Music / Clubs
Preview: Love Saves The Day
Love Saves The Day returns on May 23 and 24 with more stages and a bigger lineup than ever before. Now in its fourth year, the festival’s expansion is the result of a move to a roomier site at Eastville Park. “We’re upping our game with a new home, our best line-up yet and a bigger, better festival,” says festival director Tom Paine. “We can really spread our wings in Eastville Park so this marks the beginning of a new era for Love Saves The Day.” As you’d expect from this early highlight of Bristol’s summer the lineup is enormous. With around 300 acts expected to play over the weekend we won’t try to list them all, but there are plenty of highlights to be going on with.
Saturday’s lineup emphasises big room sounds. Soul-pop sophisticate Jessie Ware headlines, while the special guests are festival favourites Groove Armada. Big guns like Âme, Craig Richards and Gorgon City all play Saturday, as does Bristol’s Julio Bashmore, whose career went stratospheric ion the back of anthems like Au Seve and Battle of Middle You. Another you should definitely catch on Saturday is Jackmaster. The Numbers chief was a late addition to the bill and his inspired sets of house, techno and bass music mark him out as one of the UK’s finest club DJs. Other first-day highlights include Hannah Wants, Waifs and Strays and Dyed Soundorom plus contingents from Bristol institutions Futureboogie, Shapes and Just Jack.
Sunday’s lineup has a grittier, soundsystem feel with reggae, grime, and drum and bass all featured prominently. Harlem rapper Azealia Banks (pictured) tops the bill, which also features a guest slot from hometown heroes Roni Size Reprazent. The live drum and bass collective, whose debut album New Forms won the Mercury Prize in 1997, are one of Bristol’s biggest musical exports and have a new album scheduled for release later in the year. Other Sunday highlights include reggae legend Horace Andy, grime godfather Wiley, jungle pioneer Shy FX and original turntablist Grandmaster Flash as well as Skepta, Four Tet, Redlight, Floating Points and David Rodigan. Meanwhile, Teachings In Dub will be on hand with the unadulterated roots vibrations of Channel One.
Elsewhere on site there’s a cocktail caravan, an inflatable church and an “immersive theatre venue” offering “intergalactic space adventures.” And if that sounds a bit too relaxing, you could always head for The Dance-Off stage where Fabio and Grooverider will soundtrack a dance contest in a boxing ring. These things don’t happen every weekend so get on it.
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