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Reviews & Interviews

Artist: Bernard
Genre: Rock
Performing: 5th July 2003 / Stage 3
Website Address: www.bernardonline.co.uk
Author: P Fletcher

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hmmm, its funny how life is sometimes - Madness were a short time away from going on stage, I was in a good position to see them yet I was being taken to see a local band play on the opposite side of the festival. It was one of those moments you feel life has dealt you a strange hand.
But as i approached stage 3 I caught my first glimps of Bernard as they took to the stage..... I think it was at that moment I remember thinking.... Bernard is a girl!! - a band called Bernard is one thing but having it fronted by a female singer threw me.

Standing at the back of the crowd I watched as they rolled into position. I then noticed a small kid of about 10 years old who joined them on stage wearing a Bernard T-Shirt - and he looked 100% ready to rock out - which was certainly cool in my book, I later discovered he was the son of the Bass player.
It all seemed to much to digest, was I in a rock-warp of some description, or had those festival lagers really go to me.... then the music started... one huge thunderous intro to their first song and I was hooked.

It wasn't the fact it was hard, fast, or powerful - it just seemed to naturally happen and i couldn't help but feel pleased I was there from the start. As one track moulded into the next the pace seemed to build to towards the airing of their debut single - these guys were apparently newly signed and also very local. How refreshing....

I was completely spellbound by vocalist Donna Dowling and her ability to sing as powerfully as she did - almost enough for those waiting to see Madness to hear ... and it wouldn't surprise me if they did.

It was also nice to see Tony Scott the festival organiser in the crowd too - it would appear it was the firast time he too had seen Bernard play and from the looks of things he liked what he saw.

But then it seemed to end, bernard were ploughing through their last song of the night, 30 minutes had past - and then they were gone leaving a stage empty yet ringing from what could only be described as a very powerful and enjoyable assault on the senses....

....and so I left to make my way back to catch Madness, but I must admit, I left feeling refreshed. I'm not sure what I had expected, or why I enjoyed it so much or even which day it was, but I definately chalking a mental note to look out for a female fronted band called Bernard.