The first two days of the festival had got bad press (poor organisation on first day with hours waiting in beer queues and the second day marred by Lauryn Hill turning up very late – who’d have guessed? – and playing a very short set to disgruntled, booing punters) and this, the third day, was predicted thunderstorms and heavy rain. But instead today we were blessed with wonderful weather, good organisation, happy crowds, and fantastic music – a perfect festival day.
The punters were perhaps slow in coming – I’m sure the forbidding weather forecasts were to blame – and the first bands to played to a sparse but enthusiastic crowd.
First band Lylo deserved larger crowdJohnny Lynch’s Pictish Trail warmed up crowd with friendly banter and his band’s enthusiastic setHonne are the first of the electro dance/pop bands that dominate the day – they are even better than when I saw them at St. Luke’s last yearMain men Andy and James are given great support by Mo on drums, Amadu on bass and BEKA on backing vocalsLittle Dragon are the highlight of the day’s supporting actsAs always, the charismatic Yukimi owns the stage – and in another eye catching outfitI had not seen Maribou State before and was very impressedThey are another electro duo who are bolstered live by an excellent touring bandAnd the wonderful Holly Walker joins them on stage to take lead vocals on several songsDjango Django in full flow – they go down a storm with crowdVincent Neff leads from the frontBut, as is only right and proper, the outstanding performance of the day comes from headliners Hot ChipUnassuming group wash day into night with barrage of electro dance killers (young boy dancer who melts heart of crowd just out of sight on left)
The festival had a rough start but today was glorious and I hope organisers live up to their word when they say they will return again next year.
