Festivals Flow Festival 2014

For those seeking a finely curated lineup as well as a thrilling festival site, Flow looks poised to come out on top.

Words: Tom Walters
6th August 2014

Not a day’s gone by these past few weeks where a Flow Festival ticket holder doesn’t tweet about just how bloody excited they are about the imminent start of the Helsinki-based event, and it’s clear to see why. Situated in the alluring area of an old power plant, the festival’s reputation thrives not only on its diverse and topical line-up, but its art, design and its world-spanning cuisine, too. Entering its 10th year, the now all-grown-up Flow is promising its best year yet, and with a lineup like the one it has it’s easy to see why. There’s a lot of competition in the European festival circuit this summer, but for those seeking a finely curated lineup as well as a thrilling festival site, Flow looks poised to come out on top.

A distinctly urban festival that’s totally in touch with its diverse and on-trend audience, Flow drive the point home on Friday as they present an array of exciting dance and electro acts. Skrillex and Mos Def are your biggest choices, bringing either a jarring or enthusiastic reaction from punters depending on which way they look at it. Everyone will be well warmed up though no matter which way they head, as Jessie Ware, Pusha T, Jon Hopkins and Bonobo are just a handful of the acts that cement Flow’s Friday as one of the most exciting festival dates for electronic, hip-hop and pop in recent memory. Slint and Darkside are on-hand for those feeling moodier vibes though, and the one to look out for is definitely Ballet School, who’ll be a joy for all who stumble upon them.

Things really get into gear on Saturday when the pre-party vibe of Friday is expanded upon to include some of the most exciting acts in music today. Almost every act is bound to be upon somebody’s must-see list, with Tom Krell’s How to Dress Well illuminating the new Black Tent stage alongside Mo, Joey Bada$$ and Jamie xx. Shoegaze giants The Horrors will be providing some luminosity over on the Blue Tent, just before Little Dragon take over to bring your eyes up off the floor on the same stage. The anticipation will be building for The National’s headline set all day though, as they’re appropriately matched up against the beautiful efforts Flow have put into their festival’s scenery. This is bound to be one of the most exciting shows in the band’s history.

Clashaggedon strikes on Sunday, as Real Estate and Blood Orange go head-to-head. Those needing to be lulled out of their hangover will find their heads soothed by the former, whilst those who are ready to go again will find their needs well and truly taken care of by Dev Hynes. Elsewhere Mac DeMarco will be showing Finland his hits and his humour on the Black Tent, succeeding superbly-timed slots by Jungle and Action Bronson respectively. Finn favourites Sin Cos Tan and Jaakko Eino Kalevi will undoubtedly draw some massive crowds too, Janelle Monae and Outkast round things off that night with a couple of hours of bloody good music. Exhausted enough yet? Big Ups also pay the Mixradio Music Hall a visit, completing a full circle of every single element on the scale to descend upon the festival, all the way from absolute intimacy to absolute carnage. No matter where you end up this weekend, Flow Festival is well and truly upon us, and it’s guaranteed to be a bloody good time.

Tags: Outkast, Festivals, Features