The atmosphere throughout the campsite and arena is safe and friendly. This is definitely the perfect festival for young people, families, or anyone who's new to the festival experience.
The Wombats
The first headliner kicked the weekend off with a bang. A real standout was the bassline provided by Tord Øverland Knudsen, which carried through the field perfectly, and elevated the way their tracks are perfect to dance to. Overall, they had an amazing presence that captivated the crowd right from the get-go. Hits such as 'Moving to New York' and 'Kill the Director' were met with immense applause and strong participation.
The Lancashire Hotpots
For those who were awake and ready to continue the weekend, The Lancashire Hotpots were the perfect way to begin Friday. The crowd was a mix of die-hard fans and newcomers who had no idea what to expect. Either way, they were enjoyable and delivered a great atmosphere. Having a main stage spot was well deserved - they certainly needed the room for the amount of dances they were able to entice the audience into. The entire band came prepared with a selection of vibrant costumes and props. I also can't move on from this band without giving a nod to the biggest conga line I've ever witnessed, which only added to the friendly atmosphere amongst the crowd.
The Hunna
The Hunna are an indie rock band who throw in a combination of heavier riffs along with fan favourites such as 'She's Casual'. The energy was high throughout, and I could certainly see them getting a spot higher up the bill in years to come. It would be well deserved. I was impressed to hear how similar their sound was to their iconic records.
hard life
I went into this set not knowing what to expect from this group, whom I've heard such positive reviews about. However, they delivered an intriguing set that stood out to me. hard life has certainly gained a new fan. Props to the sound engineers once again as the bassline carried great throughout the field.
The Prodigy
A real highlight of the weekend was The Prodigy. The sound was immense, and the lighting turned the festival into a full-on rave. Their selection of hits was woven into a drum and bass DJ set that delivered. Having the Friday headliner be such a different vibe from the others was a great idea, as it kept the festival fresh and maintained the diversity of sound that it needs to continue to grow.
The Twang
After years of not listening to The Twang, it's time I have a re-listen. They have an array of tracks that are catchy and distinct. The drummer, Ash Sheehan, delivered high energy and enthusiasm that made him captivating to look at. A highlight for me was the track 'Either Way' that is memorable and will have you humming its chorus for days.
Red Rum Club
Following a lovely chat with two of the members of Red Rum Club, I got to bear witness to their vibrant set. Joe Corby is a standout in this group with his fantastic trumpet playing ability. Their sound is distinct, and I felt as though they were able to perfectly combine the indie essence of the festival with the nod to ska that feels inherited from the likes of Madness. More about those guys later.
Eighty Eight Miles
As a Burton native myself, I had to check out the wonderful Eighty Eight Miles. They packed the Allotment tent, and front woman Ellie Grice was able to keep the high energy up by moving into the crowd. They noted it was their third appearance at the festival, and I wouldn't be surprised if their fourth saw them dominating a bigger stage higher up the bill. Big things are coming for these guys.
The Last Dinner Party
Something I love about The Last Dinner Party is their aesthetic. It could be argued that their style of long, elegant dresses and Victorian maximalism would be difficult to translate into a festival setting. However, with pillars fitted to the stage and their fashion sense as distinct and artistic as ever, they pulled it off. Abigail Morris stunned me. Not many vocalists can deliver such an incredible performance with such range and power whilst dancing and genuinely enjoying every moment. It's apparent that this group loves their craft and is proud of what they create, something that only adds to the music itself.
Courteeners
Saturday's headliner provided a great atmosphere that is exactly what the festival goers wanted. All around me were people dancing on each other's shoulders and knowing every track word for word. For saying they are one of the bigger names of indie rock, Courteeners seem extremely humble and grateful for the support they receive. 'Not Nineteen Forever' was met with an eruption from the crowd.
Franz Ferdinand
Whilst my view wasn't brilliant for these guys, their hour set helped to draw the weekend to a close in style. With hits such as 'Do You Want To' and, of course, 'Take Me Out', there was plenty to dance along to. They're the sort of band where if you've spent enough time at an indie bar or club, you're bound to recognise more tracks than you originally realise. A deeper delve into their discography is on my to-do list.
Madness
The final act of the weekend was another show stopper. Madness has such a wide variety of much-loved classics that the set was vibrant throughout. Along with The Last Dinner Party, the previous day, they took a moment to acknowledge and raise awareness of the atrocities taking place in Palestine. I respect any artist who recognises that they have a platform that can be used for good, so this was great to see. For their encore, they finished with 'Night Boat to Cairo'. I couldn't think of a better song to end a weekend full of dancing, laughter, and good music.
Emily Teague
Images: Tim Firth
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