We were lucky enough to attend the Parklife Weekender as press over one very wet weekend from 7th – 8th June. Music lovers flocked in their masses to attend the event created by the same creative geniuses responsible for the Warehouse Project. Arriving on the Saturday was a daunting experience, trying to organise 50,000 excitable Mancunians is no easy feat in the best of situations never mind when they’re all vying for the choice selection of stages and tents on offer.
Luckily it wasn’t all showers at the Festival
We began our weekend getting to know the venue, with secluded VIP sections available featuring mini tents and bars without the queues, always handy. Drinks came at a hefty price but it’s all to be expected and definitely worth £7.50 to enjoy a Pina Colada in Heaton Park courtesy of the bar by the Drop the Mustard Stage.
Foodies were not let down by the fantastic variety of bites on offer, everything from veggie wraps to steaks was on offer with our typically favourite restaurants making pop up appearances in the forms of Nandos and Almost Famous.
There was further entertainment in the shape of fun fair rides, including a log flume and Ferris Wheel (which taking a spin on has become something of a Parklife tradition for myself). There were dozens of pop up stores selling quirky shade and crowd pleasing novelty accessories to help any doubter get into the Parklife spirit.
Snoop Dogg attracted a hefty crowd for his headlining set
As for the music itself, revellers were certainly not left disappointed after an impressive line up left many torn when deciding where to dwell. Hip Hop legend Snoop Dogg attracted a mighty crowd on the first evening, playing all the best fan favourites such as ‘Drop it like it’s hot’ and ‘California Girls’. We caught snippets of Snoop in our attempt to see many acts, additionally watching Route 94, Redlight and Bonobo to name a few from our Saturdays shenanigans. I must admit however, I was slightly more anticipating the Sunday line up. We began our Sunday, after a quick stop at the press area, catching some of Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs tent filling performance, which featured a creative display of props and effect on the DJ’s stage.
We then headed to watch Kerri Chandler (https://style-etc.co.uk/kerri-chandler-at-parklife-interview/) at the Disclosure Stage; which was an uplifting set full of addictive and catchy beats to get you in the mood for what was yet to come of the festival, the only bad point was that it didn’t last longer. However, we certainly weren’t stuck for other options and nipped up field to catch Warehouse Project favourite Erol Alkan, who we’d seen live before and knew to expect a good vibe. Erol’s set was more punchier, with a harder sound and more kick as opposed to the uplifting and chilled sounds provided by Kerri Chandler, but all the same gave the audience something to stay for and get into.
We loved the layout of the Drop the Mustard stage, especially the fairy lights!
Later in the eve Carl Cox provided an ever impressive headlining set of addictive beats and crowd interaction to reassure he felt the atmosphere along with the tent full of veteran music lovers. Toward the end we enquired to see what was happening across the way in the tent opposite and discovered Green Velvet providing a mixture of sounds and beats appealing enough to entice any house music lover, with an amazing lights show on display to boot. Everything was impeccably timed to translate the futuristic sounds on offer. It was certainly hard to walk away from such an environment, even with legends such as Carl Cox providing a show a mere stones throw away. Spoilt for choice we divided our timing running between the two, not wanting to miss a moment, which was a fantastic way to end a great weekend.
All in all the music available was not to be argued with, there was a significant amount of choice provided for the fussiest of music fanatic and the fact it has become such a huge export for Manchester itself creates a proud feeling amongst us fellow northerners. Not since the Hacienda has such a line up created a stir for revellers far and wide. The only question is, how will they top it next year?
Another example of the amazing lighting and effects on show
For more information be sure to visit Parklife online to find out more.
By Leanne Coppock
Images provided by Full Fat
