Electric Fields might well be the most exciting festival north of the border this year, with a line up that draws huge talent from both the local pool and further afield and without compromising in talent have drawn together the most attractive line up we’ve seen in a while.
Last year Electric Fields was a real up and comer with a punch, drawing mainly, although not solely, on Scottish acts the festival saw real promise in a glorious location with my only real criticisms of last year’s festival coming in the form of travel arrangements and food, the latter seems to have been sorted with a mouth-watering list of options displayed, but whether it lives up to billing we’ll wait and see.
This year they’ve taken investment on board and expanded considerably, moving to a two day festival with huge headliners in Primal Scream and The Charlatans, while acts like Wild Beasts, Fat White Family and Field Music add to a strong bill that will pull punters from the whole of the UK.
Add to that a strong Scottish contingent, featuring not only headliner Primal Scream, but also SAY award shortlisted Steve Mason and Emma Pollock, the undeniably talented folk rock chops of Admiral Fallow and the irresistible Tuff Love, among others, you’ve got a festival that’s come a long way.
With that in mind we’ve chosen to take our picks for the festival from those that might not quite have caught the wider public eye… yet.
BE CHARLOTTE
This little songstress had the potential to be massive, and slightly more than a year on from the first time we covered her she’s progressing nicely. Her live set is slick and breath-taking, drawing on vocalist Charlotte Brimner’s immaculate vocal talents with section that go from rap to beautifully sang acapella sections, from experimental drum assaults to shimmering pop glory. Get ready to be drawn in and left bewitched.
BELLA AND THE BEAR
Ultra talented duo Bella and Bear merge cutting edge spoken word sections with intricate, lush folk meanderings. Lauren Gilmour’s voice oozes character and will add a resounding beauty to a buoyant line up.
ELARA CALUNA
elara caluna are a band that we have shamefully yet to cover, so Electric Fields should deliver the perfect opportunity, on record their sound merges gothic, baroque and folk influences with electronically generated atmosphere, that we’re excited to finally catch in a live setting.
SWEATY PALMS
There’s not many better live bands in Scotland right now than Sweaty Palms, the Glasgow boys deliver a riotous set that has tore many a basement a new one with their loud and dirty, reverb drenched post punk sound. Electric Fields just might not know what hit it when they take to the Tim Peaks stage early in the day on Friday.
TEENCANTEEN
TeenCanteen deliver sticky cherry-cola kissed three part harmonies backed by talking toms and stomping beats in a new Wall of Sound, and with their debut album due just weeks after Electric Fields we’re excited to see what they have in store.
THE VAN T’S
It appears The Van T’s very nearly were not playing this year’s Electric Fields after the very sad news of the passing The Lapelles frontman and their very good friend Gary Watson, however it now appears their 60s vibing garage rock will rear its shimmering head and we’re more than sure they’ll pull out all the stops to honour Gary’s memory.
We’re also excited to catch Northern Irish drone pop merchants Documenta and the dreamy guitar pop of Manchester’s Horsebeach for the first time.
Rave Child 