Wild Paths (a festival so good, we had to review it twice)
Wild Paths has certainly done itself proud once again.
Wild Paths – a multi venue, five day music festival that is so good that Outline has deemed it worthy of not one, but two reviews.
Between the years 2010 to 2017 Norwich Sound and Vision was an annual talking shop for those employed in the local music and video industry and, after a hard day's eating, drinking and talking, the delegates would withdraw to a number of specially arranged music gigs around the city. Venues included Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich Theatre Playhouse, The Mash Tun (fondly remembered formerly as The Hog In Armour, and now trading as The Strangers' Tavern), The Birdcage (now The Drawing Rooms), the The Octagon Chapel. and the huge Banking Hall (and Club Room) at Open, which then operated as a conference centre and events venue. Tickets for the general public were available, and the event grew and grew in size and stature as more venues came on board. Even the Millennium Library got in on the act in 2016, hosting a free programme of live music in 2016.
When Norwich Sound and Vision was dissolved in 2018 Norwich promoter Ben Street, who was already putting on gigs at Bermuda Bob's in Timber Hill (later to be renamed as the new Owl Sanctuary), took on the challenge of organising a new Norwich multi-venue music festival, modelled on similar existing events, like Brighton's 'The Great Escape' and Sheffield's 'Tramlines'. The result, later that year, was the very first Wild Paths. 2019's event was headlined by José Gonzalez, who packed out the Banking Hall at Open, even if his set was interrupted as the fire alarms went off by mistake. COVID meant that 2020's Wild Paths became a socially-distanced event hosted at the Royal Norfolk Showground, and then it was back to business in the city centre for 2021.
Last year saw the event change its name to Wild Fields, and it became a two-day outdoor music festival in Earlham Park, where acts like Ezra Collective, SBTRKT and Kae Tempest were joined by a host of local and national acts, performing across two stages, and also aboard an open-topped bus.
This year, Wild Paths returned to its roots, but with a huge programme of 150 acts playing across 15 city-centre venues, including several who were participating for the first time. The festival began with two 'pre-party' events on Tuesday and Wednesday before the main programme kicked off on Thursday afternoon in the Minstrel Room of the Maid's Head Hotel in Tombland. There five local acts performed ahead of London-based artists Sol Paradise and Yuuf.
On that first day I got to enjoy a total of nine acts (reviewer rules state that one has to stay for a minimum of three songs before laying claim to having 'seen' an act), and I also managed to visit five of the fifteen venues. Highlights for me were dynamic Isle of Wight duo The Pill, and the baritone saxophone and drums sound of O. , both of whom performed at Voodoo Daddy's.
On Friday I checked out another six acts, and added another two venues to my tally. They included two of my favourite local acts Gabby Rivers and Damp Matches, along with first-time listens to UK bands Home Counties and University; Sweden's Maida Vale; and Vancouver's intensely cathartic duo, PISS. Four of the acts performed inside the unique skatepark venue that is housed within the ancient St Peter Parmentergate Church in King Street, whilst Home Counties graced the interior of St Laurence Church, and Maida Vale provided my first excuse to enter to the wondrously hidden Space Studios in Swan Lane.
Twelve hours later and I am back, pushing my way along the city streets, just as Canary fans were making their way in the opposite direction to watch their team lose yet another home game. My day went much better, and I managed to clock up another 14 acts, spread across seven venues. It also provided me with an excuse to visit three of The Lanes' more popular food and drink establishments. All three were enjoying a very busy Saturday trade, although I found the background noise levels inside both J.Doe & Co on Charing Cross, and the Brewhouse on the corner of St Andrew's Street, far too loud to really enjoy the live music. However, the audience in the downstairs performance spice of the nearby Bicycle Shop seemed much more respectful, and I was able to really enjoy the songs of Norfolk folk singer-songwriter Molly Willis.
Further visits to Space Studios are rewarded with great sets from local acts Dog At The Opera and Flat Venus, as well as Bristol band Dreamwave; Irish band Scustin provide a rousing performance downstairs at Voodoo Daddy's, but I am unable to get back in later in the evening for hot Leeds band Adult DVD – the venue is already packed to capacity. Instead I make my way back to St Peter Parmentergate Church, where my final act of Wild Paths is the mighty Other Half. They are a band that I have seen many times before, but not nearly as many times as fellow Outline reviewer Pavlis, who is rewarded with a chance to choose his favourite Other Half song (White Worm) to be performed live as part of their set.
Wild Paths has certainly done itself proud once again. Many thanks to Ben Street and his team, and to everyone at each of those 15 venues who helped make it to happen. Thank you to those 150 acts who played – I did my best, but I only managed to see 32 of you. To the remaining 118, I salute you, and hope that I shall get to hear you some time soon. It was an amazing five days, and nearly every set consisted entirely of original material. I don't think I heard a single cover version over the entire duration of the festival.
But for now, Wild Paths, it is definitely time to “Show Me the Way to Go Home”.
