The Big Chill
Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Ledbury
05/08/2010 – 08/08/2010

At this most laid back of festivals, Friday sees an eclectic and occasionally surreal bill that sets the pattern for the rest of the weekend. Acts range from Mike Patton whirling an air raid siren to Steve Mason’s picking up cheers by suggesting the destruction of parliament. Explosions In The Sky then soundtrack the tensest dinner party ever and a particularly chilled Thom Yorke, wearing a bowler hat, strips down songs from ‘The Eraser’, turns ‘Planet Telex’ into a piano ballad and tests out a new Radiohead song called ‘Give Up The Ghost’.  Massive Attack then follow his performance with heavy bass and slinky vocals from Martina Topley-Bird while political sloganeering is projected across their electronic backdrop.

Saturday begins with a wander around the site; ukulele covers band The Rinky Dinks transforming The Cure into 1930s jazz, while artist David Shrigley DJs in the forest On the main stage, Chrome Hoof demonstrate that disco-prog-metal is viable, particularly if performed in silver cowls and their set makes for the unlikely highlight of the day. In the further flung tents The Fly chooses to bypass the reggae-fication of Radiohead by the Easy Allstars, to hit the Chill X tent for some jump jive from The Fat 45s. Meanwhile, elderly Jamaicans The Jolly Boys’ unique performance on the main stage sees more unlikely covers and The Leisure Society tease out a rainbow over the Clash stage. Pretty soon revellers in fancy dress are out in force, some of who enjoy Liars who channel their inner Goth with a Bauhaus cover for a small crowd; while everyone else is off catching Roots Manuva and Kelis.  MIA’s hectic fusion then hits The Big Chill with full force on the main stage; the visual assault and aural warfare of ‘Born Free’ stirring up a proper party atmosphere. She follows this by inviting the crowd to invade the stage, and one chorus into ‘Paper Planes’ chaos descends. So The Fly escapes to safer environs to catch some of Mount Kimbie’s calmer electronica and a Ninja Tunes marathon in the Igloo tent.

On Sunday the bizarre “Alan!” word virus spreads across the whole site, its origins shrouded in mystery. And so we head up to Lazyland to witness a daft and funny set from organ legend John Shuttleworth – punch the air! After that everything else is a bit of a comedown, but multi-instrumental electro singer-songwriter James Yuill on the Clash stage lifts the clouds.  The remainder of the day is spent battling the sound clashes in the Uptown field and dancing to the heavy electro of Dam Funk in the Paradiso tent. And finally Lily Allen closes proceedings in her own inimitable style, but dressed down as if to prove the relaxed spirit of the festival is still in tact. Even after all that…

Lucy Brouwer