Despite a promising start and a team with experience that includes Reading and Leeds Festivals, 2007 was a minor disaster when it became clear that there were not enough bars or toilets available, coupled with poor quality sound systems.
However, Field Day was back in August 2008 with a ton of illustrious names in the world of dance music including headliners Simian Mobile Disco and Richie Hawtin, hoping to create a festival to remember for all the right reasons this time around.
Rainy Days in Victoria Park
Unfortunately, the baking heat of 2007 was replaced with dismal weather that didn’t bode well and continued to get worse, turning into a downpour by the afternoon as the main event began.
The festival was set up as a serious of indoor dance tents in order to keep the sounds clean and the crowds dry. When the rain began, it seemed that the tents would be the saving grace of the festival - but the weather still affected the atmosphere for the worse.
Instead of being a laid back, chilled-out summer event with electronica lovers lazing in the park before catching their favorite tunes, every festivalgoer tried to pack him or herself into a tent just to stay dry, even when they had no interest in the music.
The result – everywhere felt far too busy, miserable and more than a little bit uncomfortable.
The Bugged Out Stage at the Field Day Festival
Nonetheless, the East London promoters famous for their 'secret' parties in Shoreditch like the Hearne Street car park pulled out one of the best line-ups of the event at the Bugged Out stage.
Although the festival officially opened its gates at the early hour of 11am, the big names and the crowds didn't turn up until after lunch so the real buzz held off until ModeSelektor at 5pm, with thousands of fans eager to see the Berlin electro stars.
Kicking off with typically lively beats and their heavy hip hop inspired bass, it soon became apparent that, just like 2007, the sound system was going to let them down. After struggling for a while, they ended their set early by apologizing to the fans but insisting that they just couldn’t play in the situation.
They were followed by the less well-known duo Crookers who seemed to cope with the sound quality rather well, laying down a fascinating mix of dirty electro and grimy dubstep that swiftly upped their popularity on the London scene. However, that the clarity and frequency of the sound was still inferior to their normal talented displays.
Headlining in this tent was internationally renowned DJ Richie Hawtin, whose always-average techno is usually redeemed by fantastic light shows. The lengthy set of awesome pyrotechnics at Field Day confirmed this was to be no exception but with so many people packed in by this time, it was almost impossible to see or appreciate the set.
The End of the Show at the Beetroot Fields and Converse Stages
Also headlining where Simian Mobile Disco, on the much larger Adventures in the Beetroot Fields’ stage which seemed to be promising. However, again the huge crowds proved too much for the indoor set up and, with no capacity control here, it once again became overwhelming.
At the same time, indie-funk band The Foals took to the Converse stage – the only part of the festival that was in the open air. Even though it was still raining, the popular five-piece from Oxford attracted a huge crowd of indie rockers and dance fans alike.
With an enjoyable festival atmosphere present at last, the talent of The Foals was clear as even the most jaded Field Day fans managed to relay for the end of the night, even if the songs themselves where otherwise rather unremarkable.
Overall, the Field Day crew managed little more success than their heavily criticized debut outing in 2007 even though they promised improvements. This was enough to bring the crowds back this year but, with so many festivals starting up in the UK recently, one has to question whether they’ll be able to sell any tickets in 2009.
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