day one overview

Bang! – Lovebox is big these days. Starting out as a London club-night hosted by dance duo Groove Armada, in 2007 it’s swelled to the size of a massive two-day outdoor festival across ten stages, with probably the most eclectic line-up of any of the festivals that aren’t Glastonbury. From dance to classic pop, cutting-edge indie to Brazilian baile funk, it’s all here.

But, like at every festival that this reviewer has been to so far this season, there’s been one uninvited guests sticking his dick in the caviar – Rain, followed shortly in tow by his impressionable trouble-making little brother, Mud. I’ve had enough of these two utter bastards – please coppers, slap ‘em with an ASBO or something.

Bizarrely booked to open the whole festival when there are still barely 100 people in the arena are the illustrious and long-serving bastions of austere alternative, Super Furry Animals. There are fifteen (count them) people stood in front of the stage as they appear from the wings, something of a downsizing from their massive performance on the Other Stage at Glastonbury a few weeks before.

Still, it doesn’t stop them from performing a typically mind-boggling performance. Several classics are notably missing from their brief set, but new tracks like ‘Show Your Hand’ nestle in as perfect substitutes, alongside the likes of a re-named ‘Hello Sunshine’ as ‘Hello Rain’ in honour of the abysmal weather that’s making trendy Londoners wish they’d brought something a bit more suitable to wear.

Rarely performing in the UK, Canadian dance duo Junior Boys follow SFA, but their deep electro short-circuits due to the ongoing rain – what should be punters first chance to practice their dance moves ends up being a bit of a wash out. However, just as they kick into brilliant single ‘In The Morning’, the sun bursts through and everyone’s mood lifts instantly.

Patrick Wolf’s vaudevillian disco is a typically camp affair. He's chuffed to be at Lovebox as he used to live in a flat just outside Victoria Park, so this is something of a homecoming for him. The weather’s far better now and he makes the most of it, people are jigging left right and centre as he plays a largely upbeat, festival-friendly set.

We hit the Strangelove tent to see Scratch Perverts DJing, unsurprisingly it’s completely rammed as everyone’s trying to stay dry. Poking our heads back out we hear Australian dance troupe The Presets play their one good song, “Are You The One?” and then it’s off to the bar to top up on beer.

Saturday night second headliners Blondie are brilliant. Debbie Harry is pushing her mid-sixties but her voice still soars and the rest of the band are tight as ever. Plus, the rain has disappeared so people are free to dance, sing, eat ice cream and have fun. ‘One Way Or Another’ rings through the cheering crowd and finally Lovebox feels like its hitting its true peaks. Still, anyone who thinks Debbie Harry is still hot is lying.

Finally, it was the turn of Sly Stone to make his first appearance on a British stage in over 20 years. With a new version of his band, The Family Stone, he brought the first night of Lovebox to a bristling close.

The frontman did not initially appear, as the band (fronted by his sister Vet) performed hits such as set opener 'Dance To The Music' and 'Everyday People'. When Stone did finally appear, he sang lead vocals on 'If You Want Me To Stay' and 'Sing A Simple Song' before telling the crowd he "needed a piss" – the old charmer. Lizard leaked, Stone did return, leading the band through euphoric versions of 'I Wanna Take You Higher' and 'Stand!'

Day 1 of Lovebox closes with fanfare, let’s just hope Day 2 holds back on the rain.

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