Lovebox

Lovebox Festival 2010

The setting sun oozed amber light and cast a burnt orange tint over thousands of faces in the crowds, pints of pear cider spilled from paper cups and sun-kissed festival-goers’ dancing feet were covered in dust. This was the scene in the bustling East end last weekend when Lovebox 2010 took over Victoria Park, offering 50,000 musos respite from the sticky city heat of the Underground.

Following in Glastonbury’s fluky footsteps, Lovebox was spared rain – though lack of foresight and preparation left many a pale shoulder slightly pinker on departure. Despite the bombardment of in your face corporate sponsorship – Lovebox continues to live up to its 2008 award of ‘Best Medium Sized Festival’ as voted by the UK Festival Awards. Started in 2003 by Groove Armada as a one-day festival, it has since expanded in size and this year it added a third day to its bill.

Roxy Music, Grace Jones and Dizzee Rascal graced the main stage throughout the weekend, wooing the crowds. But rather than racing for a hot seat in the headliner crowd, many opted for the smaller stages and tents. The Rizla Arena bounced into life with the Trojan Sound system and revellers skanked along to a lively afternoon set. North-London band Man Like Me put on one of their famed quirky performances in The Cat Flap tent and had an audience spilling out through the seams. The NYC Downlow – a replica New York City tenement block – had a queue stretching from the door out into the festival for the duration.

Two drag queens clad in spandex danced around in a mock hotel bedroom – part of the set – serenading the crowd with their comical lyrics whilst fake moustaches were being issued below them at the ‘Porn Kiosk’. They call themselves ‘the world’s first travelling homo disco’ and offer a dark sweatbox with disco, soul, funk and dance sets.

Lovebox offers a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city – a weekend of eclectic music and alfresco dancing. But you can hop on the tube home afterwards – saving you the hassle of blindly navigating your way back to your tent…