(but this time with a new ending!)
Left of the Dial is named after a 1985 Replacements song. It refers to where on the (American) radio you used to find smaller independent stations. You had to turn the dial all the way to the left to find these stations which would play best alternative music.
It’s quite a romantic song. It’s about how the singer is dating a girl who’s playing in a successful band and how they’re always touring in different states, making it hard for them to be together. So, if he wants to feel close to her, he turns on the radio and tries to find her ‘left of the dial’.
The song wasn’t a big hit, and even though The Replacements have some famous fans, they’re not considered a highly successful band. However, we love them and we’re forever grateful that they wrote a song that suits our festival so perfectly.
Last year, our friends Deadletter recorded a pretty amazing cover of the song which you can still find on YouTube.
This year, we’ve asked someone else to perform their version of Left of the Dial at The Grand Opening of the festival, which could very well be the start of a new tradition; maybe from now on, we’re always going to open Left of the Dial (the festival) with Left of the Dial (the song).
The song might not be widely known yet, but if we keep up with this tradition more and more people will get to know the song. And maybe, just maybe, in ten years time, hundreds of people will be singing the song at The Grand Opening.
As a collective ode to the best alternative music. What a way to start a festival.
If you want to be part of this tradition, you’d better start learning the lyrics.
Big love,
The sing-along-singers of Left of the Dial
