Frazer Lowrie - Photo by Thom Stone
With three stages to check-out, The Under the Tree stage felt like the most appropriate place to start our Waterfront journey, it was outside...as was the scorching sun. Showcasing emerging new and not so new artists from the Nottingham music scene such as Yasmin Issaka, Jamie Moon and Frazer Lowrie there was a selection of acoustic artists for the early comers to soak up and soundtrack the hazy Saturday afternoon.
Bud - Photo by Thom Stone
Even though the summery weather was beckoning everyone outside, the real party kicked off on the Left Lion stage with Hallouminati. This mismatch of trumpets, guitars and gypsy punk sounds drew in the crowds from outside. Their upbeat, playful presence was hard to miss and impossible to dance away from. The crowd adored them, bopping along to their catchy ska-punk songs, those stepping inside to grab a beer found it impossible to tear themselves away and go back outside, addicted to the music. Hallouminati was the drug and the audience took it all in.
Taking it down a notch, Leah Sinead's ethereal voice beckoned back out in to the sun. Her folksy tone suited the atmosphere perfectly. Her husky voice flirted us all into a state of admiration for her Laura Marling styled vocals.
Hallouminati - Photo by Thom Stone
The best thing about this small but well established festival is the variety of music across the three stages, whether it's soft acoustic vibes at the Under the Tree stage your after, heavier tunes on the LeftLion stage, or upstairs at The Castle Rock stage for a bit of indie rock with bands like London boys Whales in Cubicles who performed later on in the day, alongside the likes of local purveyors of brooding electronic synth-pop, Practical Lovers and April Towers.
Back downstairs on the LeftLion stage the tripple-threat of Ulysses Storm's dirty blues, the doom rock of Mammoth Wing and the sludgy heavyness of Iron Swan was a tour-de-force of riffs and volume. Rivetting stuff.
Iron Swan - Photo by Grace Copley
An all day/all night event, the Canal House was bursting with people merrily enjoying the music, beer and sunshine way into the evening, perfectly hilighted by One Bomb, who had just returned from the almighty Glastonbury, performing what felt like a special home town set.
That Fucking Tank ended the night upstairs in their own immutable way. A hypnotic and thrilling combination of tinnitus inducing riffs, speed, and power. They may only be guitar and drums on stage, but the band make it sound like a rave had broken out.
Deaf Bridges - Photo by Thom Stone
Another steaming success and even those attending who weren't in it for the music but for the scenery and BBQ had smiles on their faces. Overall, it was a really great collaboration of Nottingham artists and that quirky Notts atmosphere.
The Waterfront Festival took place at The Canal House on Saturday 12 July 2014.
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