Geographer may have got the festival started but Aloe Blacc brought in the positive energy of sunshine and smiles while keeping the fog at sea. Shabazz Palaces brought their duo dynamic of supplying chill beats and if not some pre-mature bangers with chants of “Saturday Night (Are You Ready?)” at 1:40pm in the afternoon, but still we love them all the more for it. YACHT kept the energy up with front woman Claire Evans sashaying about in a sleak and sheer alabaster mini skirt jumper bringing their neo-B-52s pop to an enthusiastic crowd.
After hanging around some bros in the Silent Disco, I caught The Naked and Famous who had a false start on their big hit “Young Blood” before driving the buzz-fed fans wild. Battles did what they do with all their pre-recorded vocal guest spots appearing to you via dual vertical screens between the drum kit on the Tunnel Stage. Dizzee Rascal did not dissappoint with a set that took it back to Boy in da Corner to Tongue n' Cheek while taking up some time from the head spinning Buraka Som Sistema with their sound that pushes the kuduro envelope into Lison's ghettos of Buraka where the group began and represents with a great affinity.
Chromeo played all the Green Label Sound smooth Roger/Zapp/Jamiroquai second handed-jams before FlyLo kept the festival party on their feet. Cut Copy was great, but the real anticipation was for the recently (and do we say “riotously?”) reunioned DFA 1979 that gave Empire of the Sun something to live up to beyond dazzling get-ups, elaborate video components and all those glam'ed up “Walking on a Dream” hits that drove the audience nuts.
