In Photos: Field Day

Photos by Ed Lilo

Field Day might be after a kitsch village vibe but it's a festival that wouldn't exist without the internet. As one of the stages demonstrates, almost everything here is a "Bloggers Delight", featuring line ups curated by websites, DJs who "tastemake" online and the odd facehunter creeping around to snap the crowd's 'most fashionable'.

Field Day is also a chance for fans to see some of these 'blogged' bands in the flesh for the first time. Whether it's Toro Y Moi popping off the page with full band (the live drums giving it a jazzy vigour) or Dam Mantle live-producing with his pedals and programmers. Tom Marshall and friend, buzz over their desk and Walls featuring Alessio (Banjo or Freakout) is transfixed by his machines. Maybe they're too used to just listening blankly at their screens (or just tired from the sack race) but the crowd isn't that into it. Do they watch them or just shuffle along?


Dam Mantle


Toro Y Moi


Walls

The Quietus, true to form, are making intelligent picks over on the Village Mentality stage. Esben and The Witch evolve into a forceful live band, that should see hordes of admirers want to snuggle up with them come the winter months. Rachael Davies , working together with the floor tom, is the star of atmospheric pieces yearns for foggy mornings and moody afternoons wrapped in a blanket. These New Puritans - probably starting to wear out after a summer of dates - don't quite manage to do the same.


Esben and The Witch


Rachael Davies

No Age have a similar problem. They're old hands at playing festivals now, we've already seen them at Primavera Sound this year, but they still haven't got over being that detached from the audience. They're shouting "fuck the system" but are too far away to do anything. There are no dives, no speaker scaling and no stage invasions, something they've been used to on previous tours. They look a little frustrated by the lack of atmosphere, and we can't help laughing as we spot one of Times New Viking's "Fuck Yr Blog" bags, a sentiment that sums up the contrast between No Age's punk rock roots and their current surrounding. Still, at least their hardcore fans try to make up for it. They taunt security by going wild behind the fences. The Fall too, tread that difficult line. Lots of new bands are in awe of Mark E, and for good reason. He still does not give a shit.


No Age


No Age Fans

Web manipulator Atlas Sound knows one or two things about fucking with blogs. With Deerhunter and his solo work Bradford Cox looks for innovative ways to mix nostalgic formats with new technology. The new album has a Xerox poster project that will eventually be a website and allow fans to download exclusive tracks. Live, he's equally manipulative. The Atlas Sound material can be moulded into many different styles and today he plays the sweetest of sets.



Finally to Phoenix, a band that won their audience without the 'net but have benefited from it since. Who hasn't seen hype machine full of Phoenix remixes? The new album "Wolfgang Phoenix Amadeus" is well represented with 902010 and Listzomania sending the crowd a little barmy but there's still room for "If I Ever Feel Better" to trip back to a time when burning a CD was pretty hi-tech.


Tasty Treats at Field Day

"Getting Some" at Field Day

Merok DJ

Village Green "Mentality"

Post No Age

Tom NPIP "No Photos"

Enjoying These New Puritans

Wins: Good Atmosphere, good weather and well planned stages.

Fails: The beer was expensive and some of the tents couldn't handle the crowds.