One Big Weekend was a bit interesting, eh? Something like 50,000 people, over three days. in a former army barracks, raving and moshing where it used to be all about square bashing. The new drill was about youth, levity, a little bit of urban comment, some trash culture, much laughter and large tunes. Congrats to Radio 1, to Radio 1 Xtra, to the many other flavours of the corporation, including those handy people at BBC NI and ATL. I wasn’t in Derry for the entire weekend and many of you will have watched the event, so rather than a review, here are some scattershot thoughts.
1.The location. An army barracks isn’t necessarily the best place for a festival, and there were some logistics involved in managing the crowd. But we circled the circuit, the security guys were courteous and the music was steady.
2.The view. It was useful to see the city on the other side of the Foyle. Not unattractive, although some of the shopping sites are of rudimentary design. In the foreground, you could see the Peace Bridge, with its loose curves and welcoming spin. Behind, the hardy abutments, the old spikes of religious design, the defensive walls and places of ancient dispute. It’s not my city and others may differ, but I liked the change of perspective.
3.Two Door Cinema Club. The only official act to play the weekend. Blue suits and pimp jewellery, throbbing songs about being lost and the occasional splash of hope. Decent.
4.Short shorts and orange legs. A tribal thing, perhaps. Or an ooompah loompa convention.
5.Phil Taggart on the mic, on the decks, on the wireless. Local boy, now ubiquitous. London may have rebranded our Philly, but he’s still essentially keen, amusing, one of us.
6.The TV trucks, the cameras, the tech people, the logistics. Such an effort and a red button feast. Arguably sharper, more vivid and better sounding that the version the punters experienced. Technology, I guess.
7.The Deputy First Minister getting mobbed by the Mr Whippy van.
8.Robbie Williams and Soak both playing unannounced.
9.The hurtling rise of Kodaline. Anthems admired by the general public already.
10.The only incidents were good incidents. Let’s not take it for granted. Hooray, all.
