Field Day 2011 – preview

Field Day. Photograph: Errol Rainey

Field Day, Hackney’s original paragon of a day festival, is upon us once more, this time with a dazzling line-up that surpasses all its successors in the variation and balance stakes.

Its reputation has justifiably rocketed in the five years since its incarnation, and the event in Victoria Park is now known for punching way above its weight.

Established artists such as cult Arabic singer and recent Bjork collaborator Omar Souleyman, Super Furries’ Gruff Rhys, founding Velvet Undergrounder John Cale and Krautrock stalwarts Faust stand among today’s finest.

The boundary-breaking Wild Beasts headline, preceded by their maudlin contemporaries, and unofficial Field Day house band, The Horrors.  Brighton’s sublime all-female outfit Electrelane are another noteworthy addition, having recently reunited to a delighted fanfare. Electronica is strongly represented, as always, by the likes Factory Floor and local boy Erol Alkan, along with the acoustic crew- The Villagers, Willy Mason and Zola Jesus.

Basically, organisers Eat Your Own Ears have managed to cram an unfathomably huge amount of inspiring music into one day. Add a coterie of after-parties, school sports day-style events – including a coconut shy – and you have the makings of a truly memorable East End shindig.

2:54 / About Group / Actress / Anika / Anna Calvi / Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti / Benga & Youngman / Baio (Vampire Weekend) / Bloggers Delight DJ’s / Born Ruffians / Carl Craig presents 69 / Casper C / Chad Valley / Chimes / Clock Opera / Cloud Control / CocknBullKid / Connan Mockasin / Creep / Ducktails / Eat Your Own Ears DJ’s / Electrelane / Erol Alkan / Factory Floor / Farnborough Concert Band of the Royal British Legion / Faust / Givers / Glasser / Gruff Rhys / Huw Stephens / Hype Williams / James Blake / Jamie Woon / Jamie XX / John Cale / Junip / Kieran Hebden B2B James Holden / Konono No.1 / L-Vis 1990 / Mark Kozelek / Martin Creed / Matthew Dear / Michael Mayer / Mount Kimbie / Omar Souleyman / Oneohtrix Point Never / Pearson Sound / Prizes / Roska / SBTRKT / Spectrals / Sun Ra Arkestra / The Coral / The History of Apple Pie / The Horrors / Tribes / Trophy Wife / Twin Shadow / Villagers / Warpaint / Wild Beasts / Willy Mason / Zola Jesus

Field Day
Saturday 6 August 2011
Victoria Park E2
Tickets £39.50