The Post Parklife Weekender Blues...
For most Parklife was the kick off to a whirlwind of 2013 summer antics. The starting pistol to a winding track of festivals ahead, the dreary month of September the finish line. But perhaps many like Hive Radio Manchester's Em Music Matters are already left feeling deflated, the mash up of music , sunshine, drinks and high-spirits by now a distant memory, anticipation for the next festival already a torment. Yet fear not! Brighten your post-Parklife depression with a spot of reminiscence, here is Em's recollection of a fantastic opener to the festival season...
(The sun may have gone down on Heaton Parks happy and hot celebrations but punters have left with a glorious start to the summer.)
Festivities coolly unravel at the foot of Saturday's Mainstage, Delphic 's indie-dance tunes float across a field of gathering troops enjoying the first beer of the day, as they gather their bearings amongst Heaton Parks vibrantly decorated pitching's. Well known tracks: Doubt and Counterpoint ease it's listeners into a pool of serenity as patrons shake Saturday mornings lie in, whilst more recent Baiya, from 2013's release Collections(a frolic into pop, hip-hop and electronica) is enough to have you stretching, ready for two days of carnage.
Saturday's Special Guests The Temper Trap surprise us with their very own allocated set. We are treated to a slice of Australian indie-wonder, breezy chilling accompaniment and the tranquility of Dougy Mandagi's hauntingly-beautiful, high-pitched vocals. There was rejoice for many as their leading single: (featured on hit-indie-film 500 Days of Summer) Sweet Disposition, thumped across the field, the catchy and recognisable bass line tinkering across a crowd of cheerful onlookers, as Mandagi's soulful sounds bewitch. Though the band are most likely growing tiresome of the 2009 single, it was strummed out with the animation of a first playing.
(Manchester scrubs up good, Heaton Park colourfully decorated.)
Sticking with the exciting hustle and bustle of the main stage, energy radiates as feel-good Rudimental are fitting to a sunny afternoon. Even with only one debut album under their belt (the chart-topping Home), the group have enough presence and vitality to create the best vibe of the day so far. The electronic 90's feel quartet throw us with everything live and kicking down to the trumpets, joined by Waiting All Night's smashing female singer Ella Eyre.
Then of course the band of the first day for Em Music Matters has to be a constant favourite: The Maccabees. Many an indie-girl gather towards the front of the stage to sing-along to a vastly generous set, as battles commence amongst strangers as to whom is a most suitable matching to stunningly handsome lead singer Orlando Weeks, (handbags ladies!) The Brighton boys present a wholesome selection of tracks, from debut Colour It In's feisty crowd mover First Love, to Mercury Prize nominated Given To The Wild's thrashing Pelican. Weeks addresses the crowd before No Kind Words, declaring life is about those you may have brought along to the festival with you, those you can love and rely on, not those whom may irritate. The response is a heartfelt chant of pointed fingers and cries of 'if you've got no kind words to say, you should say nothing more at all!' as the chorus kicks in, fans united in a moment of elation.
(Kate Quinn catches the lovely Orlando up close!)
The final act to polish off a fantastic day of main-stage mayhem before a hazy-tired tram ride home and a plonk into tomorrow's hangover, is the legendary Plan B. After role-playing The Defamation of Strickland Banks, Ben Drew is quite the performance artist, he explodes energy and enthusiasm across the park, as bouncing and action erupts beneath him. The likes of hit She Said left ringing in the ears of Saturday's ticket holders, it's live vigour and electricity left pounding through the mind still on the journey home. The day's liveliest track graces the stage as Stay Too Long enthuses all, wishing they could stay a little longer, as the track builds to it's ecstatic and suspense filled finish, Drew's emotive spits speeding to an excitingly nervous climax.
(Hangover's under control, Sunday see's most back for round two...)
After shaking Saturday's aftermath, Sunday's Now Wave Stage was the place to be for Em Music Matters, stumbling across some fantastic new including the likes of King Krule and Toy. King Krule drew listeners into the tent with the likes of soothingly meandering tracks such as The Noose of Jah City. Frontman, singer-songwriter Archy Marshall a.k.a Zoo Kid, presents snoozy-soulful, dub-step- funk. Whilst Heavenly Records' London lads: Toy, unravel psychedelic rock much like label friends Temples, yet with a pinch of punk and feist. Their September 2012 release Lose My Way, the epitome of their dark and glooomy The Horrors-esque wonder.
Sunday saw a particularly legendary Special Guest unveiled as to have his own set on the Now Wave Stage. The 'God-like-Genius', past The Smiths guitarist and co-songwriter, legendary: Johnny Marr is crowned king of Sunday's acts, embracing the stage with his own solo career. Marr's first solo single The Messenger bewilders and perplexes with its eerie yet soft beauty in a live format. Contrastingly, thumper Upstarts is enough to spur a riot in its enormity, a stampede of rock. The tent is even treated to a compilation of The Smithstunes including; Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before and There Is A Light That Never Goes Out. As close as anybody under around the age of twenty-five may get to sampling The Smiths live, thisis an imperative moment for many-a-young music fanatic.
(Photographer Kate gets up close and personal with an indie hero...)
The Horrors ice a fantastically indie Now Wave Stage cake with their perplexing live set, lights, smoke and strobe lights in toe for a mesmerising sight as well as sound. Experimental punky and psychedelic boys, with amazing hair (lead Faris Badwan) unleash their nightmarish sounds upon us, including the frightening vibrancy of second studio album Primary Colours. Voluminous festival number Still Life thuds throughout the tent, commodious and colossal, brimming from its exits. A tune which can only be done justice live amongst an extraordinary and out of this world experience.
(The mysterious and smart-haired Faris.)
Tearing away from the Now Wave stage early, Em Music Matters catches the end of the Main Stage's last but far from least: Example. His dancey-pop tunes and immense zeal and gusto enough to form mosh-pits and leave many a spectator with a throbbing bruise as a souvenir. Hit tunes; Changed The Way You Kissed Me, and Kickstarts complete the weekend as the crowd sing together in joy and unison, unable to wait and see what is in store next year!
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Photography by Kate Quinn: @km32q.
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