| D:Percussion at Castlefield | - Date: Sat 7 Aug
- Reviewers:
Steven Long
Zannah Ingraham
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Steven Long wandered around, catching the rays and the bands... "At D:Percussion you could almost be forgiven for thinking that you were at Glastonbury, Notting Hill Carnival or Ayia Napa as people from a range of different ages and races happily relaxed and got down to some serious partying on what was the hottest, sunniest day of the year so far. And because of this festival’s superb organisation, unlike some of the aforementioned, it was actually possible to stay chilled out and laid back and move from one area to another without being caught in queues or huge immovable throngs.  | | Fi Lo Radio (photo: Emma Farrer) |
So you could wander to the main stage and catch Fi Lo Radio belting out a set of bluesy rock that was thankfully more Portland USA then Preston UK, then pop to the urban music stage for something with a bit more funk. Or maybe you preferred to have a few drinks in Barca or Canteena while being entertained by the best DJs in town, before being struck by some of the more bizarre happenings, like seeing hundreds of people dancing underneath Castlefield’s massive railway bridges to the Kindergarten and Chibuki Shake Shake DJs, hands waving in the air like it was The Full Moon Party. Quite frankly, who needs Thailand if Manchester is this hot and sunny? And in D:Percussion’s general air of intoxication, there were surprisingly few hot-spots or signs of trouble as people grinned from one musical event to another and relaxed right into a party vibe. I left as the best of the city's scenesters, funsters, youngsters and oldsters, continued to rave on, Manchester really had become one city under a groove. D:Percussion was that good. Long may it run." Meanwhile, Zannah Ingraham popped into the Arena to catch a couple of bands...  | | The Fremen (photo: Emma Farrer) |
"Southport’s indie rockers The Freman hit the main stage running with a good old dose of rock and roll. Confident and vocally versatile, their harmonies cut a swathe through the baking afternoon heat and as the sun continued to beat down, the set got better as their material got progressively harder. Meanwhile, folky four piece The Cranebuilders provided an interesting mid-afternoon alternative over on the Kenworthy stage with their utterly relaxed acoustic set. Though perhaps more at home in 60’s America than the railway arches of Castlefield, their chilled out harmonies and guitar certainly pleased the folk contingent of the day’s crowd.  | | Kate Rogers (photo: Emma Farrer) |
Following on, Grand Central songstress Kate Rogers attracted a suitably large crowd to fit her ever growing reputation. Although a rushed sound set up caused a few technical glitches early on, nothing could detract from the rich warmth of her delectable vocals. Overall Roger’s relaxed set was perfectly pitched for the chilled out mood of the crowd. Sitting back in the sunshine of a glorious August afternoon, there can be no doubt that Kate’ Roger’s is a voice to remind us of the pleasures of simple things. Indeed, as a tiny girl in the crowd danced away to her soothing sounds, you couldn’t help but get the feeling that this is what free music is really about."
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