Live Review: London Grammar - South Facing Festival, Crystal Palace Bowl, London 29/07/2022
South Facing Festival 2022 was launched into action by the dream-pop trio, London Grammar, with the iconic amphitheater backdrop soaring over the horizon.
Joined by George Fitzgerald, Tora-I, and Oklou (DJ Set), the 9000+ strong crowd steadily made their way in the expansive outdoor venue to the sound of the support acts - George Fitzgerald, with his curly locks bouncing in all direction, set the tone with a DJ Set, playing notable tracks such as Roll Back, Full Circle, and Burns, and left the crowd wanting more.
London Grammar, consisting of Hannah Reid (vocals), Dan Rothman (guitarist), and Dominic 'Dot' Major (keyboardist and percussionist), set the stage for the five artists confirmed for the festival from 29th July to 7th August. Jungle, Bombay Bicycle Club, Richard Ashcroft, and Becky Hill will follow London Grammar in what was the first of a star-studded line-up.
The seated crowd, lying on picnic blankets and sipping drinks on the grass, rolled up their mats as “Intro” boomed from the main stage, with orchestral harmonising and progressive synths, the crowd cheered for the the first track from London Grammar’s latest album, “California Soil”.The textured distortion from the Shoegaze visuals on the screens blended with the pre-rusted Corten steel of the Crystal Palace Bowl to create a perfectly dreamy atmosphere felt in London Grammar’s tracks.
Formed in Nottingham in 2009, the band released their debut album, If You Wait, in September 2013. Two subsequent albums have since been released - “Truth is a Beautiful Thing” (2017), and “Californian Soil” (2021). The set-list for the night contained a generous mix of tracks across all albums.
In order, they played Californian Soil, Missing, Hey Now, Lord It's a Feeling, Talking, I Need the Night, How Does It Feel, Baby It's You, Big Picture, Hell to the Liars, Wasting My Young Years, Strong, Metal & Dust, and closed with Lose Your Head (Camelphat Remix).
Hey Now was of notable mention, as the crowd bellowed the flawlessly condensed lyrics “Hey now / Letters burning by my bed for you / Hey now / I can feel my instincts here for you / Hey now / By my bed for you / Hey now.” The first track from their debut album, it was a sure crowd pleaser, and the beginnings of the band's career - a fitting way to start the set. They moved straight into “Lord It’s a Feeling”, in which the crowd simultaneously chanted, “I saw the way you laughed behind her back / When you fucked somebody else”, as Hannah held the microphone towards the crowd, the voices encompassing the whole space in the silence of the quietened instruments.
The dreamy atmosphere, auditory and visual texture, and tranquil lyrics played into the sunset in the venue with a history of over sixty years of live music, and performances spanning over a century. The Bowl has played host to an eclectic array of artists - most notably the “Garden Party” events that ran throughout the 1970’s and 80’s. Pink Floyd, Bob Marley, Elton John, and The Beach Boys have all had their share of the impressive surroundings.
To end the set, London Grammar’s debut extended play, “Metal & Dust”, (released in February 2013 by Metal & Dust Recordings prior to their first album) played out to the darkened sky as the sun set, and the crowd sang, “We argue, we don't fight”. This trickled into their most recent track, an unknown song with George Fitzgerald, which was received well.
The band then made their way off stage to cheers, and returned to play one of their most infamous tracks - “Lose Your Head” to end the night.
With London Grammar’s impressive track record, they may be a tough act to follow for the rest of the festival. With future performances in London, Brussels, and Ireland in the coming month, this performance at the Crystal Palace Bowl was definitely one to be at.
Words by Jemma Lavine
Photography by Joshua Russell
