My 2018 music festival season was kicked off by Parklife this past Saturday, setting the mood for a relaxing weekend. One of the best things about Parklife is that you know what you are getting: The same iconic branding, same great people and consistently amazing tunes.
So Parklife has always been lucky with the rain, and this year was no different. Little sparkles of light lovely morning dew welcomed the start of a gloriously sunny day.
The musicians were out in full force filling up the three stages, keeping crowds entertained and generally just creating great vibe, some notable views, or FOMO — depending on whether you were one of the lucky people in the crowd.
As the day grew to a fever-pitch, Desmond & The Tutus had the crowd pumping — keeping the ladies (and some gents) with the odd flower crown jumping around to their signature quirky sound.
Adelle Nqeto memorized the crowds with her honey-sweet voice and afro pop beats. Most definitely someone to keep an eye on in the future.
This was my first encounter with Alice Phoebe Lou, and I must admit she stunned me with her apocalyptic indie blues. She had amazing energy making people dance or just listen all at the same time. If you haven’t had the pleasure yet, I really do recommend checking her out.
Finally, the sun dipped below the horizon and the headliners Angus and Julia Stone took to the stage for an eager crowd. The indie folk hurricane washed the crowd over in the melodies, the screen visuals adding to the emotion of the performance. The crowd, hanging on their every word, were given a special treat when the set list was altered to play a requested song. It was really touching hearing how the crowd reacted to them.
Parklife was a great experience and will always have a place to grow. A small but welcome change would be what most festivals lack: allowing water bottles in and having hydration points for people who just need water.
Looking forward to next year – thanks Parklife!
