Blissfields Festival
Bradley Farm, Alresford, Hampshire
02, 03 & 04/07/2010

The Fly had heard that Blissfields was a pocket-sized festival, but in the immediate haze of the Glasto hangover, its somewhere-in-a-field-in-Hampshire location feels tiny. Tiny, though, in a good way – you can do the main-arena-to-tent trek in about four minutes – which allows us to hop between performances on each of the two stages. Lots of bands to get through, then!

Imperial Leisure kick things off on the first night and, just as last year, their brand of ska-rap-rock turns out to be an early crowd favourite. Dub Pistols, who seem to play every festival going, are up next and on top form, getting young and old dancing with a cover of The Stranglers’ ‘Peaches’. We stay by the main stage to catch the much-hyped Ou Est le Swimming Pool… who don’t quite live up to expectations musically, but certainly manage to appeal to the swarms of teenagers chanting along to ‘Dance The Way I Feel’.

Friday’s headliners are Subgiant who have also become festival staples in the last few years. Tushar Joshi, on electro drums, is mesmerising - it’d be nice if Mr DJ toned down his cheesy chatter, though - while some inappropriateness from Beans On Toast ends proceedings at the second stage (hearing a troupe of ten year-olds singing ‘M.D.M.Amazing’ is just a bit wrong) leaving late-to-bed-ers to choose between DJs at the Bubble Bus bar or the trippy-happy Hidden Hedge – a little overgrown walkway showered in laser lights.

Saturday – the big night and focus of the festival’s 10th anniversary celebrations – begins on the main stage with avant-garde pop and jangly indie edges from The Laurel Collective. The band are hugely likeable and boast a fresh, light sound that compliments impressive harmonies provided by Martin Sakutu and Bob Tollast. Sold as ‘reggae’ but more closely resembling ‘shouty rap’ Rebel Control rather kill the mood, so The Fly finds refuge in the second stage with Lanterns On The Lake. Their big, beautiful sound is perfect for a weekend in a small field and finishing with ‘I Love You Sleepy Head’‘s pretty vocals and breath-taking instrumentals makes for a lovely way to sign off.

Peggy Sue, the folky/bluesy bunch from Brighton and special guests of the festival, lure us back to the main stage where we stay for excellent sets from James Yuill, Charlotte Hatherley and Fenech Soler. Disappointingly, Band Of Skulls fail to appear, but the wonderful Slow Club - with their lo-fi, folk-rock – step in at the last minute. All that’s left now is to enjoy headliners Stereo MCs. Yes we said headliners. Early 90s classics (and shockers) keep the Dads dancing, but we can’t quite work out how they are on par with last year’s festival toppers Laura Marling and Mumford And Sons. We get over our bewilderment pretty sharpish, however, when we hear DJs Sombrero Sound System and Little Chief are giving Blissfields a proper send off at the second stage.

So, pocket-sized, yes. Perfectly formed? Almost – just the odd artist-shaped hole to fill in that line-up and Blissfields will get there. We’ll be watching next year with interest.

Roxanne Fisher