Originally written by Luke Slater · 28 May 2010
OK, so the whole “having a festival in a city” thing has been done, and is still being done. Some of them (Camden Crawl) seem to get as many good comments as negative. OK, it rains. OK, there's going to be queues. Others, which perhaps happen to be by the seaside (The Great Escape) tend to have a more laid-back approach but then again, there's still the problem with those queues snaking back too far. Get in one and you could miss a large chunk of proceedings. And you don't want to be at the seaside when it's raining, either. You can't have it both ways.
BUT, and this is the important thing, it's still possible to go to a field somewhere in the city and be home in your own blood bed at a relatively reasonable hour all within the confines of your own city. Or your hotel if you're from out of town and y'know, have the sort of money to engage in such practices. These represent, in some ways, the best of both worlds. Here we guide you through the city festivals, what to see, what not to see, what to expect and...well, we're not going to tell you everything, where's the fun in that?!
Less insight, more planning companion. Goddit? Some of these urban events have already taken place, and this piece doesn't claim to be a comprehensive guide, but here's a few we're looking forward to that are still to come.
London - Field Day:
It's a well known fact that the first Field Day, whilst the line-up was very, very good, had severe organisational difficulties. Let's not dwell on this too much, as in the previous two years the Victoria Park-based indie extravaganza has been going along without too many hiccups, weather aside. That is one thing that cannot be legislated for. I doubt you need me to tell you who to watch with a bill this full with stars of the indieverse, but I'm going to anyway! There are also such jovial side shows as a tug-of-war contest, egg and spoon type things all under the banner of 'Village Mentality'. If you've been before you know what to expect, if you haven't then expect silliness.
You REALLY should see these: The Fall, Caribou, Phoenix, Tamikrest
See these too: Egyptian Hip-Hop, Atlas Sound, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Chilly Gonzales, Mount Kimbie, Gold Panda, Pantha Du Prince
If you've got the time and inclination: Esben And The Witch, Beth Jeans Houghton, Gruff Rhys vs. Tony Da Gatorra, Is Tropical, Yuck
Where: Victoria Park, London
When: Saturday July 31
Links: Home | MySpace | Facebook | Twitter
Last year's review: Field Day 09 - The DiS Review
Sheffield - Tramlines:
Tramlines runs once again in Sheffield this year and without wishing to blow our own trumpet, we've got three stages, three stages for which we've picked the bands, so it'd be quite silly not to include it in here. The event runs across various venues in the City of Steel (the proper one, not like the imposter in Germany), over 50 to be precise.
There's plenty on too, and not just music that we might cover. This year sees a Youth Music Festival, a Blues trail AND a Ceilidh, which I believe is a Celtic type thing. No idea how to pronounce it, though. New venues for the 2010 edition include the O2 Academy and The Leadmill. We're hosting the New Music Stage outside City Hall, which features some of the best bands, even if we do say so ourselves.
You should REALLY see these: Blood Red Shoes, Mystery Jets, Three Trapped Tigers
See these too: Dum Dum Girls, 65Daysofstatic, Rolo Tomassi
If you've got the time and inclination: Echo And The Bunnymen, Craig David, Toddla T, The Neat, White Noise Sound
Where: Sheffield, Yorkshire
In Photos: Tramlines 2009
When: 23-25 July
Links: Home | Facebook | Twitter | MySpace | YouTube
Manchester, Bristol, Nottingham - Dot-to-Dot:
The concept of Dot-to-Dot is fairly simple, if not entirely self-explanatory. The festival takes place over three days in three different cities, Manchester, Bristol and Nottingham – a fair geographic spread, it's not like London needs any more in fairness. It takes place this weekend and I believe there are tickets still available, but check here to find out anyway. The Bristol leg takes place on Saturday, Nottingham Sunday and Manchester the bank holiday Monday.
You should really see these: Liars, Blood Red Shoes, Villagers, White Hinterland
See these, too: Wild Beasts, Egyptian Hip-Hop, Wax Fang, Johnny Foreigner, Fenech Soler, The Ruby Suns
If you've got the time and the inclination: Team Ghost, Casiokids, Small Black, Los Campesinos!
Where: Various venues across Manchester, Bristol and Nottingham When: Bristol – May 29, Nottingham May 30, Manchester May 31
Last year's review: Dot to Dot - The DiS Review
Birmingham – Supersonic:
The date of this year's Capsule-run Brummagem-based festival of musical variety, much of it noisy, has been moved. Last year's event took place in July, which is the height of the festival season. This year it runs at the unseasonable time of late October for various reasons which aren't worth going into. It'll still be in and around the famous Custard Factory, though, so don't panic.
If last year's line-up is anything to go by – which it obviously should be – then there's bound to be a few surprises, even for the most long-in-the-tooth Supersonicer. As it doesn't run for a few months, not all of the acts have been confirmed, in fact only a small proportion has. Still, from that we continue. SWANS are playing. Top of the list, really.
You really should see these: SWANS, Melt Banana, Lichens
Where: In and around The Custard Factory, Birmingham
When: 24-26 October
Links: Home | YouTube | Twitter
Last year's review: Supersonic '09 - The DiS Review
Leicester - Summer Sundae:
OK, so it's not a city festival in the truest sense of the word, but then again neither is Field Day, cos it's in a field. Stay with us for this relatively loose definition, OK? Though the environs of Leicester are about as far away from the coast as it's humanly possible to get on this island, Summer Sundae have taken the brave and unusual decision to make this year's event a seaside themed one. This involves importing a erm...'beachload' of sand and placing it around the site. The site, by the way includes De Montfort Hall, where we'll be hosting a stage on Sunday. Like many of its type, Summer Sundae has grown from humble origins as a One Day event back in 2001 to a full-on weekender, with line-ups getting stronger and stronger throughout the years, as you'd expect. We'll be there for this year's one again.
You REALLY should see these: Steve Mason, Teenage Fanclub, Gaggle
See these too: Errors, Frightened Rabbit, Summer Camp, The Wave Pictures
Pop along here if you've got time, like: The Invisible, Roots Manuva, Stornoway
Where: De Montfort Hall and Gardens, Leicester
When: 13-15 August
Last year's review: Summer Sundae '09 - The DiS Review
Main photo by treesantos