BLACKWATERS JARRED UP YARD PARTY III - A REVIEW.

Max Tanner of Blackwaters

 If you've heard of Blackwaters, chances are you've heard about their famous garden parties, maybe you've even been to one, if not, keep reading, get in the know. Held in their own back garden in Sheffield's main area of student accommodation, this third installment of the Jarr'ed Up Yard Party brought Calva Louise and Blackwaters' newest addition to their Jarr'ed Up Arts Lab, Nervous Pills to the back yard 'Just off Eccy Road'.

Blackwaters, whilst still being a name you probably haven't heard, are doing incredible things for the Sheffield music scene, as well as the culture in the city itself. Their 'Jarr'ed Up Arts Lab', inspired by the Arts Lab movement of the Sixties, was set up by the band earlier this year, and is an 'energy centre' that is wholly inclusive and open to anyone who has something to contribute, whether it be musical or not, and its purpose is to bring people together through creative art. The Lab already contains some of the most exciting up and coming bands, such as fellow Sheffield band Floodhounds, The North By South, Nervous Pills and Black Mamba Fever, and is giving them a platform to express and pool their ideas with other like-minded creatives in order to continue to better themselves. The Arts Lab have already hosted 2 successful nights and I have no doubt that it will continue to provide Sheffield's music scene with a platform for years to come.

Up first were Nervous Pills, a band I've heard nothing but good about so was excited to see for myself. Their set was impressive, and I had decided that they were a band I'd definitely see again before they had even finished their first song. The set was full of surprises, for their song 'Our Returns Policy' they brought on Chris Humphreys, the lead singer of The North By South, a fellow Arts Lab band, to sing part of the song with the band. They also covered what I eventually discovered was 'Bad Guy' by Billie Eilish to close their set, which I thought was unbelievable, despite not knowing the original, and it was an energetic way to close the set. I will definitely be going to see Nervous Pills again, you should too.

Calva Louise

Next up were Calva Louise, who are undoubtedly one of my favourite bands in music at the minute. A back yard is perhaps the most intimate venue you can see a band in, and once again, just like every time I've seen them recently, they blew the roof (aka the tarpaulin attached to the wall to keep the kit and the bands from the Sheffield rain) off the place. Calva Louise are honestly one of the best bands in the scene at the moment, their take on punk music is unparalleled and their sound is unlike any other band around, lead singer Jess is a powerhouse and really seems to have come into her own as the frontwoman. No two Calva Louise songs are alike, and as well as playing most of their set from debut album 'Rhinocerous', they also played currently unreleased 'Sleeper' and soon to be released 'Belicoso' which is completely different to their usual sound and almost has a dance music feel to it. I'm incredibly excited to have a proper listen when it comes out and to see how the song fairs, as i think its going to be their biggest song yet. If you still haven't seen Calva Louise live yet, go. Right now. It'd be a crime not to.

Jess and Alizon of Calva Louise

This was my first time attending a Blackwaters Garden Party, and despite knowing people who've attended them in the past, I really didn't know what to expect. I've seen Blackwaters twice before, both at actual venues, and both times the gigs were sweaty, happy and incredibly friendly affairs, and I expected no different of a gig full of their most dedicated fans, some of whom had travelled from as far as Glasgow and even Cornwall to see the band play, which is testament to the band, who are four of the nicest lads on the planet, as well as being an incredible band.

Opening with newest release 'I'm Not Your Man', lead singer Max was in the moshpit that had formed at the front from the get go, jumping back in throughout the set and encouraging the crowd to go wild,  not that they needed encouragement. People were being hoisted high above the garden whilst crowd surfing, as well as many others on other people's shoulders, screaming the words back to Max. They played all the fan favourites, 'Help Me', 'Let the Good Times Roll' and 'People Street' just to name a few, as well as unreleased 'Pop Culture', a song I am eagerly waiting the release of. 'Love is a Future Computer (Try Another Way)', is one of their only slow songs and a song that, in my opinion, is unrivaled live, despite it not being the usual high intensity of a Blackwaters song. During, the crowd are encouraged to put their arms around the people next to them's shoulders and sing along, and whether your arms end up around the shoulders of complete strangers or some of your best friends, it creates a safe, happy, beautiful moment, and a moment that has certainly stayed with me each time I've been a part of it.

Finishing the set with 'Moon on a Stick', their very first single, the show goes from a slow ballad in 'Future Computer' to absolute madness with the intro of 'Moon on a Stick', which leaves you gasping for air at the end. Blackwaters' gigs are high energy from the beginning and despite mixing a few slower songs into their set, you don't seem to stop moving from start to finish, and neither do the band.

Go and see them live, stream their music, go along to the next garden party, go and support the Arts Lab, whatever you do, I guarantee you'll get hooked in. And who knows, you could discover your new favourite band?

You're Welcome in advance.

Review By: Ames