by Keith Sandys

With a fresh change of clothes and the bad weather behind us, the Saturday at Victorious Festival 2018 was off to a glorious start. Well, it was dry for a day at least…

Happy Mondays

Friday at Victorious Festival ended with the (baby)shambles of the Libertines and I was partly expecting the Happy Mondays to start in the same vein.

Bez must be wondering how he’s still being paid to dance around in his knee supports. However, frontman Shaun Ryder would be lost without him.

Along with Rowetta Satchell on backing vocals the rest of the band were also on top form. Listed as “Special Guests”, presumably for contractual reasons, Ryder and co. thoroughly deserved their afternoon slot on the bill.

DJ Tom Mayhem

While the weather played its part in keeping the Beats and Swings tent being busy all weekend, it almost certainly would have been regardless. The whole of the Victorious Festival site was open and the sun was shining for the Saturday, yet Portsmouth DJ Tom Mayhem kept the crowd dancing under canvas.

Sleeper

Sleeper were one of many popular 90’s Britpop acts to feature on the Victorious line-up since its incarnation. Old indie hits such as “Sale of the Century” were sounding fresh as ever, so I’m tempted to catch them at the Wedgewood Rooms later in the year.

Andy and the Odd Socks

Of course, watching a CBeebies presenter playing to a bunch of toddlers isn’t on everyone’s itinerary. However, you’re taking your child to a festival, highlights can take an unexpected turn.

When someone uses the term “freak” in their lyrics, it’s often self-deprecating. However, Andy and the Odd Socks turn it around, into a positive trait for their song “Unique”. In fact, I’d go as far to say it’s one us adult freaks can relate to all too well.

Jamin’

One of the many positives about Victorious Festival is how it makes a point to support the local scene. After all, there’s a lot of talent in Portsmouth.

As such I made a point of catching Jamin’ on the Seaside Stage, overlooking the English channel. Having seen the Libertine’s the night before, Jamin’ wouldn’t have seemed out of place alongside the Saturday nights headliners. In fact, they could probably have given them a run for their money…

Billy Bragg

“If any of the younger members of the audience wonder what an old bloke’s doing up here with an electric guitar, I’m what Ed Sheeran would be if he read the paper”.

This may have been in jest, however, Billy Bragg has a point. He is, after all, one of the true protest writers of our times, whereas the likes of Ed Sheeran give your average singer-songwriter hope of fame.

Following a reworking of a Bob Dylan in “The Time they are a Changing Back”, Bragg went on to show his age a couple of his own classics. “There is a Power in a Union” and “New England” very much songs of the people. Furthermore, lyrically Bragg is still just as relevant as ever.

Brian Wilson

From the moment Brian Wilson was escorted on stage, it was obvious he’s a man not in the best of health. While of course that’s well documented, it doesn’t stop the 76-year-old Beach Boy to perform a set of summer favourites.

The weekend’s weather may not have quite been filled with Californian sunshine, but the performance certainly was. Brian Wilson sat behind his mini-Grand Piano, although hardly played a note. Instead, it was the impressive array of musicians he surrounded himself with that carried the great man. Including, as it happened a secondary Beach Boy, stage left, on guitar and vocals.

Paul Weller/Paloma Faith/Duke Special

While I tried to share myself about a bit, it was Paul Weller who I would see the most. As the mod-father started, one thing in particular stood out. He is an incredible musician.

You never knew what you were going to get. Soulful vocals and gentle guitars, to rock n roll honky-tonk piano. What’s more, the changeovers were seamless, something the Libertines the night before could learn a lot from.

Elsewhere was Paloma Faith, a lady who knows how to put on a show. Her music may be a little commercial for my tastes, but as a person, I’ve always thought of her to be highly entertaining. She lived up to this expectation live too, very good at what she does.

Then there were the smaller stages, Duke Special is a man I’ve seen many-a-time, yet never fails to disappoint. Headlining the acoustic stage, sat behind an electric piano until his acapella performance of “Turtle Soup”. Duke is a performer in every sense of the word. So while his cover of Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon” drifted across the night sky, there was just enough time to see Paul Weller’s encore.

