Rob Swaine gives the lowdown on the Lovebox.
The walk to Lovebox from Mile End tube station isn’t a particularly confidence-inducing affair. The air’s loaded with paranoia; cockney geezers line one side of the road desperate to sell you counterfeit wristbands, while shady characters with hoods up sweep by muttering repetitive chants advertising various powders under their breath. All the while, hoards of police officers stand and watch, drawing up their battle plans from the opposite pavement.
Leaving the tensions of the East London streets behind, it’s a wildly different story inside the Lovebox arena. The towering green steel fences that stand to keep the riff raff out melt into the background as a whole world of hidden party sheds, enormous tree houses and fair-ground delights intertwine themselves amongst the plethora of different stages dotted about Victoria Park. Wasting no time, it’s straight to the Rizla Dance Arena to find my party spirit.
Zombie Disco Squad are the DJing duo inside the Rizla truck as I arrive. Fond memories of seeing Diplo dominate the crowds amongst the trees at last year’s event make this stage my first point of call. The set-up’s different this time round, with the Rizla van at the back of the cordoned off wooded area facing outwards, making it easier to dance from beyond the barriers if you don’t feel like queuing to join the in-forest ravers. The only problem is that this results in a large amount of sound clash from the Rizla Arena, the Main Stage, the Gaymers Bandstand and the Favela Chic tent opposite.
Sound issues aside, Lucas Hunter and Nat Self (ZDS) are playing a typical tech house set which just about breaks a light sweat among the sunglass-clad mid-afternoon dancers, but it’s not the wild party I envisioned. It may be right for a five o’clock set but some of us are only here for one day and want something a little more energetic.
The NYC Downlow stage is immediately striking. Looking like something out of a 1980s exploitation film set from the outside, it’s enticing and intriguing. On the inside however, it’s dark and dingy with little to reflect the excitement of its outside appearance. The intention of this is obviously to draw in the crowds and then to focus their attention on the man behind the decks. At this moment, that man is Joy Orbison. Despite a serious lack of volume in the glorified tent, a strong cult following of dedicated fans aren’t put off and show their appreciation for the groundbreaking young producer by getting increasingly enthusiastic with the introduction of every new garage-influenced, beat-driven tune.
With so many good acts playing at the same time, it’s hard to choose what to go to next and as a result I end up only catching short glimpses of a number of acts. Luckily, the good thing about Lovebox is that it’s only a small festival. By cramming so many stages into one small space of land, there are inevitably going to be sound clashes, but in doing so it also opens up the option to cruise from one act to the next without wasting too much time, thus allowing for pedantic indecision.
As a result I find myself witnessing the Noisettes on the Main Stage, The Mystery Jets on the Gaymers Stage, Toddla T in the Rizla Dance Arena and Chase & Status back on the Main Stage, all within a couple of hours. It’s not that any of these acts are boring and can’t hold a crowd, it’s simply just that I’m being greedy. Indulging in a stage-hopping tactic is a sure-fire way of collecting memorable festival moments in a quick space of time. The Mystery Jets’ incredible rendition of ‘Half In Love With Elizabeth’ to a setting sun, Toddla T rewinding three tracks in three minutes much to the delight and despair of a pumped up, ready-to-rave Rizla Dance Arena, and Chase & Status performing an electrifying live version of their latest single ‘Let You Go’, all stick out as festival highlights.
Finally finding a home at the Relentless Stage, Brodinski and Crookers guide me through to the day's end. Playing what I can only describe as an Egyptian-influenced house and deep techno set, Brodinski is the perfect warm-up for Crookers who unleash the ultimate party set to wrap up an enjoyable and somewhat exhausting day out in Victoria Park.
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