Field Day

Field Day

03 August, 2009
by: Spoonfed Team

When it comes to Field Day, there are two things that you can bet your granny's life on: there will be consistently awful weather and a supremely fantastic line up. This year's one day festival sticks rigidly to the classic formula, with torrential downpours teamed with a musically diverse set of live acts. From folk to electro, flip flops to wellies, and even a smattering of cabaret thrown in for good measure, the variety can't be faulted.

With Field Day proving to be synonymous with poor organisation in previous years, more thought has been given to the essentials: the all important portaloos and perhaps even more so, the bars. This year proves to be imminently more successful than preceding years, and far from being marred by the rain, punters actually embrace the weather. In a crowd that could have easily been misconstrued as pretentious in the ever-so trendy Hackney, it's refreshing to see people having such fun, abandoning their fashion-conscious ethos to get sweaty in the crowds and frolic in the rain.

Plugs 

We rock up at Victoria Park and head straight to the Adventures in the Beetroot Field tent where Plugs are about to take to the stage. We're slightly baffled by the emptiness of the tent as we find ourselves leisurely sprawled out on the barrier. Where is everybody?

Plugs' set seems a little more understated than their usual animated performances, but what the crowd lacks in number it certainly makes up for in enthusiasm and the trio is warmly received. Just before rounding off the set with a captivating performance of 'That Number', vocalist Morgan declares, 'I just want to say well done for being here and not going to see Delphic.' Ah, so that's where everybody is.  GT


Photo credit: Gemma Thomson

Aeroplane

After a quick game of hide-and-go-seek with the crowds our suspicions are confirmed as we find everyone crammed into the pulsing Bugged Out! tent. Pumping out some filthy electro-pop beats, Aeroplane are just rounding up their banging set. Visually they are a little insipid, yet their flawlessly executed mixes make up for it and the atmosphere is electric. GM

The XX 

We then head next door to Bloggers Delight just in time for The XX. Despite being full to the brim, the atmosphere is slightly more subdued than in the previous tent and the all-in-black-clad four-piece's wontedly static performance fails to galvanize the crowd. The sound isn't great either and is somewhat drowned out by the Bugged Out! tent which doesn't really help matters.

Musically, The XX's performance is pretty good, with highlights being 'Crystalised', 'Basic Space' and 'Stars'. GT

Temper Trap 

Escaping the claustrophobia of the Bloggers Delight tent we trek over to the main stage ready for some Temper Trap action. Just as we're enjoying the fresh air it starts to rain. Typical. The bad weather fails to dampen our spirits though as the Australian foursome more than make up for it with some upbeat and danceable tunes.  GT

The Horrors

Next up are The Horrors, who perform material from their second album, 'Primary Colours' to a sea of umbrellas. Perhaps the incessant downpour is beginning to darken the mood, but the crowd seems pretty unresponsive and The Horrors' performance is somewhat lacklustre. GT


Photo credit: Gemma Thomson

Cabaret Tent

I'm a little too slow off the mark to join Gemma in her optimum Horror viewing spot and am left thinking that The Horrors have morphed into a collection of musical umbrellas. Deciding that perhaps Field Day has more to offer I head off in search of alternative amusement and stumble across the cabaret tent.

Alternative is not the word: in a matter of minutes I have seen interpretive dance, a Rocky Horror tribute act and a petite Japanese lady armed with only a loop pedal and an uncanny ability to cry on cue. After a rather moving song about Gonorrhea, I decide that though my musical taste is eclectic, it does not stretch to Venereal-disease-ditties. GM

Erol Alkan

A sudden deluge strikes in my mid tent-transfer, and I rush after the hoards of excited ravers as they head to Erol Alkan's set. Pretty soon I am within earshot of the deafening blows of the punishing electro rave and the sheer volume of people trying to get in leads me to the realisation that I'm not getting anywhere close to the tent. We decide to embrace the weather, and a party in the rain ensues as Alkan's immense sound emanates from the Bugged Out! tent. Nothing like a rain-filled beer can and an earful of bass. GM

Four Tet

I had an inkling that Four Tet's performance would be the highlight of the day, and disappointed I am not. Kieran Hebden plays an absolutely superb set; he begins with a couple of songs from his 'Everything Ecstatic' album hooking the crowd from the offset before teetering on the edge of techno as he moves onto his newer material. His entourage of fluorescent hula-wielding girls adds a much needed visual element to his stationary sampler set, and I find myself swaying inadvertently with the rest of the crowd in a disconcertingly Hitler-speech-esque fashion. GM

Mogwai

After the electric performance of Four Tet, Mogwai provides an insistently mellower set. An eerie wave of silent calm sweeps across the audience, and the atmosphere becomes almost claustrophobic with tension. The crowd is obviously awed by the intense sounds that Mogwai are pumping out. Though I find the set a little bland it is quite exhilarating to be part of such an extremely emotional crowd, and the sound suits my lackadaisical mood perfectly. GM

Mystery Jets

I leave Gina in the depths of the Mogwai throng in order to check out alternative headliners Mystery Jets. I arrive in the midst of a colossal sing-along to an overflowing Adventures in the Beetroot Field tent and position myself just outside at the top of a mini mudslide.

Mystery Jets are on top form and as the night draws to an emotional close the atmosphere is tangible; the captivated crowd is dancing along wildly and singing back every single word. GT

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Spoonfed Team