This year’s South West Four Festival on Clapham Common was it’s tenth anniversary, and given it’s consistent quality over the years it looks set to run and run. Where other London city festivals have come and gone, SW4’s brand remains strong, this year selling out in it’s entirety.
Weather wise Saturday was a torrential downpour, Sunday the sun came back and behaved itself but it seems like everyone had a blast over the whole weekend.
Even though Sunday was dry it was still muddy going, wellies ‘n shorts being the fashion of the day.
Even early on in the day the energy was high, following sets by Steve Aoki and Baauer, Andy C (below) upped the tempo with the help of a live MC.
Next up on the main stage were Knife Party, who looked suitably ‘bad ass’ but didn’t exactly blow the roof off or anything.
Away from the main stage, the tent stages were more suited to a club atmosphere. Pete Tong put in an awesome set surrounded by walls of led screens.
Main stage headliner Example finished the day with a live band and (whisper it) pop tunes. While there was elements of dance and hip hop to his set, the heart of it was very radio friendly. But he bounced along with such charisma and sheer delight at getting to play, probably his biggest gig yet, close to where he grew up, that any genre snobbishness just fell away.
Plus he had flame cannons. ..FLAME CANNONS.
So there you have it, another successful year for the SW4 crew, good vibes, no trouble, ‘banging Choonz’. Sure the weather didn’t always play along, (oddly 2012 had a similar pattern, rain on Saturday, sun on Sunday, maybe it’s a thing), but it didn’t dent the party spirit too much.
Here’s to 2014, you may want to get in early on those tickets.
All photos www.markwilliamsphotography.com
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