Back for its fourth year, Macclesfield Festival 2019 looked to build on the overwhelming success of last year’s event with massive headline acts from the UK soul and R’n’B scene – and it did not disappoint!
The forecast was ominous, but we were gifted with a pleasantly balmy and dry day; a bonus on top of a brilliant roster.
I was fortunate enough to catch local up-and-comers Queen Cult on the main stage early on. Their brand of punk blues with added attitude is as infectiously hook-driven as anything else you will hear this year, and performed with the finesse of stars undeniably in their ascendance.
The moody, atmospheric post-rock stylings of Broomhead brought something different, yet somehow familiar, to proceedings as the crowd began rocking to the pulse of some very powerful, bordering on epic, soundscapes.
Special mention to the Street Food stall, whose meat and vegan options were equally delicious, and to the candy floss van; because there is nothing more satisfying than having it spun before your eyes with all the artistry of a glassblower.
We were even suckered into the Super Hero Show for a brief spell, mesmerised as Spiderman spent most of his time in the walking handstand position.
In a moment of serendipity, Soul II Soul took to the main stage with their classic fusion of R&B, soul and reggae just as the sun broke through the cloud cover that had, up to that point, threatened a downpour. Instead, it was a flowing of beats bolstered by live violins, chorus line and existential emcee eloquence that broke the levee, leaving the audience awash with (unsurprisingly) soulful togetherness vibes.
Next up, Rough Twist’s high-octane rhythm and blues – complete with a horn section – delivered that fundamental festival feeling. Their numerous references to themselves as Soul II Soul and the location of the festival as Congleton aside, they catered perfectly to the masses and broke up the prevailing mood of rhythm and bass with classically-tinged rhythm and blues.
On the second stage, The Claremonts, in particular, stood out, and their energetic modern-meets-retro indie grooves and great use of cowbell had everyone captivated.
They were followed by the wistful finger-stylings of local singer-songwriter, Joel Gardner, who mixes technical prowess with a tempered and extremely mature approach to songcraft.
The day’s proceedings were brought to a close by the vocal powerhouse that is Heather Small, raising the roof with M People classics like ‘Moving On Up’ & ‘One Night in Heaven’ – a fitting end to an uplifting and soul-filled summer’s day out.
