Lounge on the Farm – review
By day, Lounge on the Farm was the chilled-out affair its title suggests – festival-goers of all ages sauntered between a solar-powered cinema, a rather hit and miss comedy/theatre tent and six music stages for a programme of bands varying from folk to grime.
Of these, the best were Spector, whose synth-rock highlight, "Never Fade Away", soared somewhere between the Killers and White Lies. Other reputation-enhancing performances came from Pete Roe – a member of Laura Marling's band, now stepping out on his own – woozy duo Big Deal and rare Dutch treat the Bucket Boyz, who thrilled with their anarchic take on Tennessee folk.
As the sun set on Merton Farm, bigger name acts took to the stage. Indie darlings the Vaccines lacked a little of their usual punk velocity, but the rain failed to dampen Mike Skinner's spirits; the Streets star had everyone singing along to a dazzling rendition of "Blinded by the Lights".
On Saturday, Katy B (right) was equally animated, her fiery versions of last year's pop hits "Katy on a Mission" and "Perfect Stranger" proving particularly popular with the crowd. In fact, the Brit school graduate's high-energy set left Saturday's headliner, royal wedding performer Ellie Goulding, looking rather lacklustre in comparison. Meanwhile, over on the small Farm Folk stage, singer-songwriter Johnny Flynn, who, with his band, the Sussex Wit, has been a leading player in London's folk resurgence, went solo for a particularly intimate performance, the pick of which was the harmony-laden "Tickle Me Pink".
Now in its sixth year, Lounge on the Farm may have once been a festival for Kent locals but this year proved that there's plenty on offer to whet the appetite of music lovers from elsewhere.
Best band The Streets.
Best discovery Spector.
Overheard Pete Roe: "I have two CDs for sale! Not two albums. Just two actual CDs."