Regular readers of KlubKat may recall that we had certain reservations about the organisational aspects of last years event. We should say straight away that many of these had been rectified this time around. The venue, The Orsett Showground, was well signposted from the M25, and the car-parking nightmare of Thurrock 2000 failed to resurface. Last year we had arrived at the entrance gate already with negative thoughts in mind, but this year we were able to stroll happily into the venue without a care in the world. Full marks for taking stock of these important points.
Inside the event, a more traditional layout had been used than before, with the music stages set around the perimeter. At last years event the stages had been arranged in a circular pattern in the middle of the field, creating a fenced off backstage area from which the bands could come and go and to which equipment could be easily delivered and set up - we were also surprised and happy to find that the acoustics were near perfect in this arrangement, with no cross-over of sound between stages. Unfortunately, this years more traditional layout proved far less effective to us - we could hear the music at the rock stage, albeit in the distance, while trying to listen to the blues, for example. To set up equipment at each stage, there were vehicles driving back and forth across the event which also meant we had to take our lives into our hands crossing the venue on occasions. We much preferred the layout last year.
The musical standard of Thurrock 2001 was similar to the previous event, that is to say a great accumulation of unsigned acts covering the spectrum from blues through rock to hard punk - and if Rave is more your scene then you will be pleased to know that this was covered too through the disco and clubbing areas.
Thurrock is a showcase for up and coming musicians, some better than others - some of the stages are not to everyone's taste, but just about every genre is covered and each stage produces at least one exceptional act. This is what makes Thurrock special - it is a celebration of new music of every style.
For us, we still can't understand why Thurrock doesn't draw the crowds it deserves. Perhaps the organisers should reassess their advertising policy, which seems at the moment to be mainly internet based, to bring the festival to the attention of a wider audience. Of course the event would cost more to organise but hopefully the visitor numbers would more than make up for it…
A big name act would also draw the crowds and get media attention. We can appreciate that Thurrock is an underground music festival, but it often pays to have a showstopper or "media hook" simply for the attention it gets - after all, once people are in the event they will discover all these fantastic new bands!
