Glorious weather, a cracking line up and one of London’s most picturesque locations, Field Day in Victoria Park on Saturday could have been a ‘festival’ to rival any other. It could have been.
The reality was poor sound systems, tiny tents, unnecessary line up clashes and terrible, overpriced food. Not to mention excruciating queues for beers, surmounted only slightly by attending with a very tall friend.
Field Day’s organisers can take some pleasure in providing some very exciting artists to enjoy, whilst dry humping strangers in queues or gagging at the gruesome toilets. New York based stompers Chromeo were the first act to induce some electricity to the day with a vivacious blend of dance and disco and decidedly thrilled their fashioned followers. Hot youngsters Pull Tiger Tail didn’t disappoint either, with pop infused tracks that stick in your head and keep you on your toes.
Personal highlight, however, was the haunting, melancholic tones of Natasha Khan and accomplices, aka Bat For lashes. Floating casually from one chilling song to another – Sarah, Prescilla, Horse & I, Natasha’s is a voice that delivers and keeps it’s grasp. The crowd made barely a sound, so much so that you might have heard a pin drop, if it wasn’t for vulgar house music raping the atmosphere from a nearby stage. But with the sun setting slowly behind the stage, it was easy to overlook.
Unfortunately, that’s about all I had time to see. My thirst for cold beer on a such a scorching day disabled my planned efforts to tart from one stage to another.
Justice’s closing set does deserve a mention and provided some redemption for the organisers, although after seeing some excellent musicians it felt a little hypocritical to get too excited over 2 guys and their decks, and cutting biggest hit ‘We Are Your Friends’ off early at the end wasn’t a great move.
With more rigourous planning and better facilities, Field Day could easily establish itself as a highlight on the London music calendar – that’s if they’ll take the risk, and the neon-clad punters decide to give it another chance.
Tags:
Band, Festival, Field Day, Live, Patrick Wolf
Similar Posts:
- Festival Review: Field Day 2010
- Field Day
- Secret Garden Party: The Festival Preview Series
- Lie-Ins And Tigers: SH OW Exhibition
- Festival Preview: Field Day
