank myself silly

How did it compare to Bowlie last year?

very different. most of the bands at ATP were not really my kind of thing (postrock = progrock IMHO), but i didn't let that get in my way. saw old friends, met new people, drank beer. nice. oh, and have i mentioned football at all?

Do you think you will go again next year?

if i'm in the country, undoubtedly

Michael Jones

How did you get to Camber Sands?

Rail (London Br-Ashford: fun), rail (Ashford-Rye: claustrophobic discomfort), bus (Rye-Camber: battles wiv da kidz). Getting back was worse.

There were loads of bands playing over the weekend, roughly how many did you manage to see?

Five in their entirety, bits of three others.

Did you see any bands that particularly impressed you?

Labradford were spellbinding. I particularly enjoyed the happy sonic accident whereby their relentless sub-bass pulse modulated the chatter of the ignorami behind me, transforming it into complementary debris. I wanted to shake each conversationalist by the hand afterwards for their unwitting contribution to my enjoyment.

Were any bands a real disappointment?

No. With a resounding lack of adventure, I only went to see bands I really liked and they all delivered. Having said that, I was on the payphone in the corridor during much of Plone, missing the technical problems that apparently derailed their set.

What did you do when you weren't watching the bands?

Watched in awe as the sublime Slotjockey trounced the IPC prose-monkies in the 5-a-side. Drank and talked and walked and failed to sleep. "Play It Again, Sam".

How did it compare to Bowlie last year?

Somehow last year felt like 'our' festival (literally dozens of friends and acquaintances taking over one corner of the Queen Vic; the supreme B&S headlining; hiring a double-decker bus to carry 60 souls down from Victoria), while at this one I felt more like a trespasser - having little time for the organising band or their acolytes. Not that I don't carry away a sparkly satchel full of warm memories. The weather was better for a start.

Do you think you will go again next year?

Despite the nagging sense that I'm getting too old for this sort of thing, if Tortoise really deliver a bill of delights, I might be persuaded.

Alex Mayor

How did you get to Camber Sands?

the increasing farce of british rail. it took about 3 hours door to door...

There were loads of bands playing over the weekend, roughly how many did you manage to see?

um... lets see... stereolab/Highllamas, gorky's, plone ( both songs!), pram, and a couple of SFA numbers... I realise that this isn't looking good for numbers but really it would have interupted all the other larks...

Did you see any bands that particularly impressed you?

stereolab were top, so bouncy. high llamas playing "tracks go by" - always a hypnotic joy.

Were any bands a real disappointment?

It sort of dawned on my by sat afternoon that musically it was going to be like being trapped in covent garden Rough Trade for 72 hours; we beat hasty and periodic retreats to the chalet to top up on melody courtesy of Mr Tony Bennet, Mr Frank Sinatra and Jackson Browne (!). However the biggest let down was the dj-ing. Hopeless! What a whole afternoon of being trapped at a Sussex Synthesizer Convention needs in the evening is SOME BLOODY TUNES! Walked onto the main dance floor with a companion confidently making a 50/50 each-way bet on Peel playing either the bhundu boys or the Fall. (it was the Fall). Very nice and all, but you don't go out to a nightclub to hear kirsty macColl now do you? I blame mogwai...

What did you do when you weren't watching the bands?

imbibed a tremendous amount of rather dubious lager served by the inbred chaps behind the bar, watched planet of the apes whilst the other boys in our chalet went and played football. Slowly realised we were among the B+S/Sinister 'massiv' (bit slow on the uptake there) and tried to reign in my anti-fey comments a little ;-)

How did it compare to Bowlie last year?

Didn't make it last year due to a prior contractural engagement in The Bull and Gate. Not that I'm bitter...

Do you think you will go again next year?

Weirdly yes. It was a fantastically social weekend that was only marred by most of the musical bill. Met lots of lovely people, hung about on the beach, drank stupid red drinx, and the sun shone... Despite the slightly worrying news that Tortoise are "curating" in 2001 I can't think of a more amusing way to spend 3 days by the sea. Who knows... maybe we'll be playing next year! (unlikely I realise!)

Amos Memon

How did you get to Camber Sands?

we drove. complete with hitchhikers.

There were loads of bands playing over the weekend, roughly how many did you manage to see?

i saw exactly 17 bands. (not all full sets obviously!)

