Night + Day 2013

Why slog through mud and bother with the hassle and sweat of pitching a tent in a hurricane-force gale when you can opt for an afternoon and evening of music curated by one of your favourite artists or bands, without the bloat of superfluous musical chaff?

It’s a question which must be giving festival promoters sleepless nights given the success of recent events such as Yoko Ono’s Meltdown at the Southbank featuring the likes of Iggy Pop and Savages, as well as The xx’s own Night + Day. The event sees the ambient indie act decamp from the urban South London sprawl to the sedate and gentrified grounds of Hatfield House, handpicking their favourite acts to make up a tight and waste-free bill across two focal points, the Main Stage, and a smaller bandstand reserved for DJs and electronic acts.

Kicking things off proper is Sampha on the bandstand, with greatest response from the head-bobbing throng for the tossing out of the anthemic ‘Hold On’, his brilliant collaboration with SBTRKT and the highlight of a more than solid set. A wander over to the Main Stage via an obligatory pit stop at the cider tent finds minimal wunderkids Mount Kimbie tearing it up with a their guitar and drums-orchestrated post-dubstep. Duo Kai Campos and Dom Maker have previous for remixing headliners The xx, but waste no time in making a grab for the lime-light as the late afternoon support.

They would have succeeded but for the deliciously funky strains of Kindness who steals the show with a rambunctious performance that well and truly brings the party. With his hair flying in the breeze and soulful rhythms tumbling from the soundsystem, he proves the antithesis to the curators’ austere and measured cool. Bainbridge and friends are a live act not afraid to show they’re having fun - and more power to them for it. Early evening brings the twin-pronged Stateside attack of Poliça and Solange, the former boasting vocal acrobatics, forest-quaking rhythms and slickness.

With the sun down, bathed in lasers and atmospheric smoke The xx take to the stage to close proceedings. There’s an anticipant atmosphere upon their arrival but this is unfortunately dampened by a detached performance that’s lacking in intimacy, despite its sonic perfection - the electronic percussion sounds titanic and the guitars chime delectably but it’s cold and at arms length, like watching a band in a glass bowl. The slinky ‘Heart Skipped A Beat’ is a highlight but from a set that doesn’t quite take flight, with audience applause that seems a tad contrived as opposed to genuine.

Despite this, they should be commended for curating such a strong billing that supports their considerable weight.