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Preview: Common People 2017

Rob Da Bank’s Common People returns in less than two weeks. This is one of the smaller festivals on the south coast but for me, that adds to the festival’s charm as you are never far from everything that is going on. For those of you who have already have your tickets then here are a few of my recommendations of what you can expect to find over the weekend. To those who have not bought tickets yet, here are a few reasons why you should!

The UK urban scene appears to have been taken over by grime artists like Stormzy and Skepta over the last few years but in my opinion, Loyle Carner is the biggest talent out there at the moment. He is more of an understated Hip Hop artist, he talks about themes personal to him and that others can relate to.

The South Londoner has been causing quite a stir and has recently been championed by the likes of Huw Stephens and Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio. There is no surprise that Loyle was also nominated as one of the BBC Sound of 2016 artists.

His debut album ‘Yesterday’s Gone’ was released in January to rave reviews and 2017 is certainly shaping up to be an amazing year for Loyle. As well as his appearance at Common People, he will be returning to the south coast later this year for an appearance at Victorious Festival and a solo show at the Wedgewood Rooms.

If you fancy something completely different and that wouldn’t be out of place in an episode of the Mighty Boosh then Elvana are the act for you! From the bowels of Disgraceland, Rock & Roll icons of the afterlife are raised from the dead! The premise is simple, Elvis tears through Nirvana’s catalogue whilst splicing in grunged up sections of the king of rock & rolls finest moments, culminating in an audible orgasm of overdrive & old school Rockabilly. It smells like cheeseburgers and teen spirit, daddy-o!

I’ve previously talked about my love for British Sea Power on Strong Island so I accept that I sound like a bit of a broken record. However, if you are someone who has yet to discover the joy that are British Sea Power then I can assure you that this should be one of the highlights, if not the highlight of the weekend!

It’s now almost 15 years since their debut album and they are still going strong with their most recent release Let the Dancers Inherit the Party. When it comes to playing

When it comes to playing live you will struggle to find a better act anywhere on the planet! Make sure that you are there with foliage in hand and be prepared to wave it high. Also be sure to keep your eye our for potential wildlife in the crowd too.

British Sea Power 🌿 at Southsea Fest

I cannot wait to hear the unmistakeable sound of Wild Beasts at Common People. The band don’t really know what life is like without each other in it as they’ve been together since going to the same school back in Kendal, Cumbria. Since their debut self-titled EP dropped in 2004 the band have honed their own unique sounds that I simply cannot compare to anything out there.

The band received a Mercury Music Prize nomination for 2009’s Two Dancers. Their fifth studio album, Boy King was released in August 2016 on Domino Records and like British Sea Power before the Wild Beasts have longevity in them and seem to be getting stronger with every album. Wild Beasts are a band who I have yet to see live so I am really excited to tick them off my musical bucket list.

From a local music perspective, the two highlights of the weekend can be found on the Common Stage on Saturday afternoon with  The Diamond Age and Kassassin Street.

The Diamond Age are described as fusing together elements of indie, shoegaze and post- punk with a melody at its heart. They cite their influences from the likes of The Smiths, The Drums & LCD Soundsystem. The band won the right to play the festival after taking part in the I Want To Play Common People at the Joiners. For the life of me, I can’t understand why they were not booked on their own right but I am glad that justice has been done.

Kassassin Street are very well known to Strong Island readers and should need no introduction. Nathan Hill from the band promises that fans can expect “new songs, new sounds, same energy, maybe more energy?”

It wouldn’t be Rob Da Bank event without the Cuban Brothers and Portsmouth’s Batala, both are the mainstays of any Rob Da Bank event. Finally, there is more to the festival than just music, you can expect the World’s Biggest Bouncy Castle in Southampton and vintage funfair rides. You will also find some delicious street food including a personal favourite of mine, The Tenth Hole‘s Mac n Cheese shack.

Tickets are available online now from www.ticketline.co.uk.

Photos by Jordan Bareham, Stuart Barker and Common People


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