Did you see any bands that particularly impressed you?

clinic, alfie and papa m in that order

Were any bands a real disappointment?

well, i was anticipating all sonic youth's hits + more. i should have read the programme more carefully. so i felt disappointed at first, but then realised it was sonic youth and they've been around so long they can do whatever the heck they want to.

What did you do when you weren't watching the bands?

Washing up.

How did it compare to Bowlie last year?

atp was the sit down mellow festival, bowlie was get up and dance and atp had a burning man.

Do you think you will go again next year?

i hope so. i wanna see kraftwerk

David Moore

How did you get to Camber Sands?

Car (One and a half hours door to door!)

There were loads of bands playing over the weekend, roughly how many did you manage to see?

12 whole sets, 3 part ones

Did you see any bands that particularly impressed you?

Godspeed You Black Emperor, Arab Strap, The For Carnation, Sigur Ros, Papa M

Were any bands a real disappointment?

Sonic Youth

What did you do when you weren't watching the bands?

Sit in the pub, walk on the beach, cook & eat, bitch about fellow Sinisterines

How did it compare to Bowlie last year?

OK, but: 1. I didn't see as many bands that were new to me who really impressed me & made me want to buy their records However, maybe as I knew more people there than at The Bowlie, I possible spent more time "hanging out" at ATP when I should have been checking more bands, 2. For me, the Bowlie built through the weekend to a climax with B&S' set on the Sunday (which was bluddy grate). At ATP I thought that Mogwai were OK (I like them, have all their records), but their set grew tiresome & I wanted it to finish.

Do you think you will go again next year?

Probably, as I really love Tortoise. It would depend on the final bill, though. However, when you take into account what a provincial person such as myself can pay in petrol/rail fares, food & drink, tickets, etc. just to see ONE band in town, seeing a dozen alright to excellent bands at a similar weekender is a good deal.

Sally Moore

How did you get to Camber Sands?

By car

There were loads of bands playing over the weekend, roughly how many did you manage to see?

I think about 12.

Did you see any bands that particularly impressed you?

Arab Strap were 'GRATE', Papa M were very impressive and I thought Mogwai were pretty good too.

Were any bands a real disappointment?

I hate to be so predictable but it has to be Sonic Youth, I did like the last song but that's because it was the only real 'song' they played.

What did you do when you weren't watching the bands?

went to the Beach, drank far too much (and embarrassed myself), watched our beloved Stuart & the sinister boyz win the football.

How did it compare to Bowlie last year?

It was a fun weekend but nothing could possibly compare to the amazing Belle & Sebastian set which made last year so brilliant.

Do you think you will go again next year?

I would like to but at the moment the list of proposed bands looks far too dodgy.

Martin Robinson

How did you get to Camber Sands?

In the purple thing formerly known as Jim's sister's trusty motor.

There were loads of bands playing over the weekend, roughly how many did you manage to see?

About a dozen, maybe even of the baker's variety.

Did you see any bands that particularly impressed you?

And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead rocked their little arses off in a quite splendid little Saturday afternoon performance. Papa M played some fantastic heart tugging little ditties later on too. They were my faves.

Were any bands a real disappointment?

I doubt if anyone's mentioned Sonic Youth have they? And what I saw of Mogwai was pretty pants but that was pretty much as expected.

What did you do when you weren't watching the bands?

Got shitfaced, smoked fags, played about 5 or 10 minutes of celebrity football, went to the beach to get more shitfaced, sat in the pub and got shitfaced and ummm.... had a bit of a sleep before getting shitfaced again.

How did it compare to Bowlie last year?

Less of a fantastic surprise more of a spectacular sociable piss up with a few delectable musical treats.

Do you think you will go again next year?

Neil Young, Kraftwerk, Autechre & Tortoise?? What the hell if the pubs open....

Paul Sallis

How did you get to Camber Sands?

5 of us drove down from Southampton. We ended-up taking 2 cars though cos' of the amazing amount of random tat we decided was essential holiday gear (decent stereo, bucket'n'spade, etc.). Oh and I nearly lost one of my passengers on-the-road cos' Dave decided that a slow moving traffic-jam would be the perfect opportunity for him to hop out of the car, peg-it down the road looking v. shady as he searched for a suitably secluded wee niche to 'relieve the internal anguish' (<-- his words, not mine!). And of course as soon as he was out of sight the traffic began gliding along smoothly + consistently like golden syrup from the spoon of inevitability.

