It would be preposterous to think of the British summer without music festivals. Its something that has weaved itself into our way of life. T in the Park. Reading and Leeds. Glastonbury. Huge recognisable events. And Radio One' Big Weekend is quickly becoming a favourite.
This weekend bands such as Muse, the Foo Fighters, Mallory Knox, Circa Waves, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Port Isla, the Vaccines and Fall Out Boy took to the three stages showcasing world class acts and the very best of BBC Introducing and In New Music We Trust. Not a single act failed to deliver this weekend.
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy. In the last 16 years they've released 6 albums which have went gold (some which even went platinum), rose to fame, called a hiatus between 2009 - 2013 and played some of the biggest venues in the planet. On Saturday they played in Norwich - for the first time - headlining the main stage. After the release of American Beauty/American Psycho many fans feared the end of the Fall Out Boy they knew. The album is different compared to their previous albums to say the least, but it isn't the end. Fall Out Boy gained their world reknown status from their albums like Take This To Your Grave, From Under the Cork Tree, Infinity on High and Folie à Deux. They shared the same sound that so many people fell in love with. Of course they won't loose that sound. American Beauty/ American Psycho is different, however it isn't Fall Out Boy's new sound forever. Its their try at a new sound and I think its a good attempt. Yes of course I prefer the old Fall Out Boy sound. I've loved all their albums since I've heard each of them.
Fall Out Boy's set at the Big Weekend cemented my belief that they are one of the best bands in the world today. I've seen them live before and watching them live from the comfort of my house, brought back all my memories. Pete and Patrick's on-stage conversations and friendship makes their shows special. For fifteen years people have fell in love with them, and after Saturdays set its no surprise why.
Circa Waves
From Liverpool Circa Waves have spawned into the indie-rock worlds spotlight. In less than two years they've supported some of the biggest indie bands in the world. Their single 'Stuck In My Teeth' was crowned Zane Lowe's hottest record in the world and they achieved a top 10 debut album this year with 'Young Chasers.'
From 2013 till now they've been catapulted into a life where fans wait outside for hours to see them. They've went from being a small band on their first few UK tours in small venues to headlining the 'In New Music We Trust Stage' before their huge UK tour later in the year. Their summer is packed with European tours and festival dates, the Big Weekend was just one of them.
Their set at the Big Weekend was incredible. It showed off perfectly their talent and who they are as a band. Their not a typical boy band. Their not dressed in all black or wearing eye-liner. They don’t have back up dancers and special effects. Their a simple, honest guitar driven indie quintet who write incredible lyrics.
Circa Waves and Fall Out Boy played the In New Music We Trust Stage and the Mainstage respectively at the same time, forcing me to have one screen (my laptop) with Circa Waves and the other screen (my old laptop) with Fall Out Boy. (For most festivals I usually do this if there’s two sets I want to see at the same time.)
Its a good thing I think to sometimes rewatch the sets on mute, just to focus on the performance. Just to watch the band, seeing their effect on the crowd and how happy they really are playing in front of people who are singing back all they lyrics they wrote months, even years ago.
Catfish and the Bottlemen
Of course Catfish and the Bottlemen were playing at the Big Weekend. What festival, venue, parking lot do they not play in ? This set was special - to more people than just me - for a few reasons. Firstly, a lot of people haven't seen this band live properly. They've maybe read reviews, watched videos from shows or heard people talking about their concerts but they themselves haven't seen the band play live properly. Watching the Big Weekend online or on the red button on Sunday was as close as some people may get to seeing them perform live. Even although it was in Norwich in England, it was streamed live which makes it different from youtube videos. Yes, there may be a tiny delay from Norwich to your laptop but its live. Its happening there and then. Its unpredictable, raw and untouched.
Secondly, this set showed off the bands talent on a huge scale. Sam Smith pulling out of the festival due to ill health left the main stage slot empty, which Catfish and the Bottlemen filled.
Anyone who's ever read this blog will know my favourites of the weekend would have been Catfish and the Bottlemen who played the main stage which for me is just amazing. They've went all the way through BBC Introducing from being a little band who managed to get Steve Lamacq to play them, who went on tour with Little Comets and now, eventually, they've got full UK tours selling out in minuets. I adore them because I've loved them for so long and because I've been able to watch them, like so many other people have, become the band they are today, the band they deserve to be in my opinion.
SOAK
SOAK is a musician who I completely just adore. She's incredible, there's no other way to say it, she is honestly just incredible. Her voice is so pure, telling the tales of her life growing up in Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Her lyrics are personal and heartfelt, yet they apply to pretty much everyone who has ever been a teenager. Her acousticness surrounds her innocence
Port Isla
Championed by BBC Introducing Norfolk, Port Isla blew the crowd away last year with their set on the BBC Introducing Stage at Glastonbury. Their set this year was beautiful filled with their incredible talent, lyricism and unheard anthems just waiting for a huge crowd to sing along to. Their music is beautiful sounding and I cannot wait for an album from this band because it would undoubtedly be an album that captures the festival atmosphere and summer.
Mallory Knox
Mallory Knox, my favourite band Cambridge has ever produced. Once again, for their set on the In New Music We Trust Stage, the band pulled in a huge crowd to who they gave a set they won't forget.
Mallory Knox have a sense of honesty, love, hurt & happiness about them and their music. Their first two albums (Signals (their debut) and Asymmetry) are intertwineable. Signals was an incredible debut album, literally one of the best debut albums out there. It was so refined and it was perfected, at a level I think some musicians reach on their third or maybe fourth album. Asymmertry was unbelievable follow on album. I feel bad for any Americans dying for this album which isn't out in the USA till the 16th of June while it was released in October last year here in the UK but trust me it'll be worth the wait.
The bands performance at the Big Weekend showcased their talent and lead singer Mikeys incredible voice. Their an incredible band to see live made up of five really nice, genuine guys from Cambridge.
The full weekend was streamed live online, on the radio and on the red button where most of it has found its way on to the BBC iplayer. The sets only last for 30 days before they disappear from the iplayer forever. The link to the main page and iplayer is below.