Field Day and Underage Festival - LONDON KICKS - Fashion, Music, Art, Film, London and Going Out

Field Day & Underage Festivals

Over two days in August, Hackney's Victoria Park plays host to two
different day festivals. These being Underage Festival on the 8th and
Field Day on the 9th. As Britain is smothered by a possible recession
and tickets for the traditional three-day festivals rise despite
weaker line-ups, day festivals should become ever more popular.

Field day was launched last year in a blaze of publicity, a top-notch
line up and it was only £25, an absolute bargain. Yet despite it
being a scorching day there were no more than twenty toilets, one
water tap and about ten bar staff for 5000 people. Unfortunately the
promoters learnt a harsh lesson that however good a line up, I still
need to eat, drink and pee. However it has returned costing exactly
£1.50 more with assurances of far better amenities, so what's catch?
Well unfortunately it is the line-up, Lightspeed Champion, Laura
Marling and Howling Bells aside it is pretty poor. It must be
extremely difficult to set up and promote a festival, but I for one
would pay an extra £10 to get a stellar line and to cover the money
they had to spend on loos. Better luck next year guys.

In stark contrast Underage Festival looks in great shape. Frankly a
festival in which you are banned from going if you are older than 18
is ridiculous, as the under 19's are not excluded from any other
festivals. However that is just my jealously as the line-up is simply
sublime and I can't go because I am a old man. It reads like a who's
who of my Ipod's most listened to this year, Florence and The Machine,
Those Dancing Days, The Maccabees, Pull in Emergency. I cannot go on
because my green eyes are scaring my cat. Fair enough you can't get a
beer, but it finishes at 8:00 so east London is your drunken oyster
afterwards. Those of us still not able to grow facial hair despite
being in our 20's may think we can get away looking 18, but I would
not bother as a friend of mine found out last year, unless your in
pampers they check everyone's ID.

So in conclusion, with the 1234 festival and Tin Pan Alley cancelled
Field Day was my last bet, but the line-up is a big let down. So 'da
kids' have won this battle, but with the chance of sounding like my
dad, your own club nights, record labels and now brilliant festival,
you don't know how good you've got it.

Matt Keeney

London Kicks 2008