While Lady Leshurr garnered a smidgen of interaction with her energetic set, any semblance of enthusiasm was long gone by the time Kano came to play the 1Xtra stage, which was a shame because he delivered one of the best UK rap and grime sets I’ve seen all year. From Preditah to Section Boyz, the performers were great, but the atmosphere was lacklustre at best and indifferent at worst. So, with the rain beating down hard, I made my way towards the stages. It's like a supersize version of the Warehouse Project now and doesn't feel like a festival anymore.” A Parklife artist liaison who worked for the festival for six years told me that he gave up the position as “seeing young people being carried off by paramedics by twelve in the afternoon isn't a nice thing to witness. The more people I talked to the more it became apparent the festival really has changed since its relocation, with the younger crowd, weirder vibe, increased scale and heavy advertising putting off a lot of Manchester clubbing regulars. I loved that feeling… Parklife makes me feel like that kestrel is now stuffed, being held aloft by a confused bar manager from Leeds, who makes getting a six pack of Kopparberg harder than requesting a visiting order for Ian Brady.” Musically it was like being trapped in a wet pair of dungarees, with a can of Kestrel Super and what felt like an actual kestrel. Richard, another local attendee who doesn’t bother with the festival anymore, gets a bit more abstract: “I grew up in North Wales during the 90s raves, when car batteries marked the entrance to an isolated picnic area filled with gazebos, a transit van, a two stroke generator and dangerous rope swings. Rory Holland, promoter for local club night Oh Bachannal, says that he “had my night on the Saturday and there were about fifteen people there.” Joni McArdle, who used to put on a night in Northern Quarter’s Kraak concurred, telling me that “it’s not a risk I’d take, it would be absolutely dead.” It seems when Parklife is on, anyone who isn’t into it essentially hides. In fact, some even cancel their own events during the weekend. The atmosphere isn't quite my vibe – guys with tops off and girls with flowers in their hair are not for me.”įor many I spoke to, the apparent commercialisation of Parklife was why fewer independent promoters are willing to be involved with the official afterparties. Josimar, DJ at Manchester club night Love Dose concurs, telling me that “the lineup this year seemed pretty good but I would say it caters for the young raver. “I just don't think there's enough of my vibe to make it worth dealing with the crap weather and pissed up kids,” says Craig Campbell, of local house outfit Doodle.
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