Introducing

States of Emotion at Glastonbury 2009

When the line up was announced earlier in the year I wasn't that bothered to hear Blur where reforming. I knew it was a big thing, I'm just not a huge fan of their music, I just appreciated it.

Blur come home

When I heard Blur were doing a Glasto warm up and coming home gig in Southend at the Cliffs Pavilion, that just happened to coincide with a private function I was attending at the Cliffs, I thought I'd try my chances at getting in.

After talking my way into the gig, I caught the last half hour of their set, and if I walked in slightly stand-offish about their music, I certainly walked out a fan; Brilliant showmen and genuinely musically talented. (Libby, I was wrong about them).

It was at that point we decided to put together a highlights show of all the Essex bands that would be playing one of the largest music festivals in the world.

Essex on tour... in the West Country?

I wondered if when the line-up was put together for Glastonbury if they realised that three out of the six headliners across the Main stage and Other stage were from Essex.

I've watched most of the performances online (or just listened on BBC 6 Music), and I was blown away by the coverage.

I felt like I was actually at the festival.

If you want to check out the interviews, band profiles, live video sets and other audio highlights visit the BBC website:

The Essex bands were... Blur, Prodigy, Bloc Party - three huge names. Baddies, Esser and Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip are some of the best up and coming acts today.

Then there were the Horrors, who still get away with playing Glastonbury with a sense of feeling underground, and our very own States of Emotion who played the Introducing stage on the last day. Not to mention that the guitarists in Ladyhawke and Florence and the Machine are both from Southend.

We will bring you highlights of our great acts taken straight from the festival...

And if you're lucky enough to be at Hyde Park tonight seeing Blur, let us know, maybe you want to take us?

Next week we have British Intelligence in session!

Listen out for:

British Intelligence Telepathy
Prodigy Warriors Dance *
Bloc Party TBC*
Baddies Holler for my Holiday (May Session)
States of Emotion She Cuts Shapes*
The Horrors Who Can Say*
Esser Headlock (May Session)
Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip Letter from God to Man
Blur Tender*
Blur Song2*
Prodigy Take Me to The Hospital*
* - Live Glastonbury audio

Text: 07786201035

Upload your music to the BBC Uploader:

BBC Essex Introducing... gig ideas

Friday, 3 July

Chinnery's, Southend-on-Sea
Low Standards, Safehouse Theory and Super Duck!

Saturday, 4 July

SwanFest, Ipswich
Hot Club de Paris, King Charles, James Severy and Angry vs the Bear

Basfest 2009: Day One
Gloucester Park, Basildon
The Basildon Festival 2009 is the county's largest free music and entertainment festival. Thousands of people attend the event each year, and this year promises to be an extra special event for Basildon's 60th birthday.

Sunday, 5 July

Basfest 2009: Day Two
Gloucester Park, Basildon
Day Two of the non-stop unsigned music festival.

Monday, 6 July

The Twist, Colchester
The Morning Afters' album launch night with:
Never Means Maybe, Oceans Upon Us and The Morning After

Wednesday, 8 July

Bar Lambs, Westcliff-on-Sea
All Ages Night
All Systems Go, Redtrack and support

Friday, 10 July

The Fleece, Chelmsford
Acoustic open mic night – simply plug in and play!

Club Riga Music Bar, Westcliff-on-Sea
The Ugly Guys  plus support