It was a great day of music. The Field Festival celebrated his first edition, conveniently located at Victoria Park in London; held during a single day from 12:00 to 10:30 pm and with an amazing, quality selection of independent artists. Four stages curated by four of the city’s most challenging club and gig promoters: The “Eat Your Own Ears” main stage for the better known names; the smallest, open air “Homefires”, surrounded by bales of hay for “ambiance”, focused on new folky artists; The “Adventures in the beetroot field” circus-like tent dedicated to the up and coming acts and “Bugged Out” for the cream of the dance world from Erol Alkan to Andrew Weatherall.
A scorching sun helped to lift the spirits, even when we needed to face endless queues for the rather insufficient food and drink facilities. Only black point in an excellent event that we hope will establish itself as a yearly date with the most cutting-edge side of popular music.
Music wise, the bill was so packed with Rober favourites that many sacrifices had to be made: We resorted to painfully give a miss to Liars –who were schedule to play just before Justice but came onstage an hour late-; Bat For Lashes; Four Tet; The Aliens and Vetiver gigs, whereas we were able to catch only a couple of songs from Gruff Rhys, Euros Child, The Concretes and Matthew Dear, whose sets overlapped other artists’.
However, what we choose to watch left us with a great taste in our mouths. Here’s our Festival’s photo gallery: All The artists, the images, the glory after the jump!!
Fanfarlo opened the festival with an excellent live set that proved their tag as Belle and Sebastian meets Arcade Fire is well deserved.
Following the seventies southern US rock path, Alberta Cross was the first band at the main EYOE stage.
Previewing his new solo album, “The Miracle Inn”, ex-Gorky’s Euros Child at the Homefires stage.
Completing his transformation from laptop electronic artist into sunny, psychedelic-pop proper band, Caribou unveiled his new project “Andorra” to everybody’s acclaim.
Preaching to the converted, the rants of The strange death of liberal England.
Fridge, recently reunited, also played at the main stage. His prolific members Aden and Four Tet (Kieran Hebden) had also solo sets.
The cream of Scottish folk Fence Collective (King Creosote and James Yorkston among them) backing one of his members, Pictish trail.
A touch of acoustic bliss in the sun. James Yorkston as excellent live as he is on records.
The only live show at the “Bugged Out” DJ tent, Montreal-based duo Chromeo displayed all their Eighties musical trickery to an ecstatic audience.
Confirmation of the day: Foals showed there’s still life for post-rock and angular sounds. Intense, noise-led and electrifying performance.
The Manchester-Texas psychedelic connection, The Earlies hit the main stage.
Matthew Dear left the DJ cabin for the presentation of his latest, electropop infused vocal album “Asa Breed”.
Fighting against the elements, including some sound trouble that compromised the effects on their best tracks, Battles managed to win the audience allthesame with their incendiary live performance.
Latest British revelation, the very young Late Of The Pier.
From their pulpit, with an illuminated sign of the cross, French duo Justice confirmed themselves as Daft Punk’s deserving heirs. A brilliantly danceable set.
