HTF were lucky enough to attend this years Relentless Big Freeze Festival in Battersea in London and it was AWEsome, with a capital ‘AWE’; I mean an epic ski and snowboard jump…with real snow! Despite being named the ‘Big Freeze Festival‘ the event was blessed with brilliant sunshine! This left HTF regretting the clothing choice of puffer jackets and hats.
The festival is an amazing place to catch upcoming and new acts alongside some legends of the business. Below are the reviews of all the acts HTF caught over the two days.
Rizzle Kicks – 28/10/11 – Reviewer: Jonny Duck
Rizzle Kicks were the first act to pack out the main stage and rightly so. The music produced by the pair has always given me listening pleasure, though after seeing Rizzle Kicks perform, personally I am now a fanatic. These guys can put on a show and a bloody good one at that. Playing their chart hits including ‘When I Was A Youngster’ and ‘Prophet’ and then tunes from their recent album. The tune that stuck out for HTF was ‘Mama Do The Hump’ which just projected pure energy and it real got the crowd loving life! Being one of the rare acts around at the moment that are even better live, Rizzle Kicks rocked the Big Freeze.
Beardyman – 28/10/11 – Reviewer: Jonny Duck
If you have never seen Beardyman live, firstly slap yourself and secondly prepare for an amazing show of onslaughts; a pure talent with brilliant tunes from beginning to end. HTF strongly recommend that if you get the chance to see Beardyman live, take it! Honestl, it will be one of the best shows you have been to. This is an example, in its purest and finest of using the human voice as an instrument. It doesn’t stop there it’s his ability to chop and sample his own voice all with seconds. Sampling things such as Pink Floyd because we were at the Battersea Power Station, a reference not many of the younger generation got! Beardyman put on a show of epic proportions, well played.
Zane Lowe – 28/10/11 – Reviewer: Jonny Duck
Zane Lowe is a God behind the decks. There is pure talent oozing from every sample used and every perfectly timed drop. If you need a pumped up crowd then Zane Lowe is the man to do it. People seemed to know this considering that he was a special guest at a Nero show recently. The songs, samples and remixes that the machine that is Zane Lowe fits into his sets is incredible. The sheer variety of genres is mind blowing. From Chase and Status to Rage Against The Machine and more! HTF hereby vow to go to every Zane Lowe show we possibly can and we think you should do the same!
Backbeat Soundsystem – 29/10/11 – Reviewer: Jonny Duck
Backbeat Soundsystem can cure hangovers. Fact. HTF came to the second and last day of the festival with a tinyish hangover and as soon as the chilled out vibes of Backbeat Soundsystem graced our ears, everything was alright. These guys are incredibly talented and brought beautiful tunes and melodies to the early saturday crowd. Mixed with the first cider of the day and some blazing sunshine Backbeat Soundsystem warmed our hearts and minds and readied everyone for the party a head. To get this amazing feeling listen to their tune ‘Lovedub’ and immerse yourselves in the good times.
Clement Marfo And The Frontline – 29/10/11 – Reviewer: Jonny Duck
Energetic is an understatement when describing these guys live. They are quite simply crazy and with seven members in total thats a lot of energy! These guys have gathered a massive following and this was clear by the crowd that had turned out to witness CMTF rock the Big Freeze. CMTF had almost filled the main tent and this was quite impressive giving that they were playing so early in the day. The music produced by this bouncy-tent-filling-septet can only be described as genre colliding. With a grime feel from front man Clement Marfo, great vocals from singer Kojo and then just sheer and utter epicness from the very talents guys in the band, it is very understandable why they have such a following and have just been signed to Warner Bros. Their most recent song ‘Overtime’ features Ghetts; it is storming up the radio playlists so watch out 2012, Clement Marfo And The Frontline are coming for you!
Modestep – 29/10/11 – Reviewer: Jonny Duck
Modestep are storming through the music world at top speed at the moment. This is simply because they are incredible and such a brilliant live talent. Standing squashed and waiting in the smallest stage at the festival with a massive queue to get any where near the stage, the atmosphere was intense. This intensity has been built up over a year, only one year, and the guys from Modestep have only released a handful of singles. The world will probably come to a halt when they do release an album. As soon as Modestep set foot on stage the crowd went crazy! The love expressed from them was equal to bands, it was pretty special.
As they went straight into some dirty dub step, Modestep played ‘Tetris’ by Doctor P. Then the guys continued into their collection of singles, such as ‘Sunlight’ and the most recent track ‘To The Stars’. A brilliant live show from an awesome group of guys.
HTF would live to thank the Big Freeze for an awesome weekend and we hope to hit it up again next year! Over and out x
