The Maccabees spark mass sing-alongs in the huge crowd

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Glastonbury Festival 2009

Wednesday 24th to Sunday 28th June 2009
Worthy Farm, Pilton, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 4AZ, England MAP
£175 - SOLD OUT

Daily capacity: 150,000

The Maccabees have always been something of a buzz band, and this year has been no different with a lot of attention falling on the band with the release of their new album, 'Wall of Arms', in May this year, and it was this buzz that attracted a huge audience, scaling all the way back to main path leading to the Dance Village.

Unfortunately, that huge crowd had a knock on effect to the band's performance. For a band so young and for a band that only have a catalogue of two albums to base their set upon it became clear that they found it difficult to entertain that huge number for the duration of their set.

That's not to say that the band disappointed, as that was the not the case, on the contrary, they impressed me more than I was expecting them too, but I feel that they struggled more than they would've done if they were on in the John Peel Tent.

The set featured a mixture of songs from both their new album and their debut, 'Colour It In', with 'Precious Time', taken from the later, proving to be the highlight of the set.

If there's one thing that this band possess, it's great singles, and with 'Precious Time', along with 'First Love', 'About Your Dress', as well as set closer 'Love You Better', taken from the new album, all sparking mass sing-alongs, it's not hard to recognise that this band have potential to have a set full of songs of this calibre, and dare I say it, depending on the success of their next single, 'Can You Give It', and their next full album, there's a possibility of a headline slot on this stage, or maybe even a high slot on the Pyramid stage.

As the band opened up their set with the first single taken from their new album, 'No Kind Words', it was clear to me that I was going to be in for a treat, and following on from The Rakes, the band picked up where they had left off, continuing the early afternoon indie disco, just without the controversy.

The major complaint to come from the performance wasn't from the band, but from the sound levels on the Other Stage. Throughout the weekend the sound level was very low, and at the back of the arena some instruments were sometimes barely audible, and this is was evident as such, with many around me complaining.

But this didn't detract from what as excellent display, and at the end of their set, I left leaving excited for what the future held for the band, and after seeing them when they first started off only a couple of years ago, I'm excited to see where the band head to next.