hip-hop legend Chuck D and Public Enemy deliver a storming set to conclude Stockton Weekender

Stockton Weekender 2014

Saturday 26th to Sunday 27th July 2014
Stockton Riverside Park, Stockton-on-Tees, North Yorkshire, TS18 1LP, England MAP
£75 with camping, under 14s free

Daily capacity: 10,000

We arrived on the Sunday in the early afternoon, hoping for another bright day. The Panoramic were setting up, and having seen them last year, we expected a great performance from this relatively unknown band. They had a few major fans waiting at the front, which were disappointed to learn that this was their last gig. The Jar Family’s spot had been swapped with Gallery Circus, and their industrial folk tracks were met with approval from the crowd, despite the downpour of rain. They even gave out free CDs in return for signing up to their website.

We went for another walk around the site while By Toutatis played on the Thirteen Stage, having been rightfully promoted from the Georgian Theatre, where they played last year. We returned for the last few songs, but we wished we’d heard the full set in hindsight. The rain started to clear up by this point, leaving the sun filtering through the clouds. Gallery Circus, a blue-rock duo starring identical twins Daniel and Graeme Ross, left a lot to be desired with their lack of rhythm, but their passionate performance seemed to make up for this. We got something to eat from the food stalls, which was a decision we instantly regretted. The food was cold, and poor quality - maybe because it was all run-of-the-mill, generic food offered by a catering service. Next year, I’d hope for more companies to be involved as only having one business gave them no competition and the food on offer was bland.

Smoove & Turrell were given the optimum spot, and seemed to wake the crowd up from the lull of the afternoon with their Northern-funk. The beat was thumping through the field for the duration of the set, and the numbers had increased in expectation for Peter Hook. Before him, however, was Palace, a group of five nineteen year olds from the North East. They had a very upbeat feel, and fit right in with the current alternative scene. However, they were totally misplaced and shouldn’t have been positioned between two acts that were less aimed at the younger audience, as this failed to do them justice. Peter Hook and the Light was one of the most interesting performances of the day, as of course he had a fantastic catalogue of songs from his Joy Division/New Order days. However, his voice was disappointingly poor, and the crowd were left to ignore that aspect of the act. He finished on a high with Love Will Tear Us Apart, and the audience seemed fairly happy.

Red Kite was up next on the Thirteen Stage, but we didn’t hear much of their alt-rock, as we decided to check out The Kaleidoscope Tent to see what was on offer for the younger audience. This seemed like a fun activity tent, with lots of arty activities available for a wide range of children. There was constant supervision, and it seemed like a good way for parents to get a break. We, of course, returned in time for Reverend And The Makers, an acclaimed indie-electronic rock band from Sheffield, who recently released their fourth album. We expected a lot from the group, and they fulfilled our expectations. The crowd bounced through their set, evidently under the spell of frontman Jon McClure - or The Reverend. They played a range of songs from all four albums, and managed to absorb both old and new fans.

The Amazing Snakeheads, a garage-rock band from Glasgow, were one of the most exciting acts of the weekend. They played with character and fury, and psyched up the crowd with their raw, potent sounds. By no means are they easy to listen to, but it’s certainly a fun, lively experience. And finally, the headliners of the night, Public Enemy. It was an honour to have hip-hop legend Chuck D grace the stage, and they had the whole crowd enchanted with their powerful, charged music.

As always, the organisers have managed to provide the ticket holders with a great line up of new, local bands and more nationally recognised acts that were suitable for the diverse crowd the festival attracts. Overall, the night left the festivalgoers contented, and eager for what next year has to offer.

review by: Caitlin Hogg

photos by: Caitlin Hogg