The countdown is on and we are two weeks away from Victorious Festival on Southsea Common. The gates will open at 10 am on Friday, August 23rd with Do Nothing opening on the Castle Stage at 12:05, with Pacific Avenue following on the Common Stage ten minutes later.
Since its launch in 2012, Victorious has grown into something truly special, with each year raising the bar higher. For me, last year’s festival was musically the best yet, and I can’t wait to enjoy what this year has in store. The musical lineup for this year’s event is particularly impressive, featuring some of the big names and some of the most admired acts on the festival circuit. I have picked my must-see performances taking place over the weekend.
Fatboy Slim
Headliners don’t come any bigger than Fatboy Slim. After leaving 80’s band the Housemartins, Norman Cook adopted the persona of Fatboy Slim and released his debut single ‘The Weekend Starts Here’ in 1995. However, he will be more famously known for tunes like ‘Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat,’ ‘Praise You’ and ‘Weapon of Choice.’
I had the pleasure of catching Fatboy Slim at Bestival way back in 2013 and quite simply he was immense. Expect an hour of classic dance tracks interwoven at what might just be the best party Portsmouth has ever seen.
If you want to whet your appetite to what you can expect then I recommend settling down to watch Sky Original’s ‘Right Here, Right Now.’ The documentary revisits the infamous Beach Boutique II event in 2002 which saw 250,000 decent on Brighton Beach for the free beach party.
When: Friday at 21:45
Where: The Common Stage
Wet Leg
In what promises to be one of the most exciting bookings in the event’s history, Wet Leg will take to the stage to close Victorious on Sunday night — a true homecoming of sorts for the Isle of Wight natives.
Since their humble beginnings on the island, Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers have skyrocketed to international stardom, becoming one of the most exciting and in-demand bands in the world. The crowd for their set is expected to be significantly larger than last year’s, which saw Johnny Marr’s fantastic performance – regrettably under-attended. Wet Leg’s infectious energy and growing fanbase, which includes the likes of Iggy Pop and Dave Grohl, make this a must-see event.
Musically, Wet Leg is a blend of indie rock, post-punk, and alternative pop, drawing inspiration from legends like the Velvet Underground, Nick Drake, Aretha Franklin, and David Bowie, a testament to their excellent musical upbringing. Their sound is both fresh and nostalgic, blending sharp, witty lyrics with catchy riffs that stick with you long after the first listen.
The band’s breakthrough came with the release of their debut single, “Chaise Longue,” in June 2021. If you think you don’t know the song, then one listen to its instantly recognisable riff will likely prove otherwise. While you’re at it, check out the Soulwax remix of “Too Late Now.”
Their self-titled debut album, released a year later, further cemented their status as a force in the music world.
Since 2023, Wet Leg has been on a winning streak, earning two Grammys, including Best Alternative Music Album, along with two Brit Awards, an Ivor Novello, and five Libera Awards.
This is a band destined for even greater heights, and missing their set at Southsea Common would be a real regret. Wet Leg are the kind of act you’ll be bragging about seeing live years from now.
When: Sunday at 21:40
Where: The Common Stage
Arlo Parks
Warming up the stage for Wet Leg will be another Brit who is taking the world by storm, Arlo Parks. I had an in-person interview set up prior to a show in Brighton but then Covid hit. I’ll never forgive that episode for robbing me of that opportunity.
Since those difficult times, Parks has released her second album My Soft Machine and has been all over the world guesting on US talk shows with Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert. As well as playing Coachella, Glastonbury festivals and NPR’s Tiny Desk show.
On a personal level, Parks struggled with her identity growing up; a self-confessed tom boy who was super sensitive and “uncool”, she says it was like “I’m a black kid who can’t dance for shit, listens to emo music and currently has a crush on some girl in my Spanish class.” By the time she reached 17, she shaved her head, figured out she was bisexual and produced/wrote an album’s worth of material.
Growing up in South West London, half Nigerian, a quarter Chadian and a quarter French, Arlo Parks was more comfortable speaking French before English.
Given her softly spoken nature it is no surprise that she described herself as a quiet child. She enjoyed writing short stories and creating fantasy worlds, also “obsessing” over spoken word poetry and watching old Chet Baker performances on YouTube.
These days she references Nayyirah Waheed, Hanif Abdurraqib and Iain S. Thomas as her favourite modern poets, and it is clear that their work has been as influential on her songwriting as any musician.
Describing her own songwriting, she explains, “I would write stories so detailed you could taste them, while maintaining the energy and life of the hip-hop I loved.”
If you’ve been going hard at the festival and want to enjoy a more tranquil evening then I would suggest pitching up for Parks and holding your ground for Wet Leg to follow.
When: Sunday 20:05 to 20:55
Where: The Common Stage
Sugababes
With a young family, the idea of spending five sun-drenched days at Worthy Farm wasn’t on the cards, but we still got to enjoy a good part of the weekend at the fantastic Staggeringly Good brewery. While Coldplay and Shania Twain may have dominated the headlines, one of the most memorable sets of the Glastonbury weekend came from Sugababes on a packed West Holts Stage.
The band has been on quite a journey since their debut in 1998. After numerous lineup changes, the original trio of Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena, and Keisha Buchanan is back together. In 2019, they successfully regained their trademark after a legal battle, and since then, they’ve been performing and working on new music. Watching them on stage, it’s clear they’re relishing every moment of being back together.
Sugababes are no strangers to the city, having performed as special guests in 2022. This time, they’ll take to the Castle Stage as the penultimate act before the Pixies headline set, promising an unforgettable and fun show.
When: Saturday at 20:05
Where: The Castle Stage
This is just a taste of the incredible musical lineup they have in store for the weekend. If you haven’t secured your tickets yet, there’s still time to grab yours on our website. Remember the good old days when you could pop into LJR or the Meat & Barrel to pick up physical tickets? It feels like a lifetime ago! With early bird options now sold out, day tickets are available starting at £83, while full weekend passes begin at £225. Don’t miss out—visit their website through the link below to purchase your tickets and check out the T&Cs.
Website: victoriousfestival.co.uk
Facebook: facebook.com/VictoriousFestival
Twitter: twitter.com/VictoriousFest
Instagram: instagram.com/victoriousfestival
Photos: Strong Island Media
NO COMMENT