Psicle: Having a Field Day

After vowing never to attend the beardy tug of warring festival again as it's moved from east to south London and it's Simon's birthday celebration I break my vow and buy a ticket. Debs not coming as it's all electronic dance stuff. Lily-Rose jealous as A J Tracey is on the bill. Last weekend I went to the east London Field Day replacement (see blog) and was pulled over by a dog whose nose needs checking so I'm fully prepared to be pulled over again today. Spoiler: didn't happen this time. (By the way - thanks for the tips for today Ramsay). I arrive at Simon and Jules' at the appointed time to be greeted by Jules in dressing gown saying everyone is in bed. Lazy gits. After a second breakfast same as the first and a beer and sparkling wine we, as in Simon, Jules and I, are off towards Brockwell Park with Jules' kids following on later. We join the long queue of kids in the blazing sun and after a while I'm given a cursory frisk and then sniffed by a dog as is everyone and we're in without incident. We catch the last song or two of Oumou Sangaré which is a shame, damn security, as the African beats are the perfect way to start a day festival in the scorching sun. Next we have why we're here quite so early and the man of the grime moment A J Tracey. Well, we think it's AJ for about 10 minutes before "AJ" shouts give it up for A J Tracey and we realise we were watching the warm up guy and AJ himself takes the stage. It's full on hard grime with guy in hoodie on the decks, or rather play button, and low slung jeans and pants showing (L-R later tells me they aren't pants but trackie shorts, no wonder people have been sniggering at me showing me undies). AJ is joined by a couple of friends, one of whom is Notes I've been informed by my 15 year old Grime expert, and we are treated to a great set. It gets a bit hectic and heavy at one point and we find ourselves squeezed between two large circles which are obviously going to become mosh pits. Thankfully we don't get involved and everyone is friendly and happy in the sun. After that excitement we retire to the trees, usually the home of local youth drinking cider and smoking lord knows what, where we meet Jules' friends. Next up are Kurupt FM (the guys behind People Just Do Nothing) who put on a great rapping set which I assume is a little tongue in cheek but fun all the same. The crowd is large and love it. They are a bit Goldie Looking Chain but hey they were fantastic too. One of them is wearing a T with Lurkers on it with unfamiliar crest so I'm not sure he's a fan of the seminal pubby punkers from back in the day. Also a Brentford FC shirt sported, there seem to be a few in colours in the crowd including West Ham and The Arsenal who are obviously the only two vaguely acceptably trendy clubs in London and the former I'm not so sure about in multicultural south London. Last saw a Brentford shirt on stage at Goat Girl 18 months ago in the Brudenell in Leeds. Must be trendy too. During KFM we found and lost Jules' kids and also her friends. We hang out a bit during which time I bump into my twin, or at least someone wearing the same Vivienne Westwood designed War Child charity T shirt but I ruin the moment by berating his mate for wearing a Bollocks to Brexit sticker which some activists were pressing on everyone they could outside the gate. Simon drags we away to the bar. They wander off for food and we arrange to meet up at Mount Kimbie but it's in a tent and it's far too crowded to get near let alone inside. Having now lost my mates I wander up to the rave Barn and catch Panda Bear who serves up electronic dance sort of stuff with some amazing visuals. It's quiet in here and a brief respite from the sun and enjoyable enough. Outside I get chatting with some dude who scrounges a rollie and bemoans the fact that he and his mate have bought dud pills. I advise what do you expect buying from someone wandering around a festival which makes him feel a lot better. I don't offer him a Pro Plus as he might laugh at me. Hearing something that sounds like rock and roll I catch the last few songs of FEET who are playing a small tent and who re-energise me after mooching about in the sun. Lots of posing and thrashing and dry ice and general punkiness. A great tonic. Having remet Simon and Jules at the free taster Drambuie stall I then immediately lose them as we push our way into the Barn which is much much more crowded now. One of my picks for the day comes on in the shape of Floating Points who pumps out an hour of euphoric old school heavy rave dance house interspersed with understated bleepy bits. Great visuals again. I get a little spot towards the back far side where I can groove away in blissfulness. Lovely. Outside I get a text from Simon saying they're at one of my picks Thundercat so I hot foot it down to the main stage to catch his fantastic bassing and altogether funky jazzy soulfullness which I'm very glad I caught for at least a few tunes but I don't catch my chums who now text to say they're back up at the small tent by the Barn. Jeez they are making me sweat those two. We meet up and vow never to lose each other again, well, not tonight. The wee tent is filling up and is a bit one dimensional dance crowd pleaser like so we wander down hill to catch a surprisingly good Fever Ray who I've seen before and not really rated that much (it was 8 years ago and at the end of a Bestival weekend). Was good today giving us a dancy quirky indie feel with a touch of post punk hardness but we didn't push on into the tent as you could feel the wave of sweaty humid fustiness blow down on you as you neared it. So we dance around the hinterland with other like-minded punters. After that that's that. We wander out of the gate, which is still being manned by security now stopping us taking liquids out (bejesus!) and we three jump the barrier to mosey over Brockwell Park to the hole in the railings, which nearly stops my short cut due to my muscular chest having to squeeze through, and then on home. The two young lads are back already munching fast food (food check: expensive Venezuelan corn bread with plantain and salad as I unfortunately never made it to the Fat Gay Vegan area) and see Simon's two. After accidentally drinking one of Jules' gluten free beers (sorry Jules! - I'll buy you another in France) I borrow bike lights from Simon (having failed to check that there were some in Debbie's pannier which there were) and after bridging Brixton Hill I coast all the way home. A bit day out and it's not even midnight. Good times. Thanks Simon and Jules. Send me your snaps and I'll add below if the Editor deems suitable.