After what can only be described as “sods law” weather on the opening day to Wakestock, thousands came to set up their homes for the weekend in the pouring rain. Nothing dampened spirits as the happy campers sludged through the mud to explore the camping arena.
As the main arena opened, crowds flooded to warm up to the sound of Calvin Harris waking up the fields of Cardigan Bay, and boy, what a set! Gone were the thoughts of flooded tents and muddy shorts, and replaced with excitement and adrenaline as the bass pumped throughout the crowd. For me, Festivals are for discovering new adventures, new friends and most importantly new talent. Call me naïve, or agree, but when I saw that a band named Lilygreen and Maguire would be playing on the same stage as the likes of Ed Sheeran and Zane Lowe, I had to question who they were. Or, more realistically, find out. They had the crowd eating out the palms of their cute acoustic guitar playing palms, what a treat they were. Rizzle Kicks smashed their set; with help from their fans building up the bass line of the iconic intro of ‘Seven Nation Army’, until finally the stage erupted with their version of the White Stripes classic. Wakestock has begun.
I awoke to a pleasant seagull inspired blue sky, with the remnants of the previous night’s bass still pounding through my head. What better way to overcome the feeling, then to grab a ’99 with a flake and a squirt of raspberry sauce and head down to watch some talented “Wakeskaters”. The main pool looked glorious – matched with the dry weather made me crave going for a dip, something I never would have thought I’d have been saying a day before! Apparently it was only for the adrenaline craving wet suited individuals with head gear to do 360 degree spins in to, from what can only be described as a big slide. For the less adventurous folk, was the Fun Fair. Which – in hindsight – is not a good idea to go on straight after a pint and a sample of “Pasta Masta’s” finest. As the afternoon’s antics grew, the sounds of DJ Jigsaw rippled through the fields from the Main Stage. With Wakestock in full force, it would appear that the lost voices from the crazy first night had been rediscovered – with the crowds religiously screaming back Dizzee Rascals infamous ‘Bonkers’ anthem. The campsite echoed the notorious beat until early hours, proving the long lasting effect Mr Rascal had on everyone that experienced his set.
Sunday was spent walking around like a giddy child, excited for the finale of Wakestock 2012. With most campers sporting their UV paint and muddy wellies for the third day running, it was a sombre affair for the friendship groups that had flourished over the few days spent in the Welsh surroundings. The last day – already! It seemed like a life time away when we were all forcing our way through the mud and rain with our bags filled with clean clothes and festival essentials to get us through to weekend. Gone were the clean clothes, to be replaced with mud, other peoples sweat and general markings from what had been a FANTASIC few days with lots to experience. To my utter regret, Funeral For a Friend, looked as bored and as lifeless as the few that observed the set. Ed Sheeran definitely stole the night, a boy and his guitar who not many knew of a few years back, now had crowds of thousands singing back his melodic somehow complex lyrics back to him. What a perfect way to close what had been a crazy weekend, then to embrace your new, slightly smelly and muddy companions and sing along to his finest melodies.
Kate Moran
July 2012
Published on 15 July 2012 by Cathi Moore
