If you’re going to put on a festival the same weekend as the musical behemoth that is Reading and Leeds, you’ve got to have something different in mind. If you’re going to not only put on a festival that Bank Holiday weekend, but do it successfully? Year on year? Well, then you must be something incredibly special.
Enter, Portsmouth’s Victorious Festival.
Now in its twelfth official year, Victorious is once again promising to make your Summer unforgettable as it takes place on 22nd to 24th August on Southsea Common.
First up on the Friday, a year after headlining Donington’s Download, and fresh off of announcing their upcoming The Catacombs tour for later in the year, there’s bona fide rock legends Queens Of The Stone Age. Josh Homme and co., are sure to deliver their at times gritty, at times macabre, and consistently swaggering waves of desert rock anthems to Southsea.
Then, on the Saturday, festival favourites Vampire Weekend promise to tide the seaside festival over. After their expansive tour back in December, which included a massive four nights at London, celebrating last year’s Only God Was Above Us, the indie heavyweights are sure to leave everything out on that stage.
And then, finally, despite having to pull out of a string of shows and festival appearances earlier in the Summer due to medical issues, it’ll be down to the iconic Followill family of Kings Of Leon to wash over the crowd and bring the festival to a close.
But Victorious has never been just about the headliners. In fact, with a good ten stages showcasing bands both big and small, it’s about pretty much everything and everyone. Sure, the Common Stage has a hell of a lot to offer. From the powerhouse likes of Kaiser Chiefs, Wunderhorse, The Last Dinner Party, Rizzle Kicks, Bloc Party, and Craig David, to the rising stars of The Pill, HotWax or local favourite Harvey Jay Dodgson, the main stage is pretty much a smorgasbord of genres and delights.
But that’s only one stage.
There’s the Castle stage, which has everyone from Madness, Nelly Furtado, and Everything Everything to Balancing Act, Kid Kapichi and Man/Woman/Chainsaw. There’s the Seaside Stage, happening right next to the ocean, with the likes of Seething Akira, Nathan Dawe and Orchards. There’s Under The Trees, with Toploader, Cliffords, and Jamie Lawson. Stage upon stage upon stage, all broken up by local landmarks, family attractions, and pretty much anything else you could want, happening right by the coast. A beautiful weekend, and one you won’t want to miss.
Speaking of ones you won’t want to miss, let’s have a look at our personal favourites.
Let’s start with Circa Waves. The UK indie darlings are set to play the Castle Stage on the Saturday; expect firm fan favourites ranging from Young Chasers’ T-Shirt Weather or Fossils’ Fire That Burns, all the way up to recent single Cherry Bomb, taken from October’s upcoming studio album Death & Love. Basically, if you like fun, you’ll like Circa Waves. Sounds reductive, but it’s as simple as that.
Next, Everything Everything. The Mancunian group are pretty much the poster child for a kaleidoscope out to music. With a heady, hectic blend of art-pop and rock, lyrics that sound like they’re ripped out of a bad acid trip, political commentary, soaring falsetto… basically, they’re as bizarre and bewildering as they are brilliant.
Finally, everyone knows them. Everyone loves them. It’s Scouting For Girls! Despite arguably being a victim of their first album’s success — though if you’re going to be known for a single album, you can’t really ask for better than 2007’s self-titled debut — Scouting For Girls are just one of the smiliest, most feel good shows you could ever experience. Don’t make the mistake of missing them at Victorious.
Check out the Victorious line-up below and get your tickets here!
