Overview

So, despite high winds, cancelled bands, local resistance and poor weather in the run up to the North East’s newest festival, we are here at HiFi North, on the beautiful Matfen Estate. Time will tell whether it will return next year, but I think that with some work, this could be a great little festival.

On the organisational front, things could have been a lot better. Throughout the day I spoke to numerous people who had missed a favourite act due to the timetables (costing £5) being grossly inaccurate. Those who had paid extra for VIP entrance were treated to posters advertising the correct times, but for the regular festival goer, it was down to sheer luck whether they saw the bands they were expecting to see. A few posters near the main stages may have dented profits slightly, but would have gone a long way towards improving customer satisfaction.

The area is an ideal festival site. The land is flat, and despite rain in the run up to the festival, and torrential downpours on the day, the ground held up very well, and there was very little mud on site, although there was enough to ruin many a pair of bright white trainers which had obviously been purchased for the festival. The location of the various stages and arenas was excellent. All were within easy walking distance of each other, yet the sounds coming from each never seemed to mix. The Live Stage was particularly well sited, it being in a natural amphitheatre which afforded excellent views of the stage from even the very back of the crowd.

For some unknown reason, the Live Stage did not open with yourcodenameis:milo, as was reported. Instead, ¡Forward Russia! opened proceedings slightly ahead of schedule. Their performance was incendiary, and they were clearly not put off by the very small crowd, even joking about it during the set – “This one is called Twelve, which is incidentally the number of people watching us”. A definite early highlight of the day, and we were left hoping the rest of the day would be just as good.

No offence to Brakes, as following on from ¡Forward Russia!, was always going to be difficult, and they just couldn’t pull it off. Their country tinged guitar pop didn’t connect with the crowd, and many just wandered off in search of better things, which is a shame, as on record Brakes are very promising.

Had any wanderers wandered into the Radio Soulwax Arena, they would have been treated to an excellent upbeat set from The Glimmers. Yet another act playing to a small crowd, but the mash up of post punk, dub and techno lifted everyone in the tent. Having remixed Bloc Party, The Killers, and New Order, The Glimmers know just how to make an indie-kid dance, and despite the sparsity of the crowd, they were one of the DJ highlights of the day.

Next it was back to the Live Stage once again for Dirty Pretty Things. They simply did what they have been doing all over the country recently, and played an absolute blinder. Opening with ‘Deadwood’, they pulled a large crowd in throughout the show, who braved the torrential rain, sleet and even hail that drenched us for most of the set.

The undoubted highlight of the day, however, was Maxïmo Park. Despite playing four hours earlier than advertised, the local heroes’ return to the North East drew in the largest crowd of the day so far, and we were witness to a storming set which includes fan favourites ‘Apply Some Pressure’, ‘Signal and Sign’, and ‘I Want You To Stay’. They also debuted new tracks, including the fantastic ‘By The Monument’ – a reference to Newcastle’s famous meeting point. Local bands will always get a fantastic reception at an event like this, but when giving a performance like this, Maxïmo Park deserve every accolade that comes their way.

Editors have come an amazing distance in less than a year. I first saw them at the bottom of the second stage bill at Leeds Festival last August, and the nerves were apparent to all watching. Now, however, this is a band that just oozes professionalism. ‘Munich’ is wonderful, and ‘All Sparks’ simply shines. Tom Smith has thrown off the shackles of shyness which seemed to plague him, and now dances like a man possessed. His enthusiasm is infectious, lifting the entire crowd, and by the end of the set there is can be no-one in attendance who doesn’t wish it could go on for a little while longer.

Headlining the Live Stage is Ian Brown; and I am starting to think there is something wrong with me. The one time Stone Roses frontman continues to get rave reviews whenever he plays, but... he just can’t sing. He opens with ‘I Wanna Be Adored’ and my heart races. It is still a great song, and one which can’t help but get people moving, and I think that we may actually get a good show here, but then it all goes downhill. Part of the problem is the Brown’s own material isn’t as good as the Roses songs, so when played next to each other, they clash. Of course, there is the odd highlight, but these are few and far between, and we leave the stage in search of more exciting fare.

Once the Live Stage closed for the day, the DJs really got their chance to shine. Paul Oakenfold did what he does best in the packed Godskitchen Arena, pulling off a great progressive trance set. In the Electric Arena, Steve Lawler unfortunately seemed a little flat to this reviewer, but the crowd were up for it, and carried it through to Eric Morillo, who was the highlight of the day for many people I spoke to. Meanwhile Headman in the Radio Soulwax Arena laid down some fantastic punk-funk beats, and the only shame is that there were not more there to witness it.

Overall, this was a day not without it’s problems, and they cannot be overlooked. But on the whole, it is just what the North East has been wanting for a long time - a major festival that can pull in major acts. It would be unfortunate if the mistakes made this year prevented it from going ahead in the future, because in HiFi North we have the foundations for an excellent festival, which we can only hope is allowed to grow into all it can be.

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