News / / 21.08.13

Knee Deep

Liskeard, Cornwall | August 9-10th

Largely masked by the hype surrounding Newquay Boardmasters, Knee Deep positively draws in festival goers that are inclined to dodge Skrillex’s summer anthems in favour of a more leisurely affair. Deflecting Boardmasters’ inevitable swarm of Primark Hawaiin shirts and neon face paint, Knee Deep doesn’t draw in huge numbers, yet it has accomplished an amiable atmosphere that Boardmasters will consistently fail to achieve.

Despite the initial reaction to the ever so controversial alcohol restriction – the 12 can allowance saw a cleaner festival to that of a Monday morning at Glastonbury – there were more gurns than incoherent slurrs, more dancing than drunken staggers, and not one real life simulation of Tekken caused by meathead tantrums.

Generating an empty audience at the beginning of every set, the short distance between the tents and main stage allows campers to acknowledge the next band’s presence, even during an afternoon nap. Friday night’s headliners were disheartened by the turn-out during the first ten minutes of their set, however after a roar of cans being opened, tent zips being nimbly fastened and a barrage of keen footsteps fast approaching the stage, Splashh soon accumulated a bevy of floppy-haired youths, with heads bobbing and limbs flailing to the dreamy modernised shoegaze the Australian’s conquer so well.

Congregating a humble flock of Cornish talent attributing to the generous array of worldwide musicians, the flurry of bands holds a potpourri of assortment, decorating just two stages and two DJ booths. On Saturday night, the emotionally raw UK indie outfit Big Deal flaunt their intensified show that’s in keeping with their latest album’s overt expansion of sound. With the vociferous PG resounding across the span of the festival, and the once submissive debut single Talk metamorphosing into a fierce drum-ridden turmoil, they execute a memorable performance.

Sweet Baboo‘s lyrics are so drenched in irony (‘Daniel Johnston has written a hundred of great tunes, and I’ve got six so guess that’s some catching up to do’, is an example which stands out) that some naïve journalists have chased main man Stephen Black with pitchforks. Nevertheless, on perceiving Black’s glaring modesty in daylight, as he delivers vocals through a quivering voice that’s much alike Wave Pictures’ David Tattersall, it’s becomes clear that his lyrics are no more than a wail of self-deprecation. On stage merely hours into the festival, Baboo’s danceable charm encourages toe-tapping and swaying, brewing energy amongst the previously idle crowd.

Special guests Man Like Me were a devastatingly poor festival finale to those sober, although they seemed to please those who’d spent much of the day with a rolled up fiver up their nose. Covering his face with a Lidl bag in a blunderous attempt to surprise the audience, Johnny Langer spends the entire time frolicking on stage, hopping, skipping and jumping with more aggravating hyperactivity than you would find at a Justin Bieber concert. Just two hours previous to this superfluous performance, however, Flamingods accomplish an incomparable set that undeniably provides Knee Deep’s finest moment. Occupying the stage with a large array of instruments and rocking jangly sequinned outfits, the Bahrain-born, London based divas galvanise the crowd with thunderous percussion.

The contented air that escorts Knee Deep’s charisma above all other festivals is an inestimable quality, one that’s assigned with surprisingly desired rigid rules and a small capacity. Let’s pray Knee Deep never diverts from it it’s admirable secretiveness and humble attire.

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kneedeepfestival.com

Words: Ayesha Linton-Whittle

Photos: Dom Moore

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