Some words and images ‘care of’: Alan Dearling
A three day musical celebration. Loaded with DJs – including big names such as David Holmes and Sean Johnston. Almost all had worked closely with Andrew Weatherall who left the planet in 2020. He’s sadly missed by friends and his many musical admirers. Andrew would have been 61, during AW61. Over the weekend, there were also two live electronica sets from Radioactive Man, and Sons of Slough (a duo including Andrew Weatherall’s brother, Ian).
Radioactive Man: Keith Tenniswood
Keith Tenniswood is a British DJ, producer, and like Andrew W, a remixer. He was one half of the electronic act, Two Lone Swordsmen alongside Andrew Weatherall, and produces music on his own as Radioactive Man. He co-runs the Control Tower electro label with Simon Brown, and co-ran the Rotters Golf Club imprint with Weatherall. Tenniswood also worked with David Holmes on his album ‘Let’s Get Killed’ (1997), the Aloof, Red Snapper, Death in Vegas and Primal Scream.
In the PR ‘blurb’ it says, “Keith Tenniswood aka Radioactive Man’s performances feel like a sonic body experience, going from 130 beats per minute to 145 and back down.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHkUuQph0M0
Sons of Slough
Sons of Slough (SOS is the duo, Ian Weatherall and Duncan Gray) – and they are still living in a wonderful bright, colourful aura, following their apparently rather wonderful and critically acclaimed performance at Convenanza Festival. SOS have just returned to live duties and their first London gig in 19 years.
What makes SOS really rather great is that they combine, “Electronica, and keyboards that drift effortlessly into the world of deep dub and dancehall vibes.”
Here’s Sons of Slough ‘Live’, with New Order’s ‘In a Lonely Place’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-py7bPf2Wc
Ian Booth: “What a weekend, absolute class both nights. The live room was a bit chocka ‘n roasting… great atmosphere.” I’d add that upstairs was pretty rammed. Friendly, but mega-hot and smoke-filled.”
Flightpath Estate Volume 1
This album was also launched at the AW61 event. A double vinyl release, limited to 500 copies – no digital, no repress.
The Flightpath Estate in association with The Golden Lion, Todmorden, have compiled a double vinyl album, 10 tracks by 10 different artists who have an association with the late, much missed Andrew Weatherall.
Sounds From the Flightpath Estate includes 9 exclusive tracks, including a previously unavailable Two Lone Swordsmen track, an exclusive cover of Smokebelch by Andy Bell (Ride, Glok) and one-off recordings by Justin Robertson, Richard Sen, Hardway Bros, Timothy J. Fairplay, Sons Of Slough, Rude Audio, 10:40 and a world renowned Belfast based DJ and producer.
The Flightpath Estate is a group dedicated to the music, art and work of Andrew Weatherall which began life in 2013 and has become a virtual home to his fans, friends and family. It is also the host of the Weatherdrive, thousands of hours of recordings of Andrew Weatherall’s DJ sets, mixes and radio shows.
Sounds ‘From The Flightpath Estate’ is a compilation celebrating people and places, the outlook, aesthetic and music that Andrew Weatherall was known for, and the sense of community and love of music centred around The Golden Lion.
The sounds are forward-thinking, created with a deep understanding of the music of the past, but future-facing, dance floor oriented and made with love. Sleeve art by Personality Crisis.
During the AW61 weekend, there was a lot of merchandise on sale and even a special ale brewed by Coldwater Brewery from Manchester, who donated a plentiful supply for the party-dancers.
Clairebear Dollars:
“Thank you to everyone that donated, love you all…you raised about £2,000 through contributing to the Raffle and Auction that takes the total to around £17,000 over the past 4 years (I need to work it out properly with a cuppa when I’m home, going to charities that Andrew supported…
This time we decided to give back and support the people of Todmorden, so Matthanee Nilavongse (Gig from the Golden Lion) is going to give some to Incredible Edibles, after all, Andrew said it was ‘The Republic Of Todmorden’.”
One can almost feel Andrew Weatherall’s presence at his own AW61 celebration. Here he is at the controls at the Golden Lion in June 2019.
Ian Booth shares his own personal ‘story’ and some pics from the AW61 Weekender
“We set off from Liverpool at 7pm, full of anticipation and excitement like a kid on Christmas Eve. The postcode logged into the sat nav, tunes were on, and we were off to the Golden Lion in Todmorden for a weekend with the boys. The moment we see the pub, we know we’re in for a brilliant night (as Martha ‘n Damo are on the doorstep chatting to some cadets). Within ten minutes the curtains are drawn, and the disco lights come on, the music gets a lot louder. And LOUDER!
By 9pm we are upstairs in the live room, packed to the rafters and bouncing up ‘n down on the sprung-loaded dance floor. Radioactive Man had started his live set and it was tough right from the off, electro 303 and breakbeats. It reminded me of the Sabresonic nights I attended in London in the mid-‘90s. Deep down ‘n dirty, he had me locked into his groove. By 10pm the live room emptied out a bit, as David Holmes was setting up downstairs. I was staying right here, a little bit more room to move now and the beats got heavier and darker. The punters were loving the Radioactive Man vibes and whistling and cheering to every knob twist, which he gave a little nod of respect to us all, whilst bouncing around his set up. He played a rock solid 2 hour set and I can honestly say, it was one of the best live PA’s I’ve seen and heard in a club.
We ventured back downstairs and the bar area was bouncing, David Holmes was working his magic on the decks. So many familiar faces in the crowd, handshakes and hugs ‘n kisses as we squeezed through the mayhem. The vibe was ace and the music was deep and a little slower than upstairs. We find our friends in the thick of it all, one of them says “I thought you had got lost” I replied “I did, in the music” The rest of the night was off the scale. The energy in the place is unreal, David Holmes had done Andrew Weatherall and all involved proud.
That’s what’s special about this place, everyone knows you and remembers the fun we’ve had on the previous rave ups!
Round 2 on Saturday:
We head to the Golden Lion about 2pm, for a hair of the dog and to catch The Flightpath Estate Djs. As we walk in I can hear Andy Bell’s rendition of ‘Smokebelch’, which is on their fantastic compilation album put out on Golden Lion Sounds. I have to say, it’s a masterpiece of a double pack LP. We headed back out around 8pm-ish again, The Flightpath Estate Djs were still hard at it. The disco lights come on again and BOOM! We’re off upstairs… Sons of Slough are doing a live set. The room was totally packed out yet again. We wasn’t sure we would get in at one point. But we had to get inside, so we politely pushed our way through the mass of people and bumped into a few more scousers we know. Sons Of Slough ripped the roof off, there was elements of Soundclash Republic in their new tracks. Their set flowed seamlessly and the place erupted on every breakdown, it was so hot up there. We headed back downstairs, where Sean Johnston had the ALFOS (Another Love from Outer Space) chug well and truly going. (Alan adds: Here are images from ALFOS 2019 with Andrew and Sean in action and a fab signed painting of them too!)
It wasn’t long until Duncan Gray squeezed through the chaos on the dance floor to join Sean on the decks. The music was top class all night long. We danced our socks off in honour of ‘The Guv’nor’ on his 61st birthday.
If you have never been to Todmorden, just get yourself an Airbnb and join in the fun at the best pub on the planet. I’ve been clubbing since 1986 and have had some of the best nights of my life, but I’ve never felt so at home in a venue out of town. Gig and Waka who run the Golden Lion, make everyone feel so welcome and they’ve created the friendliest monster! The spirit of acid house lives on forever and ever… Amen 😁⚔️❤️”
Ian Booth
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