Dizzee Rascal brings Evolution to uproarious close

Evolution Music Festival 2009 review

By Tommy Jackson | Published: Mon 1st Jun 2009

Evolution Music Festival 2009

Thursday 21st to Monday 25th May 2009
Spillers Wharf, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, NE8 2JR, England MAP
£15 for both days, or £9.50 for day tickets

The last day of Evolution 2009 kicked off with the sun high in the sky, and easy going synth-pop drifting across the river. A revelation to many, Marina and the Diamonds, surely gained a fair few fans today with a spotless performance to open the day. 'Obsessions' and 'I Am Not A Robot' were both reminiscent of Howling Bells, and that's no bad thing at all.

Local boys Little Comets, were up next, and whilst they are current gaining fans and airplay at an alarming rate of knots, there was a question over whether they could handle a stage this big, especially in their home town. The question needn't have been asked, as the band tore through their breezy indie-pop set which which would have pleased those fans who had come back after enjoying The Wombats last night. Recent single 'One Night In October', along with the tremendous 'Adultery' a rousing take on 'Joanna' ensured Little Comets left the stage with their reputation intact.

Over on the Baltic Square stage, another local band stormed through an equally impressive set. Viva City, stormed the smaller stage with their dirty brand of electro-rock which got bodies moving in the already baking sun. Already making waves on the local scene, Viva City's professionalism and stage presence should be enough to see them make the step up.

'Love Will Tear Us Apart' is a superb piece of music, very few people will disagree with that. The fact of the matter, however, is that Joy Division would have been an infinitely better band had they been fronted by a beautiful French girl, and not a whining Mancunian. This is why Nouvelle Vague, are so good, and why they conquered Evolution today. Their concept is ridiculous - take great songs, and make them sound soulful, sexy, and French, but somehow it works. 'Too Drunk To Fuck' and 'Dance With Me' were amongst the classics to get the treatment today, and the entire set was, quite simply, wonderful.

The hype surrounding Little Boots, right now is quite frankly staggering. For the uninitiated, think Goldfrapp with more hype, and you'll get the idea. It's not that she's not good at what she does - she most certainly is - but to be built up to the levels she has been already is scarily over the top. The kids love it though, and 'New In Town' and 'Stuck On Repeat' both go down a storm with the biggest crowd of the day so far.

Despite the Baltic Square stage now running incredibly late, the impending rainstorm and the main access route being closed due to a fence breach, Friendly Fires, drew a respectable crowd for their early evening set on the south side of the river. Hitting the stage at about the same time as the rain, they tore through an all too short but sweet set of fan favourites, including 'Skeleton Boy', 'Paris', and a wonderfully bouncy jaunt through 'Jump In The Pool'.

Scotland should have been banned from exporting bands after the Proclaimers debacle, but sadly, since then the succession of shit bands from north of the border has been seemingly unending. The View, are not about to end that trend any time soon, based on today's performance. However, they do seem to have tapped into an apparently lucrative market for derivative toss, and 'Same Jeans', 'Face For The Radio' and '5 Rebbeccas' got the big singalong treatment from the now bulging crowd. It's not big, clever or, well, any good, but it sure is popular.

Despite the rumours flying around the site that he had pulled out, Dizzee Rascal turned up for his headline slot in defiant mood. As one of the most consistent stars of the UK garage scene, and with recent single 'Bonkers' hitting the UK number 1 spot the day before the festival, this year's choice of headliner was an inspired one.

After an uproarious rip through trademark 'Jus' A Rascal', Dizzee was in a playful mood, and the resulting freestyle assault on MIA's 'Paper Planes' proved that there's more to his act than simple posturing. 'Fix Up, Look Sharp' and 'Stand Up Tall' both kept the crowd onside before the predictable lull that occurred during a number of new tracks, including upcoming single 'Holiday'. However, by the time the the set was brought to an uproarious close with 'Bonkers', the new stuff had been all but forgotten by the Spillers Wharf faithful.

Now becoming an established part of the UK festival calendar, Evolution seems to be growing at pace. The year on year improvements show a dedication by the team to making this a premier urban festival, and with this weekend proving that Newcastle can indeed handle a two day event safely, there can surely be no doubt as to the direction in which this fine festival is heading.

review by: Tommy Jackson

photos by: Tommy Jackson