REVIEW: Lovebox Day One [Festival Fever]

REVIEW: Lovebox Day One

Posted on July 25, 2008 12:06 PM
0 comments

Lovebox Weekender
Day One: Saturday 19th July 2008

Review by Missy Boomsticks

After years of trying, I never quite made it to Lovebox. Year after year I vowed to sort out my social life far enough ahead to:

a) Book tickets and
b) Make sure my mates did the same.

This year, I didn’t bother checking to see whether my eclectic music-loving pals had the Lovebox date in their diary. Instead, I vowed to see as much music as possible. It didn’t take long to realise that planned or not, you’ll always run into someone you know. I’ll put it down to size; the festival is small enough to meander leisurely and there’s ample grass area for perching and people watching. One could even sit beneath the ferris wheel and watch main acts enchant the masses.

Saturday’s line-up was never going to disappoint and kicked off with Danish Popsters Alphabeat. They annoy the living hell out of me and are are bouncier than a litter of puppies but I’m told that and pint-sized frontwoman Stine led the band into a fittingly happy opening main-stage act.

The Amnesty International Stage revealed some gems throughout the day. Maybe it was the effect of the Firefly solar power; never underestimate the sun me hearties. Boy, did the punters get a good dose of it on day one. Josh Weller, as always was a delight. His gravity defying hair, eclectic dress sense and feel good ditties is tonic for the stressed city dweller. He can pile the love in my box any day.

Los Angeles band Dengue Fever injected some foreign delights into proceedings with their Cambodian Pop and Pyschadelic Rock and New Zealand Reggae and Funk band The Black Seeds upped the party stakes with a myriad of instruments. Other gems were found in the Gaymers Great Escape section of the festival site. Satin Peaches kicked things off with frontman George Morris as enchanting as ever. The first time I saw this band I likened him to the lovechild of Ozzie Osbourne and Eddie Vedder and I stick by that statement. Their crisp Detroit spun sounds hit the Lovebox spot head on.

And then there was the main stage. Ladyhwake is top of my ipod playlist right now and there’s a good reason behind it. This New Zealender was raised in the 80s and she’s not afraid to show it. She plays over ten instruments and has a catchy as f*** album due out in September. Tunes such as ‘Paris Is Burning’ and ‘Back Of The Van’ made this the pick of the bunch for me. Of course, you can’t take the limelight away from The Human League and festival the force behind the festival; Groove Armada. One crowd member told me the sound is “Below par on quality” for most acts but “Those guys get the goods”. After seeing them at Glastonbury, disappointment just wasn’t an option. It was a solid performance and they were the only band on Saturday that properly used the screens, fireworks and all.

Manu Chao finished off proceedings with a set that made everyone dance like A-class fuelled party animals. Despite the sniffer dogs, a decent fraction of the crowd most certainly was.Meanwhile, the rest of the Lovebox punters found themselves fuelled by the Manu-effect. Lots of fun and bundles of energy. That, dear festival goers sums up day one of Lovebox in a nutshell.

Related links:
Lovebox Festival's official site.
Buy festival tickets.
http://www.loveboxweekender.com
http://www.seatwave.com/lovebox-weekender-tickets/season
http://www.seatwave.com/festival-tickets/category