Features Preview: 6 Music Festival

It seemed so obvious that BBC 6 Music should have its own festival that the only question we asked when it was announced was: why didn’t we all think of this sooner? That’s a lie actually, because there was a second question: how did they put together such an incredible line up?

For the inaugural festival boasts a stellar list of acts. Small but perfectly formed it’ll see just eight and a half thousand lucky people each day crammed into the Victoria Warehouse in Manchester to watch a diverse range of bands, with Kelis and The Horrors; The National to and Lykke Li all sharing a bill. And that’s to name just four. And that’s also not to mention the accompanying Fringe Festival.

It’s not surprising to learn the fest sold out in mere minutes. Here’s our pick of a very good bunch (and yes we know The National, Haim and all the others are great – there’s only so much internet though):

Damon Albarn

Music’s renaissance man and perhaps the greatest songwriter of his generation has chosen the festival as the place in the UK he wants to showcase his first solo album, ‘Everyday Robots’. Expect downbeat and introspective tracks swelled by a full band – and a man at the peak of his creative powers giving us a peek into his personality after 25 years in the business.

Wild Beasts

Those brilliant Beasts will be parading their five-star record in all its majestic glory. Already a captivating live band, the release of ‘Present Tense’, their most visceral and kinetic album to date, means they’ll be able to inject some new sounds into their set, from the bouncing ‘Mecca’ to the rumbling electronics of ‘Wanderlust’. Get ready ‘two dance(rs)’ - sorry.

The Horrors

Having launched the seven-minute juggernaut ‘I See You’ earlier this week the festival seems like the perfect place to cap off a fine week for a band who continue to prove their musical chops are as sharp as their haircuts. That dizzying track with its 80s flourishes suggests something even bigger than Skying. New songs and Faris’ towering presence means this could be the set of the weekend.

Metronomy

With ‘Love Letters’ just about ready to blast out of speakers across the country the hard to pin down band led by Joe Mount – expect all manner of honky tonk pianos, irresistible melodies, lo-fi electronica and, if their new Gondry-directed video is anything to go by, dapper matching suits. In fact, this is Metronomy – the only thing you can count on is that this will be great.

Kelis

Here’s another act with a new album ready – but Kelis is so magnetic she really doesn’t need an excuse for us to watch her. ‘Jerk Ribs’ from her forthcoming record ‘Food’, served up with the help of TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek, was more than enough to whet our appetite and having us asking for more. That means her show on Friday should be a treat. All those food metaphors and we didn’t even mention milkshakes.

Lykke Li

With news that she’s going to release the follow up to ‘Wounded Rhymes’ in May, anticipation is high for Lykke’s return. The fact that she claims she found her voice with this new record makes us even more excited. She hasn’t played these shores since 2011 and it’s fair to say we’ve all been missing her rich and compelling pop songs – dark and complex, light and welcoming. Just like Li herself.



BBC 6 Music Festival takes place at Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse, 28th February - 1st March.