SPLENDOUR FESTIVAL 2017

Wollaton Park, Splendour festival. A festival filled to the brim every year with music, comedy and gallons of local talent. This years festival was one to be remembered. Selling out right up until the last minute with 25,000 people enjoying the height of the festival. The sun shone for a wee bit but even though the torrential downpour came it didn't dampen the spirits.

Kicking off the mainstage was NUSIC's Future Sound Of Nottingham competition winners and a band with fistfulls of energy, Brotherhood. They really brought the crowd up to the mainstage as people gathered early to catch this energetic band play. With leaps and bounds, big sounds and enjoyable tunes they opened the day oh so wonderfully before leading into Nottingham's latest major label signing, Georgie, who continued the main stage musical goodness with some soulful tunes and lots of great lyricisms.

Not only was this massive crowd at just 12.30pm gathering around the mainstage but the Acoustic Room stage began to fill up with people fluxing to catch some wonderful local talent. BILLIE kicked off the acoustic stage with some heartfelt songwriting and some gorgeous guitar riffs. She is definitely one to watch out for. She's supported local artist Georgie last year and since then launched an EP. I had a chat with Billie after her wonderful set (INTERVIEW W/ BILLIE)

As more and more people poured into the festival we were joined with more wonderful music and sing along tunes from Gabrielle Aplin who had a substantial crowd eerily singing along to crowd loving tracks such as 'Salvation' and 'Panic Cord' breaking into some lovely piano moments and switching it up from full band to some picturesque acoustic moments.

The eclectic mix of Splendour Festival is what makes the grounds of Wollaton Hall light up with joy. Over on the Confetti stage we were mixing it right up with Influential Punk Rock legends, Buzzcocks. What was awesome about this set was that it brought it a great crowd of all ages and it was delightful to see a new generation following this 70's conquering punk band. The audience went ecstatic for big records like 'Boredom', 'What Do I Get' and of course, the favourite 'Ever Fallen In Love With Someone (You Shouldn't Have Fallen In Love With').

As the day went on we were joined with yet MORE sing along goodness from the legend that is Tony Hadley, who gave a gorgeous rendition of 'Life On Mars' by David Bowie, amongst other massive tracks from 'Somebody To Love' Queen and of course, his set would not have been complete without some Spandau Ballet classics, 'True' got the audience well and truly harmonising throughout the festival. What a splendid voice he still alludes too! And of course as the rain hit harder, the spirits grew happier as we were joined by some absolute album classics and hits from the one and only BUSTED. Hit after Hit after Hit is the best way to describe the set. Playing classics from debut album Busted and of course 'A Present For Everyone' including 'Who's David?' '3am', 'What I Go T School For' and of course 'Year 3000' which was sandwiched in between some newly formed tunes from 'Night Driver' a wonderful bridge for the final headliners of the evening on the mainstage 'Kaiser Chiefs'

Over on the Confetti Stage, 'Love Really Hurts' legend Billy Ocean closed the stage with some more sing-along classics and lots of soulful feels. Lots of sways, dancing and big beats. He absolutely owned the stage and sang with such sultry tones. He brought in an amazing crowd with the audience getting their teeth into 'Carribean Queen', 'Get Outta My Dreams and Into My Car'.

Kaiser Chiefs have and always do know how to warm the crowd and please to the max. Ricky Wilson owned the stage with amp climbing a-plenty and belting out classics from the likes of 'Everyday I love You Less And Less', 'Na Na Na Na Naa', 'Modern Way' and of course what else better to end the set with belter 'I predict A Riot'. We were also met with tunes from 10 years old album, 'Yours Truly, Angry Mob', including massive belter 'Ruby' that got the crowd well and truly excited! Nicely inputting some new loves from later Kaiser Chiefs, including 'Parachute' and 'Hole In My Soul'.