The Big One: Lovebox Weekender 2010

Who to see, what to drink, should you take your mum? Find out

09 July 2010

What is it?
For the first time since its debut in 2002 Lovebox is now a three-day festival. Slap bang in the heart of trendy East London, Lovebox is an annual cosmopolitan mega-party curated by seminal Ibiza sunset performers Groove Armada. It blends the best in dance, rock and pop; throwing in authentic hippy decor for good measure. Get your fluorescent rave glasses out and work up a sweat by the bass bins but don’t worry, there’s no need to take wet wipes; you’ll be tucked up in bed before midnight. At Lovebox, there’s no camping. 

Where and when

Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets. Friday 16 July, 2pm till 11pm. Saturday 17 July, noon till 11pm. Sunday 18 July, noon till 10.30pm.

Five to watch:
Dizzee Rascal – with pop, dance and cutting edge credentials still intact Lovebox and Dizzee are made for each other, both are at the top of their game.

Yeasayer - dance-pop from New York’s coolest and most musically-accomplished indie royalty. Forget Wrongson on the main stage, ‘Valerie’ was 2008’s summer anthem. Yeasayer will be thundering out ‘Ambling Alp’ one of the songs of this summer, a tune which is very much, their eccentric own.

The Invisible – The Gaymers Stage is the place to be early on Saturday; let Mercury Music Prize-nominated master musicians The Invisible help you groove into the day with their majestic rhythms and soulful crooning.

Crookers – If pop is your tipple of the day but bass bins are you bit on the side Crookers are your perfect antidote to indecision at Lovebox. The Italian duo will be sure to throw in one of their much-loved remixes of Kid Cudi, Lady Gaga, Nelly Furtado or Armand Van Helden with their jump-up dance selections and original material.

Roxy Music – A band with the legacy and flamboyance to rule the inner-city mega stage, they will rise to the occasion.

One to miss

Man Like Me – Their brand of wonky urban comedy-pop has been lingering around the London club scene for quite a while now. Don’t lose any sleep if you do a one-eighty outside their tent, they’ll be plenty of people hyped up enough to pogo along to them while you enjoy a relaxing drink.

Playing a rare UK festival date

Peaches – the mistress of the absurd, perverse and subversive has been around for a decade now. She’s not that familiar with the UK festival circuit, choosing to showcase her always abrasive but somehow endearing electro-clash performance-punk around the world instead. Beware, she’s very non-Samantha Cameron.

Inside tip

Silver Columns – coming from the infinitely creative scene surrounding Scotland’s fence records, Silver Columns have chosen to apply their musical understanding to electro-pop rather than the bucolic folk often associated with the influential tartan label. The result is a tantalising taster of brilliant things to come. Hot Chip, watch your backs.

Worst clash

Mr Fingers v Peaches v Cut Copy – for fans of dance music this is a difficult decision, Larry Heard aka Mr Fingers pioneered Chicago house music in the late eighties. Do you opt for history, ostentation or pop sensibilities?

Be at Lovebox if...
You’re a fan of modern music but don’t want to slum it in the slurry at a ‘refugee-camp-esque-hippy-fest’.

Avoid if...
You don’t like seeing ‘creatives’, up-and-out on dance euphoria.

Festival tactics
Make your favourite sandwich, take it along and win one over on overpriced festival food stalls. Yeah.

Fashionista or folky? 
Peaches, Mark Ronson, Grace Jones, Roxy Music, Empire of The Sun and Mystery Jets all have top billing at this festival. You do the math.

Alcohol of choice?
Cosmopolitan of course.

Take your mum score - 6/10
If your mum doesn’t reside in our proud capital it’s probably not such a good idea to take her along; she’ll end up having your bed and you’ll be stuck on the sofa.

Can I still get tickets?
Lovebox tickets are still on sale for each day as well as weekend passes. It's three days for £99, two for £80 and a one-day pass for £45.

Click here to buy Lovebox Weekender tickets.

By William L. Hunt

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