There were loads of bands playing over the weekend, roughly how many did you manage to see?

I managed to see a fair whack thats for sure, probably more than I caught last year - although most of what I do remember has a vague 'viewed through beer goggles' feel to it. If forced at gun-point I'd have to blubber like a baby and then say "I saw about 14 bands, well maybe less, just please don't kill me mister" through a hail of tears + runny-nosed wailing.

Did you see any bands that particularly impressed you?

Yeah, Labradford were tops. I arrived late into the set, but as soon as I sauntered into the second stage I knew 'something' was going down. There was a kind of hushed awe to everything especially the crowd (evident in body, talk, and even the way they smoked), and as soon as you entered the room you were whisked full into it. Sitting on the floor, listening to those wonderful sounds drift through me, staring into the etheral blue light so that it resembled a tunnel with faceless grey forms shuffling about just on the perimeter of the light, everything, it all led to a v. strange experience that did nice things to my brain. Oh, StereoLab + Gorky's were ace too.

Were any bands a real disappointment?

Sonic Youth were a real shame what with their "experimental set" - grr! Its a shame cos' so many people (myself included) were really looking forward to them, they promised us magic but all we got was cheap conjuring tricks + drawnout tomfoolery. At one point I thought they were going to get lynched by the mummering crowd of people sick of the self-indulgent wank on offer. The Super Furries were a wee bit drab too, sure they're a tight band who made lots of nice sounds but you could tell that their heart just wasn't in it.

What did you do when you weren't watching the bands?

We spent most of Saturday on the beach, missing a few of the early bands (though it was worth it, God it was a gorgeous day!), and I managed to get quite impressively sunburnt which turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the chalet was positively arctic at night, so my warm glowing skin was a bonus and no mistake.

How did it compare to Bowlie last year?

Thats a tricky one what with my awful memory to rely upon. It seems so pretetious saying "well of course the first Bowlie was better, it had better bands, nicer people, less water in the beer, fewer pebbles on the beach, more oxygen in the air, etc. etc.", but I think it might actually be true: Mogwai are ok but they're not exactly my cup of tea (for my delicate palette I find them more Typhoo than Tetley I'm afraid), so a festival organised by them with, no doubt, their devout following in mind as the target audience didn't quite match what 'I' was after (I mean blimey did you see how many war and/or violent films they chose for Bowlie TV, thats a scary indicator of the Mogwai mindset. They also got Shellac to play and they scared me quite frankly, as did Ten Benson's string-vest + hat combination.) Whereas last year stands out so much in my mind just because of Belle & Sebastians spine-tingling awesome set, and the fact that I was so excited about seeing them for the first time. Also Looper, the Flaming Lips, + Cornelius all played absolute blinders last year. Err, and Sleater Kinney + Jon Spencer et al were rather marvellous too - wait a minute, now the fog of sketchiness has been lifted from my memory the acts last year rawked like absolute mutha's!!! But the bands aside, you bring with you the desire to have fun, and as long as you have this you can't go far wrong.

Do you think you will go again next year?

Oh yeah, if I can afford it again + if the line-up looks good, definitely! Who's organising it next year? - its Tortoise I think, and I reckon they just might come up with the best line-up to date, but we'll see, heres hoping with baited breath and all that...

Jim Taylor

How did you get to Camber Sands?

i drove, with only on little incident on the way (driving under a truck) which i didn't tell martin, richard & vince about as that might have scared them. i also hate cars - it wasn't mine.

There were loads of bands playing over the weekend, roughly how many did you manage to see?

fri 5 - (arrived late) sat - 5 sun 6 didn't watch all of most of these though.

Did you see any bands that particularly impressed you?

sigur ros, shellac as usual, moggers were good to finish on but i was too tired.

Were any bands a real disappointment?

sonic youth in themselves - then others i was probably just too knackered to get into

What did you do when you weren't watching the bands?

playing football & drinking

How did it compare to Bowlie last year?

not as much fun, but still top weekend. was less focused on the music this year which kind of surprised me. paying to play footie isn't supposed to be the plan.....strange priorities...missing bands and all crowds of people was mostly important

Do you think you will go again next year?

quite probably