In a very canny move, days before the Early BirdTier 1 ticket pricing window closes, the organisers of Portsmouth's Victorious Festival have announced the first acts playing next year's Southsea Common
shindig.
Since its inception Victorious has grown both in size and reputation; as large outdoor music events go it still has a generally relaxed, family friendly vibe and offers both the musical array of a large in-country festival and the ease and convenience of a metropolitan affair (i.e. I can see some great bands and still be able to walk home afterwards). The introduction of the Friday evening session a few years back, whilst initially ruffling the feathers of some nearby residents, has become a welcome addition to the August Bank Holiday fun.
The
initial tranche of acts announced may appear at a touch scattergun, an attempt
to lure in the muso, the popster, the hipster and all folks in-between
with shiny delights maybe, but remember this is just the tip of the pile of musical delights
that will no doubt be announced in batches over the coming months. Bearing that in mind, here are inaugural acts:
Coventry's Ska legends The Specials will be co-headlining on the Friday evening, no doubt bringing a mix of classic songs and new material (their eighth long player, Encore, is scheduled for release next year).
Singer-songwriter James Bay (him with the hat) and Chingford indie rockers The Rifles join Swedish rockers The Hives on Saturday's bill. Quite what Howlin' Pelle and chums will make of Pompey is anyone's guess but, I confess, this is the one act so far announced to really pique my interest.
The Vaccines bring their flavour of indie rock to Sunday line-up, with dance-classical crossover outfit Clean Bandit also announced for for the final day of the festival. Grace Chatto et al might not be my usual listening but, I admit, they have been responsible for some very catchy tunes (is waving a Marks & Spencer bag-for-life a thing at Clean Bandit gigs? If not it really should be). Something there for nearly everyone, which is nice. Tickets are available nowvia the Victorious website and, as mentioned previously, the first tier of the Early Bird pricing ends soon.
The August Bank Holiday weekend is looming large on the horizon, strange metal structures are growing on Southsea Common and (no doubt) angry people are writing to the local newspaper to complain about access and/or noise. Yes, it's Victorious time again and, as the set-times have been released, here are my personal picks of acts and bands to look out for; first up, Friday night...
The addition of a Friday session, extending the fun over three nights and two days, was a welcome expansion to Victorious last year (even if the line-up for the inaugural Friday evening didn't really tickle my fancy). This year there's a bit more selection, though only limited parts of the site will be open for business (similar to the Thursday night at Bestival) and. After the nutty boys of Madnessheadlined last year it appears that the organisers have again opted mostly for crowd-friendly sing-a-long action, booking Shed Seven, Kaiser Chiefs and a tribute act performing The Beatles' Abbey Road album in full. It struck me as bizarre then (especially giving one of their numbers' shambolic solo set at last year's festival) to read that The Libertines are headinling. I know, right? What, of the offerings makeing up the bill on the two open stages, would I go see? Well..
Marley Blandford (Common Stage, 1300-1400) Unfortunately for Marley he's drawn the opening slot on The Big Stage but he's a local lad so I'm sure he'll have an audience ready and waiting.
The Lightning Seeds (Common Stage, 1720-1800) The
glorious jingly-jangly feel-good pop of Ian Broudie, pretty much
guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face and a foot aching from
tapping. I don't know whether they'll play this but, as it's one of my Seeds favourites (the Susanna Hoffs cover it rather good too).
Dutch Criminal Record(Beats & Swing Tent, 1900-1945) Purveyors of bouncy indie-pop, Chichester's Dutch Criminal Record have the early evening slot in the Beats & Swing Tent.
Minque(Beats & Swing Tent, 2045-2130) Lush electronica from Southsea, again in the Beats & Swing Tent, Mique's set should finish just in time for the short wander back to the Common Stage to wait for Pete Doherty to show up.
The Libertines (Common Stage, 2140-2255) And finally, yes, The Libertines. Now I know that you may have, quite rightly, assumed from my musings earlier in this post I'm not the world's biggest fan of Mr Doherty and chums (possibly due to the NMEhaving an ongoing love-fest with them most weeks). Believe me, I've tried and, yes, have been told by several people considerably younger than myself that Mr Doherty is a genius. Whether he is or isn't is moot but, on their day, The Libs can turn out a punchy indie anthem equal to or better than some of their fellow alt acts below them on the bill. Like this one..
...after which you could just toddle along to the Meat & Barrel, have a cheeky pint, and wait for the rest of their set to be over.
