It's a kind of sunny day. There's a lot of sun, it's very hot, but then it goes cloudy and cool. Will it rain? Won't it? The weather can't make up its mind today. Fortunately, everyone else in Gloucester Park can: today is going to be another great day of music in the city.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes:

One of the first bands on stage in the band tent is The Arcane. They are not supposed to be here. Thanks to other bands pulling out, there are going to be a couple of changes to the line up. But that doesn't matter. Along with The Holloh, this band are an excellent way to get things going.

The Arcane are Scott (bass and vocal), Chris (guitar) and Spreece (drums), and they play a fast and furious brand of metallic punk. Their set starts up with a straight version of "Stand by Me" that gets progressively less straight and more rocky.

Audience (non) Participation:

There's a lot of banter between the band members during the set. Chris and Scott ask the audience what they think of Spreece, joking about how bad he is at playing the drums.

All through their set, they will try to get the audience to "run around". It doesn't work. It's far too early in the day for that kind of thing. Annoyed with the crowd's determination to stay still, Scott tells them that his grandmother could run around faster.

Oi!

It's a pity, because the music is energetic and buoyant. In places it sounds like the skate punkiness of the 4 Foot Fingers who were in the tent last year. This is particularly true of "This is Me" with its "Oi Oi Oi Oi" chants.

It's a song that "Goes out to everyone who hates their parents" and is definitely a crowd pleaser. Still, nobody's dancing, but some people do try the occasional tentative "Oi!".

The last track "is our reggae number". "White Reggae" is certainly that. The band offer it as the last chance for people to dance. Unsurprisingly, nobody wants to. Though they really should. The bass chugs out a heavy riff while the guitars hits the off beat chords. A great end to a great set.

Arcane Gifts:

Afterwards, I catch up with the band to find out a bit more about them. They're a generous bunch - they give me a pin badge. I will wear it proudly for the rest of the day.

Predictably, I ask the band where they get their name from. The answer is surprisingly obvious: "The dictionary". Where else. The band was struggling to come up with a name when they resorted to the book. "It means old and mysterious," Scott explains. Do they consider themselves old and mysterious? "No, we just liked the word," they say.

Lyrics and Inspiration:

Next, I ask the band about their songs. In particular, I ask about "This is Me". Do they really hate their parents? I ask. The reply is no, not really. It's a song about parents not seeing your way of thinking.

"We tend to write about whatever's there," Scott explains. "You can't choose to write a song, it's just there. We write about our experiences, but try to put them in a general context."

Plans:

And what are the plans for the band? "We're going to be recording over the next two weeks. We'll be working on a six track E.P. with songs that we did today."

So that's another CD to look out for. If it's anywhere near as good as today's performance, it will be well worth getting a copy. Just don't let your parents hear it.

Small Axe:

Now for something completely different. The main stage is playing host to Small Axe. If memory serves, they were here last year. Small Axe are a reggae act, always a popular choice in the festival if last year's Explosive Nzakomba was anything to go by.

People dance along in the summer heat, young and old alike. The more reserved among us, like The Arcane's audience, nod our heads. There are scorching saxophones, heavy basses and gorgeous gravely voices. There are also much loved songs. "One Love" puts in a welcome appearance, and by the end there are calls for "more, more, more".

Jayl:

Next up comes Jayl. He comes replete with his band and dancing troupe, including a new singer and drummer.

The first song up is "Sorcery". The song is well documented on other pages on this web site, but for those who are new to Jayl, it's a song about politics and an attempt to promote straight talking - and all to the sound of a heavy dance beat.

Shark in Boots:

The next song is "Sweet Baby Shark", a previous single and video for Jayl. Today's performance includes dancers wearing amazing luminous pink, fluffy, knee high boots. Everyone will be wearing them next year!

The problem is that fantastic though Jayl's music is, it may just be a little too early in the day for a burst of intense dance music. Jayl's style is far more suited to the darkness of a nightclub where spotlights can whirl round and people can dance.

Unfortunately, sat on the grass of Gloucester Park at 5:15 in the afternoon, the atmosphere gets lost for most of the audience.

Fresh Sounds:

Other songs on the set-list are "Chiming" - a "song of hope", featuring a single white clad dancer arabesque-ing and demi-plié-ing her way around the stage, and "a song so fresh you could clean your teeth with it" called "Info".

The set is a high energy, high concept show and there is plenty to listen to and see, but I can't help but feel it's on at the wrong time of day.

Simon-less:

The last fifteen minutes of Jayl's set unhappily coincide with the first fifteen of Earnest Cox's. The Cox are minus their usual bassist. The newly married Simon has, very inconveniently, decided to go on a honeymoon.

His place is ably filled by old friend Andy. "I hate him," La, the vocalist jokes after the set. "I wish I could say it was musical differences, but it isn't."

La's non-serious, non-musical differences aside, everyone else seems to like him. He got to grips with the band's set in a couple of rehearsals.

Pump Up The Volume:

"It's just the loud stuff today," Shane explains before the gig starts. "He's busily searching for a bottle of Lucazade - possibly the only performer in the entire festival concerned about conforming with the strict no-alcohol policy.

On stage, Earnest Cox work through all the loud stuff with toe tapping vigour. Even the most miserable Goths look happy with it. Along with songs that are fast becoming old favourites ("Two Can Play at that Game", "Oh Happy Day" and "Scratching the Same Old Itch"), comes a new song "My Favourite Walk".

It's funky, height of cool stuff. And as ever, the lyrics are far darker than the tune would ever let on.

Professionalism:

Earnest Cox were born performers. La's a showman on vocals and the instrumentalists of the band play with the kind of enthusiasm that makes it look like anyone could do it. It's an explosive set: funky, fast, furious and lots of other words beginning with F. Well, some words beginning with F.

There is just one victim in this set. La's tambourine cracks at one point. Next time we see it, it is half the tambourine it once was. In the end, the vocalist gets fed up with it and bends it like Beckham somewhere off stage.

Eight Ball Groove:

The last band I get to see is Eight Ball Groove. This band is a firm favourite of mine on the Gloucester scene. Here, the funk continues with a rockier edge to it. The guitars are heavy on the wah-wah pedal that wanders around beneath the powerful, fast moving voice of Troy Preest.

Unlike The Arcane, this band can get a crowd to dance. It's impossible not to. Little girls dance while older men swagger around, the beats infusing their every move.

The Kid is All Right:

The highlight comes early on in the form of "Kid". It's a great song filled with meaning, feeling and intensity. It too has a great beat and tune to it. Go listen to it, get your hands on it. Just make sure you can hear it soon. You'll love it.

Later.......

Later, there is music from the Adequate Seven and Stateside Hombres. As a closer, Platinum ABBA will take to the main stage and the sound of "Voulez-Vous" will be heard across the city.

This has been the Gloucester Festival Music Day. It's been loud, proud and definitely, definitely funky.

18/07/04 - First published on www.bbc.co.uk/gloucestershire on this link