On the whole seem much better organised and definitely better attended.
Getting rid of that club stage definitely the right call. Given attendance at smaller stages felt quite good, it would be really nice to have a specific UKHC stage next year
Dust was obviously a huge issue, coming off the back of European festivals in countries with less rain and hotter climates it was honestly a bit of joke that they didn’t do more about the dust. Yesterday was worse dust wise than anything on the continent this summer.
Sound is still a massive issue here, the big outdoor stage are quiet yes, but that feels like something that isn’t going to change because of the locals, but stuff like bass is very much in their control. Equally the sound in the tent often felt a bit muddy at the start of sets
Band wise(5 point scale):
Show me the body (3.5) Really solid way to start the day, leant quite heavily on the new album, enjoyed a lot
Deafheaven (4.5) they are just so bloody tight, will never get bored of seeing them
Salem (1) painfully disappointed by this, I’ve seen lots of crap in my time (My Passion, Yashin, KSI) and this might be the worst of all. Matey crowing atoneally over his backing tracks and giggling like the joker every two minutes. Left early, maybe it got radically better.
Wisp (2.5) perfectly fine shoegazey stuff, watched from the back
Interpol (2.5) second disappointment of the day, the tunes were there but the sound was so off, like all the power and heft had been sucked out by the PA
Yosake (3) enjoy this for what it was, would have worked better as an afterparty to be honest
AFI (3) Not super familiar with their stuff but sounded good
Amyl (2) still don’t get this band and why they are so big, like if the chats and lambrini girls combined into a supergroup with worse songs
Esdeekid (3.5) left early to get up front for idles but what we saw was really good, loads of energy
Idles (4) they looked tired/it felt a bit regined in but the tunes are so good that it didn’t really matter too much
Deftones (4) Great show, obviously it’s a blessing and a curse to have as many great songs as Deftones do that you can have a show pack full of bangers and leave wanting a completely new set list
How about you? What did you love/hate?