1-2-3-4 Festival 2012 – review

Iva Moscovich of Drop Out Venus. Photograph: Antonio Curcetti

The 1234 Festival, in association with Deezer, is in its fifth year and is fast becoming established as the London-based independent rock-and-roll festival.

Once a year, Shoreditch Park, previously an area of terraced housing which was devastated by the Blitz, plays host to the best new rock bands from UK and abroad, not to mention some great names from the past, like headliners Buzzcocks.

Three to watch

Drop Out Venus: three ‘junked and jazzed kids from Deptford’ play straight up rock-and-roll. Their music is sharp and powerful, the absence of a bassist not subtracting from the depth and intensity of their sound.

Iva Moscovich, the singer, didn’t seem to care that a big crowd hadn’t yet gathered, opening the main stage with a raw and intense performance. I’m sure they will have chances to play more festivals and better slots.

Bo Ningen: a force of nature. Four Japanese musicians, they met and formed the band in London in 2007. Following a disappointingly static reception for many of the other acts at 1-2-3-4, they were the only band rewarded with a moshing crowd, a testament to their glorious psychedelic riffing.

Defining psychedelic as to “stand quietly/loudly in the middle of the interzone and stare at both sides at once”, Bo Ningen certainly precipitate mental chaos through auditory bliss. A truly unique music experience.

Last up Savages: If the dying major label rock scene was a house party, rapidly emptying as the last fragments of the ossifying inhabitants squander their remaining innovation and energy, then Savages would be the upstart neighbours hammering on the door and rattling the handle in their own inimitable style ready to redecorate and welcome the music hungry hordes round for dinner.

Around for less than a year the band has buckets of talent and stage presence, electrifying a growing number of fans that hear in them the music that was many years ago something they found worth living and dying for. Currently signed to Pop Noire, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them snapped up by a major label soon.

For more go to 1-2-3-4 Shoreditch.