15 July 2016 (gig)
25 July 2016
Festivals befalling on weekdays in the capital incur a unique atmosphere; with the crowd a mix of party goers raving since the early afternoon and late comers who have been stuck in an office all day, struggling to catch up. Friday at Lovebox was the perfect example of this.
Katy B did her best to bridge the divide in the early evening, with her danceable garage pop exhibiting the hallmarks of a performer now at the top of her game and in possession of a back catalogue that should place her in headline contention within the next few years.
In the midst of a rare British heatwave and tense political conditions on both side of the Atlantic, rap duo Run the Jewels were next to take to the stage as they delivered an hour of self-aware, fiery lyricism that cut deep into the topical events.
Over the course of their two LP existence, El-P and Killer Mike have managed to gain the following of both the rock and hip hop crowd in equal measure, with their brand of cultural fury and intellectually playful lyrics, coupled with the catchy deep synthetic reverberations making them a critical and commercial success.
With only a single DJ pumping out the sound, the group were barely audible, as the noises of the neighbouring stages overpowered the main stage. Victoria park is known for its quiet levels, but the low ones Run the Jewels had to experience was particularly harmful to the overall spectacle, leaving the crowd to wonder what might have been.
However, as they left the stage, a assault of arms emerged, recreating the group’s logo of a clenched fist and a finger gun, indicating that the audience are still fully aware of the group’s power on a sonic and cultural level.
Major Lazer’s festival-ready EDM then closed proceedings, with Diplo’s tried and tested formula interesting at first and grand in its design, but lacking in originality or any substantial value.
