Festival Review: Butserfest 2016

Ryan Winstanley Photography covers Butserfest 2016.

Striding into its 10th successful year, Butserfest pulled out no stops this year, despite the dreary weather. The ‘no drink and drugs’ policy meant flocks of teenagers gathered within Petersfield’s, Queen Elizabeth Country Park ready for a jam packed day of incredible music.

Kick starting our day were Paramore-esque rockers Tigress. The strong vocal lead from front woman Katie Jackson made up for the awful weather, creating some early afternoon energy and setting us up for Casey’s emotional performance.

Melodic harmonies paired with frontman Tom Weaver’s impressive vocals gave us a performance to remember. Fan favourites such as ‘Hell’ and ‘Fade’ showcased the potential of the Welsh five piece, in light of their upcoming debut LP, ‘Love Is Not Enough’.

Bringing us back to reality with a bang were nu metal potentials The One Hundred. Their short but electric set proved a fan favourite, with the whole tent bouncing through singles ‘Downfall’ and ‘Kingsman’. This London based outfit didn’t disappoint, and definitely left with one extra fan.

Keeping the energy alive were northern based melodic hardcore favourite Blood Youth. Already being a fan, their set was nothing short of incredible, from the Johnny Cash intro, to the breakdowns in promising hit '24/7'. Their recent release ‘Closure’ was showcased with ease, as frontman Kaya Tarsus oozed with passion. This four piece are the ones to watch in 2016.

As the weather eased up for the remainder of the day, excited fans crammed into the tent for Creeper. Having toured Europe with pop punk outfit Neck Deep, it’s easy to see why the Southampton punk rockers have hit success. The horror feel gives the band an alternative edge within the scene, as well as the teenage angst seen throughout their set. Opening with popular track 'Black Mass' set Creeper up for an electrifying set, praised by hundreds.

As the night drew in, alt rock veterans Young Guns took to the main stage, playing a crowd pleasing set, full of old favourites such as ‘Weight of The World’ and ‘Bones’. regardless of several sound issues, the Buckinghamshire based lads pulled through and delivered an all round entertaining set.

Despite a late entry, headliners Mallory Knox captivated the audience from the off, performing an array of old and new hits. Frontman Mikey Chapman was personable, creating an entertaining set for all to see. It’s easy to understand how they gained their fanbase, with lyrics portraying the difficulties of love, as well as family and friends. An exceptional performance set the bar for next year's Butserfest incredibly high.

Transcribed by Cait Briggs.

As It Is