Festivals Riffs and singalongs dominate The Xcerts’ House of Vans set at Bestival 2018

We’re willing to bet that there aren’t many occasions when The Xcerts spot a stilt-walker strolling into their show, but let’s be honest: anything can - and in this case, does - happen at this year’s Bestival. And while some technical issues mean their House of Vans set takes a little longer than anticipated to get under way, when things do kick off, the trio are electrifying.

While their set is entirely made up of songs from their latest riff-tastic album ‘Hold On To Your Heart’, it ensures that spirits are high from the off. The likes of ‘Daydream’ and ‘Drive Me Wild’ - the latter packed with a real swagger, even sans saxophone - sound massive in the intimate confines of House of Vans, while the quieter ‘Show Me Beautiful’ provides a reflective respite midway through.

Bursting with a kind of confident bombast, the energy of closer ‘Feels Like Falling In Love’ is enough to blow any mid-fest cobwebs away and as frontman Murray Macleod stands front and centre for one final a cappella round of its soaring chorus, it’s a glorious conclusion to the band’s set.