All in all, resulting in another fantastic day out at Victorious Festival 2018

by Keith Sandys

Victorious Festival 2018 had got off to wet start on Friday night. Although things started to dry out on Saturday, Sunday was in danger of being a complete washout.

Sure enough, the British weather hit Southsea and tried it’s hardest to dampen spirits. Yet, the Victorious Festival organisers did well to keep things going. Despite several stages having to close altogether due to safety reasons, along with those being affected by limited power, the show went on regardless.

Gomez

While having a festival on the seaside is a pretty special location, it is, however, open to the elements. As such even the main stages were suffering, Gomez ended up playing an acoustic stage under a makeshift gazebo and elsewhere stage times had gone out the window.

It was soon obvious many festival goers had decided to stay at home until the last minute. Gomez may have played to fewer people than expected, but the stripped down versions still came across really well on the big stage.

Dub Pistols

As the water was being swept from the stage, the wind and rain was showing no sign of letting up. It was getting to the point where the plug may have been pulled on the Dub Pistols altogether before they even started.

However, you can rely on Dub Pistols to bring the party to Portsmouth, whatever the weather. The musicians in the band may have had to huddle in a corner at the back of the stage, but that didn’t stop Seanie Tee and Barry Ashworth embracing the elements.

In fact, the pair were lapping it up, Seannie Tee in his waterproofs and umbrella, while Ashworth was getting as wet as the rest of us. The mud may have made it harder to dance, but one thing was certain, Dub Pistols yet again put on a show to remember.

Tuba-Libres

It was soon time to give in and take shelter, which for some meant getting to see impromptu performances by the likes of Bang Bang Romeo play in nearby pubs. For others, it was to head to the Beats and Swing Tent. While local cover bands may have drawn in the crowds on smaller sages, Tuba Libres were putting their own take on familiar tunes. All with the help of a horn section and some rather unnecessary stage costumes.

Sleaford Mods

Next up it was back under the rain clouds and into the mud bath of the Common Stage. The setup for Sleaford Mods is simple, Andrew Fearn provides repetitive electronic beats while Jason Williamson delivers the vocals.

Really, it was all about Williamson and his East Midlands accent. The beats were minimalistic and other than pressing play on a laptop, Fearn was more there as moral support. Visually, however, Williamson is an intriguing character. Part humble disco dancer, part working-class hero with a mouth like a sewer.

Simo Lagnawi

The World Music Stage was one arena that had to be rained off. Luckily, however, the Peoples Lounge were on hand to provide a last minute alternative. Simo Lagnawi performed some traditional Moroccan music with his bandmates on percussion, the hypnotic sounds the perfect warm-up for what followed.

The Turbans

While everyone may have been excited about the headliners, it was the Turbans that were being promoted among the smaller stages. Despite the change in performance time and having moved to an even smaller setup, the band soon lived up to the hype.

Although a traditional mix of instruments, this was musical fusion at it’s finest. It also summed up the vibes of the World Village. The Turbans come from all over Europe and beyond, resulting in a combination of Turkish folk and gypsy music, along with other Eastern flavours.

The Prodigy

Clearly the biggest act on the Sunday of Victorious Festival 2018, the Prodigy were ready to play their only UK festival date of the year. The weather had cleared up and smoke and lasers engulfed the stage.

Opening with “Breathe” it was clear the Prodigy setlist was going to feature a number of classic dance tunes. That said, there were still a couple of more recent songs thrown in. Pretty much every track had the crowd dancing, with the really big ones spread out nicely throughout the set.

As a live act, the Prodigy have come a long way since the 1992 debut “Experience”. So while that release focussed very much on Liam Howlett as the main man, the Prodigy have gone on to grow into a full band. Keith Flint and Maxim Reality own every inch of the stage, but the live touring members are hardly hidden away.

During the encore, the Prodigy went old school with “No Good (Start the Dance)” and then ended the night with “Take me to the Hospital”. The whole show was superb, making a day out in the rain at Victorious Festival 2018 worth every moment.

As for Victorious Festival 2019, let’s just hope more bands are given tents, or at the very least that sunny Southsea lives up to its name!