Festival Review: Long Division Festival 2023
Growing up just outside a major Northern city meant that my city often got overlooked when it came to music. Local bands would play dingy old-man pubs and the occasional minor name would star in a play at the theatre, but that was your lot, really.
That is until Long Division festival graced Wakefield in 2011. Suddenly, the music world seemed to open up to us: Ash and The Cribs and Los Campesinos! and even the legendary Peter Hook were playing venues I used to toodle around as a child. The city centre would come to life for one day every year, and for a music fan, it felt like Christmas.
But all good things must come to an end, and 2023 marks Long Division’s final year. I arrived back to the city that I grew up in with the purpose of channelling that childish excitement one last time.
After taking a slight detour to the adorable little rooftop bar next to the wristband collection (27*c and £6 for an Aperol Spritz, who could resist?), we first headed to the Unity Minor Hall to watch London-based Vanity Fairy. Dressed in a flowing glittery dress with a matching headdress and winning over the crowd with her delightful charisma, I don’t think I’ve ever encountered an artist with a more apt stage name.
Vanity Fairy’s surprising soprano vocals and the upbeat electronic beats that accompanied them felt reminiscent of a diva from the 80s. It was as though Kate Bush had joined ABBA, which I thought was a very clever comparison until I noticed that whoever had produced the festival programmes was one step ahead of me - I suppose this is proof of just how accurate this visual is.
From the Unity Hall, there was a quick dash to Venue 23 to catch Opus Kink. It feels like the sextet from Brighton keeps cropping up everywhere for me, so it seemed only right to finally give them a go. It was barely five in the afternoon, but a noticeably huge crowd had gathered enthusiastically to witness their unique sonic blend of gritty punk and classy jazz. I was obsessed, and it wasn’t just because their saxophone player wore a tie and dark sunglasses - always an automatic show stealer in my eyes.
As fantastic as they were, my Opus Kink experience was unfortunately cut short due to a dreaded clash. It was time for a run back up the road to the Theatre Royal to catch Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly. Just one man on stage with his guitar and joggers, there was something deeply vulnerable about his performance. His personal anecdotes, his self-deprecating jokes, his intimate lyrics - the entire theatre were hooked on every word. Although Get Cape… had already played a secret set just hours earlier, the entire performance was flawless.
After a quick break to decompress (the perks of living just fifteen minutes away from the festival - oh, Long Division, I’ll miss you), we were back in the city centre in time for Sheffield’s Before Breakfast. This was our wildcard for the day, chosen to fill out our evening from the programme’s description of them, and I was uncertain what to expect.
There had been no need for me to be nervous - it was probably the best decision we made all day. Listening to the spine-chilling harmonised vocals of four members was like experiencing a performance by the Ancient Greek Muses. No constant drums, but a cello and keyboard instead, making for a gorgeously refreshing sound. When the vocalists all abandoned their microphones to crowd around the cello and sing freely to the quiet open room, I frequently had to remind myself to breathe. If I had to pick a favourite set, it would be this one.
My final Long Division was concluded with headliners Arab Strap. I don’t think there could have been a better choice: the filled-out theatre and the excited whispers from the crowd made it clear that people had been waiting all day for this moment. The Scottish duo were hardly fazed to be the only two on stage, joking around in the authentically seamless way that only close friends could. As they reached the end of their final song, ‘The First Big Weekend’, the crowd softly joined in: “Waited for the weekend, it lasted forever, high with our friends, it’s officially summer”. On seeing the sunset in the humid heat as we left the venue, it felt like the most perfect song to conclude the festival.
The loss of Long Division festival is one that is nothing short of devastating for Wakefield, but it certainly went out with a bang. Over its 11 years, it has made the city a place to be proud of (as much as Wakey Wines threatens to obliterate this pride) and has offered countless amazing memories to be treasured by all who attended.
Viva la Long Division.
Words by Caitlin Mincher
