One of the real great perks of moving to Nottingham is the great music culture this city has. Every May it hosts its very own one day festival (part of the three day three cities music festival) the Dot-to-Dot festival. It's possibly the biggest indoor festival one can find in the UK! It also has food stalls on Talbot str. outside the two main venues, Rock City and Rescue Rooms so you do get an outdoor feel also!

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This year 24 venues opened their doors and welcomed gig-goers. ​Here is just a small part of the leaflet of set times and festival info. Most venues opened their doors at midday or 1pm and closed well into the early hours of Monday. 

Each venue must have had about 12 artists/bands. I actually counted all the artists to be 80 artists/bands in Nottingham on one Sunday! If that's not awesome...I don't know what is!!

Well, to be completely honest, what excited me more about the festival was that 'Cigarettes after sex' (see Dot-to-Dot festival banner above) were set to play. I had found them on youtube on one of those band surf searching ( the one everyone does to discover new music!). I was so excited to actually find a band and later find out that they would be gigging in my own town! Alas, they withdrew (and I later found out they went to The Green Man festival - not cool dudes! - it's too far away).
So, Saturday night, I diligently read my d2dfestival leaflet, noted down the artists I was interested in, or thought I would be interested as I didn't know most of them... I did my 'judge a book by its cover' choices - in this case 'judge a band/artist by their name'.  Went to bed, fairly late I might add, and woke up on Sunday at 2pm!!! Ah yes, here is a small personal trait, weekends I just can't get myself to get up unless it's a complete emergency! I have lost trains, missed hairdressing appointments, specsaver's appointments, etc. Nothing can get me up - not even earthquakes (they don't constitute an emergency)!!! 

Even though I had all the good intentions to hear as many gigs as possible - my subconscious didn't think it was an emergency so I was not awoken on time. ( I think I may had been disappointed by the absence of 'Cigarettes after sex' ). By the time I got ready, freshly bathed and all, emailed a few friends and family, cleaned up the house a bit, you get the gist... I hopped on the bus at 5pm. Of course, I was extremely hungry by then so stopped by Wagamama for my favorite Chicken Donburi Teriyaki. De-licious!​

Straight after food, I went to Rock City. The venue was filled with teenagers. Packed venue. Sticky sticky floor.  I stuck myself close to the entrance, next to the -what I would call- DJ hut. As I was surrounded by teenagers, The 'Rat Boy' got on stage. Yeah, when I read the name, I didn't think much of it but he was in big font on the banner so I thought I should give him a try.  When I heard the songs, I still didn't think much of it. 

The venue was nicely lit. Colorful. The audience was having a great time. They knew all lyrics and sang along. 

There was a camera following the band and the lead singer on stage so I suppose they were making their music video. I guess that made the crowd more keen as when the camera was pointed towards their directions the crowd roared. At some point, the lead singer was so 'into' the song (I have no clue what he was singing about! I would describe it as [indistinct loud murmur]!!) he threw his beer at the crowd. They yelled out of joy as they got soaked with beer. All I could think was: PRAISE THE LORD I WASN'T IN THE FRONT ROW.

While all this was going on in the front of the gig, at the rear - where I was standing, correction I was stucking - a couple was dancing to the indistinct loud murmur, bumping into me. They weren't bumping into me rhythmically, just annoyingly. I stepped a bit further, I guess they took it as a sign for them to dance in a bigger space - still bumping into me. Two more steps further - still the same. ( they had quite some space  - it wasn't that overcrowded at the rear to avoid my back). 

As you can tell, I decided to end my ordeal 20 minutes into the gig!!! ( I bet it took you longer to read it than me to live it!). I left the main venue of Rock City and went to the basement but 'The Rubens' were to start at 7:45 after the 'Rat Boy' finished. I wasn't going to wait that long! So I decided to leave and head towards Rescue Rooms ( the venues are next to each other).

That Rescue Room is just too complicated. I got lost again! Went into the main doors. Got into the bar. They had an acoustic session. I suppose the background of my search of the Subculturelive stage was 'Holly Taylor-gamble'. I'm sorry to say - I didn't pay attention to the songs at all! After circling the bar (literally a perfect circle) I ordered my usual soft drink and showed the bartender the leaflet. 'Excuse me where is this?' and pointed at the venue. (Total blonde moment there). 'Through those double doors'. He indicated to the left. I look and think, how did I not see those doors when I circled the premises? 
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I approach the doors, open them and AHHHH, I say to myself 'what a voice!'. What a lovely voice Georgie has! Beautiful strong voice. Between songs she thanked her audience for coming to see her. She thanked 'all those familiar faces'. Apparently she has song many times at the d2d festival and is native to Notts. 

She also said she was working on an album. I hope she releases it soon. Unfortunately, it's been months since I attended the festival and cannot  remember the songs she sang but after all these months I can remember that I was impressed! 
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I cannot remember the songs but here is a youtube video I found of her singing. Her voice filled the room. She only used her guitar but it seemed like a full band. She is a skillful artist and I do hope to hear her again. I will be on the lookout for Georgie. Perhaps I like her so much because she reminds me of a country voice. I think, though, that she did sing 'Black Velvet' or something rockish and she rocked it!
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After Georgie, I had to leave and meet some friends for a fast drink at Spanky Van Dykes (that's the name of the venue!). After an hour of a fast catch up I headed back to the Rescue Rooms (faster this time - I didn't get lost!) The stage was being set for 'The Sherlocks'. I have known them for a while through their song  'Last night'. I also like their band name. 

When they stepped foot on stage I was surprised of how young they were! I guess I should have given a better look at their music videos!! They looked like sixteen year old boys. As they sang along I did notice that the band seemed to be in some kind of bad mood between them. It kind of felt that the one guitar player was the 'outsider'. Might be my imagination but their on stage chemistry was somewhat weird. Perhaps they are a new band and have to mold their 'act' a bit. 
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Sound-wise, they were great. Skillful musicians and good vocals. I really like the lead singer's voice. The venue filled up a bit more since Georgie but it wasn't full. I found that interesting as I find The Sherlocks of greater quality than Rat Boy, yet Rat Boy was packed. 

I know they will be gigging again in Notts so I will see them one more time to make up my mind about them. The first taste was good.

By the time The Sherlocks were done the time was 9:45pm. I left the venue and went back to meet my friends at Spanky Van Dykes ( I will never get used to that venue's name!!!). 

Dot-to-Dot Festival 2017 tickets are already on early bird sale. Will be buying mine this week and will try and attend a full day of gigs next year. I will be one year older and wiser and free of residues of student living (aka too old to wake up at 2pm - hopefully).

Dot-to Dot Festival 2017 early bird tickets on sale