Three days of culture
explodes across Hull city as Freedom festival comes around again, getting
everyone ready for the city of culture 2017.
“Freedom is being able
to express yourself without your opinions being oppressed by others” so say the
new kids on the block, The Talkdown when I chat to them post show at Freedom
festival 2015. Today (Saturday 5th Sep) alone demonstrates the
ability to express freedom from many creative streams, however, how far can you
push creativity and freedom before you encounter resistance. Ratboy pushed too much apparently as their set was
cut short for asking the crowd to join him on stage for a tune or two. Before
that eventful closing of the festival on Saturday night there was plenty more
to be had. After working a long shift on Friday I ventured down to Humber
Street to take in some rock artists on the bridge stage. Opening up the
festival with a bang was some quality acts from the area including, Scarlett
Riot and Of Allies both prove they can bring in the crowds.
As Saturday rolls on
through so does the talent, as my journey starts over in Queens Gardens. Here
education is mixed with entertainment as charities, science fanatics and the
BBC allow expression of freedom on a more practical side. Despite this, the term
of Freedom is very loosely coined here as there is restrictions on bikes across
some of the festival which is a major flaw in the planning process. Despite
this I carry on my journey taking in this sites of the pirate exhibition inside
The Maritime Museum before seeing some remarkable underground acts opposite
Hull City Hall. Including expressive dancers and an astronaut. 
There was plenty to
see as I made my way towards Humber Street due to six iconic phone boxes. These boxes were trailing the path around the festival. Each one displaying and echoing a different message of freedom and expressiveness. Before exploring more of the festival I head to the media office to collect my media pass as I need this to professional photos from behind and in the photo pits. However, although the media team were super busy and friendly they were a bit clueless to why I was there, and resisted at first to get me a pass. With much negotiation I received a pass but it was for one stage only and not until after 9pm. The reason behind this was an oversubscription of media passes already given out, however, throughout the whole day only one other photographer entered the media area at the bridge stage leaving me feel bewildered and not respected as a media journalist (more on that moan in future blog).
With the pass in hand
I headed around the festival to see what sites were to behold. There was
activities for children near the domed tent with ticketed events inside. There
was the yellow bus stage, bridge stage, fruit market packed as ever, food
stalls and various talent on an erected band stand outside the back of fruit.
Here people were treated to the delights of young acoustic stars, Bollywood
dancers and swing dancers to top it off. Getting everyone in the crowd involved
for a great time, I not included, I don’t dance... in public anyway. Most of my
day was watching acts on the bridge stage including a new two piece from
Sheffield called, Hot soles. They delivered a smoking blues set too much
applause before most people started making their way to Over and Out a
dramatized fireworks display complete with lighthouse zombies. Weird it may
seem, it must have took a creative mind. This by far was the best thing of the
festival, choreographed brilliantly before delivering a never-ending explosive
finally. This was one of them, I wish I was there moments. Before the ending
set of Ratboy I managed to run across the site and sneak my way into the photo
pit for instrumentalists, Public Service Broadcast. They delivered an
electrifying opening set which captivate the audience from the get go. I only
wish I could have stayed for more but I wanted to witness the scaling power of
new kid on the block Ratboy. 
A blistering set that
sees Jordan AKA Ratboy and his band power through a set of relatable songs of
teenage youth and today’s youth culture. Just like the youth culture though
there is always the authorities standing by to get in the way of fun. As Ratboy
closes off current hit Sign On, he advises the audience that he can’t stop
anyone from coming on stage if they want. And with that comment the stage was
shut down through their next song by the security as it was deemed to be
unsafe. No one was trying to get over the barrier or even crowd surf from my
view on stage, the only dangerous activity witnessed by Ratboys management was
one security guard pulling him by the collar off stage and down the stairs.
Although the crowd was disappointed (and there were a lot of them) they backed
Ratboy 100% and chanted his name as he come out to meet all of his adoring
fans. I was scheduled to have an interview with Ratboy shortly after they came
off stage but took their manager to lead Jordan back into the safety of the
backstage area from the masses of fans that wanted their 50th selfie with the
guy. Finally, just after 11pm I managed to encourage the Ratboy guys to sit
down for a few minutes to talk about the band. I did get some reaction from the
guys, which can be heard on a future show, however be warned as it is like
talking to the ADHD kids at school. Their style is very much extrovert which
reflects their chaotic and wild shows. 
My daughter was diagnosed ADD, she’s in the fifth grade. Writing for school has always been a struggle. Fortunately, we found the INK for All word processor. It's intended to be distraction free
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