On the Friday of the festival, attention turned to the main stage, labelled the Wild Stage in honour of the festival’s wildlife theme.
Wolf Alice – Photo via NME
After a breakfast muffin from Original Fry Up Material (another firm Blissfields favourite!) I headed over to the main stage. One of the first acts to perform was the eagerly anticipated four-piece group Wolf Alice. After recently touring the UK and playing Glastonbury, the crowd jostled to be at the front for the set. Playing popular tracks such as ‘Bros’ and ‘Moaning Lisa Smile’, with the majority of the audience singing along, it’s clear that Wolf Alice are going from strength to strength.
Next up on the main stage was Luke Sital Singh, whose unique style of folk music gave a relaxed vibe to the crowd and was the perfect accompaniment to the sunny weather. Having been featured on BBC’s Sound of 2014 list, this singer-songwriter is definitely one to watch.
Tune Yards – photo via Blissfields Facebook
After a performance from folk artist Nick Mulvey, who charmed the crowd with his soulful take on folk, came Tune Yards. Prior to their performance I’d had several recommendations to watch them and I was not disappointed. So many artists describe themselves as ‘genre-defying’ yet this label does not often apply. However, Tune Yards truly are, in my opinion, genre-defying and were unlike anything I had ever seen before. Their sound was totally unique and refreshing and I would definitely recommend them. With their colourful candy-cane-style attire and bright face paint, they looked perfectly appropriate for a festival performance.
Later in the evening, Spector performed on the Wild Stage. Despite the rain (which is highly unusual for Blissfields!) the crowd welcomed the indie band back. After playing the festival in 2012, it is fair to say that Spector have established themselves as Blissfields favourites. They played a range of older tracks including crowd favourite ‘Chevy Thunder’ as well as showcasing new material.
Sleigh Bells
Friday’s headliners were Brooklyn-based duo Sleigh Bells. Their infectious energy and enthusiasm translated into a truly exciting performance. They played a set consisting of older tracks such as ‘Comeback Kid’ and newer ones such as ‘Born to Lose.’ The crowd enjoyed each minute and sang along following the request of vocalist Alex Krauss. This was Sleigh Bells’ only UK festival performance this summer and I was glad to be there to see it!
Following the headline performance, revellers headed once again to the Hidden Hedge and the Blisscotheque. On the Friday of the festival, a new area for late-night music was introduced. Named ‘Back of the Bus’, DJs played classic tracks for fans to party into the early hours.
