East London played host to a hotch potch of glorious new and alternative music last Thursday night for the annual Stag & Dagger Festival. Armed with a neon wristband I scampered all over Shoreditch to uncover some mighty fine venues and even finer bands. The line up included Dels, No Joy, Ghostpoet, Cocknbullkid, James Yuill and Beat Connection. It was an overwhelming concoction of artists and in order to cover all venues and see all the bands, I would have needed a very fast bicycle or an obliging dragon to fly me around. So without either of these it was my task to be selective.

First stop was the Village Underground a cavernous warehouse, with huge ceilings and an authentic musty smell. There playing were Echo Lake whose angular noises provided an immaculate introduction to the night. They were followed by the much hyped – Mazes, looking like an oddball mix of characters, they came together – three guitars strong – to play a tremendously jangly and dramatic set. There was a beautiful array of music from all ends of the spectrum, and upon stumbling into Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen I found myself in a dream world of dark and floaty stuff from Gatekeeper, and after swiftly dabbling in that I rushed off to the Spread Eagle where The Brute Chorus were half way through a roaring set – the rock and rolling sound of ‘Birdman’ rikashayed off the kitsch decor and even though I couldn’t see them because it was packed and I’m short – The Brute Chorus most definitely lived up to their name as one of the best live bands going.

An exhausting and spine tingling night was had by all – my only regret being that I didn’t catch Beat Connection – darn the lack of obliging dragons!

Echo Lake @ Village Underground

Mazes @ Village Underground