Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire
Thurs 4-Sun 7 Aug
★★★☆☆
words: GARETH LUDKIN pics: JONNY FALKUS
Since 1994 The Big Chill has sought to be a pioneer of independent UK festivals; promoting innovative and creative talent, and melding funk, soul, electronic, dance, house and hip-hop genres in an exciting blend of established and emerging talent. However, in an increasingly over saturated market, maintaining a successful music festival has become a perennially risky endeavour. In 2009, The Big Chill finally went bust, and a takeover bid from Festival Republic – who now own a growing monopoly in UK festivals – was required to keep the festival going.
Although no longer independent, 17 years in and the festival continues to offer plenty for the discerning muso to enjoy; a short perusal over this year’s lineup reveals a clutch of exciting up-and-coming artists, producers and DJs alongside established crowd pleasers and Big Chill regulars in a programme that reads well all the way down. Having said this, The Big Chill severely lacks in any real sense of unique character or identity. Criticised by many for becoming overly commercial in recent years, there’s a notable lack of alternative entertainment beyond the main music stages, and while its focus on delivering a lineup of music that appeals across the board is admirable – Jessie J, Empire Of The Sun, Chipmunk, Kanye West, Dionne Bromfield, Brandt Brauer Frick, Quantic, Jamie XX, Julio Bashmore, Sharon Jones and Four Tet counting among the broad range of artists – the trappings of a commercialised Festival Republic-run festival are plain to see from the ubiquitous food stalls and festival shops to the commercial bars and corporate sponsors.
The Big Chill has a disappointing lack of interesting festival quirks, tents and entertainment – elements we have become so familiar with at festivals such as Latitude, Bestival, End Of The Road and Glastonbury – And although the Healing Fields were once again in residence, the tacky fairground attractions were a disappointing alternative to the otherwise entertaining lineup of music across the nine stages.
With a turnout much lower than expected, this year’s Big Chill felt comparatively empty – although by no means quiet. The smaller crowds did have the benefit of allowing for better vantage points as Friday’s lineup kicked into full swing by Aloe Blacc packing out the Revellers Stage with adoring fans keen to catch his hit single I Need A Dollar. Other notable performers on Friday night included Mercury Prize nominated Ghostpoet, Empire Of The Sun, Electric Wire Hustle, Hercules And Love Affair and The Chemical Brothers – who if nothing else delivered a spectacular visual show and some classic dance anthems. A combination which had the festival’s 30-something ravers nodding their heads in approval.
One of the stand-out performances of the festival came on Saturday afternoon with the creative and charismatic Janelle Monae. A fantastically choreographed set matched Janelle’s charisma, sense of stagecraft and brilliant voice. On the Revellers stage, the brilliant Brandt Brauer Frick offered a set of brisk German electronic house music, and Andreya Triana performed a sublime show on The People’s Ear Stage. Katy B, Example and Calvin Harris delivered the pick of the mainstream artists while Submotion Orchestra, Buraka Som Sistema and Gentleman’s Dub Club offered some intriguing alternatives. Big Chill regular, Craig Charles, returned with two sets on Saturday and it was quite clear that there were few people having quite as much fun as Charles himself as he entertained audiences with his DJ set on the Starburst Stage and his live Funk And Soul Show at the Big Chill’s Radio Stage.
Headlining the main stage, Kanye West appeared 30 minutes late. Breaking halfway through his set to deliver a speech about how he has been misunderstood and villified in the mainstream media (as much as Hitler apparently) brought boos and a large exodus from the crowd. A distinctly unremarkable and self indulgent set left many of the crowd ambivalent as to his signing at this year’s festival.
Sunday’s lineup proved the most entertaining of the lot with a great array of artists ranging from Mr Scruff to Four Tet, Jamie XX and Robert Plant. Phenomenal performances from Quantic And His Combo Barbaro and Sharon Jones And The Dap Kings set the Revellers Stage alight and were the pick of Sunday’s live bands.
Despite its many indentikit festival qualities, the Big Chill remains as one of the best UK music festivals due to its smorgasbord of performing talent that has the capacity to please an ever greater variety of discerning music lovers. Look beyond the festival’s apparant commercialisation and you’re sure to find a fantastic lineup and a festival packed with fun.