The BBC Radio 6 Musical Festival has descended upon Manchester. Across some of the city’s most-loved venues such as Band on the Wall, YES and RAMONA, the weekend plans to host a huge range of talent from established names like Young Fathers and up-and-comers Witch Fever. Kicking off last night in a quintessentially Manchester venue, the O2 Victoria Warehouse, eager audiences witnessed a stellar DJ set from Sherelle, a joyous performance from Hak Baker and a visceral, sensational final show from Mercury-Prize winners Young Fathers. If last night is anything to go by, the weekend is set to be a one-of-a-kind ode to live music outside the mainstream.
‘Testing the speakers’, as she calls it, Sherelle begins the night with a polished, energising jungle mix. With a down-to-earth candor which instantly puts audiences at ease and an easy confidence behind the decks, it is no surprise that Sherelle is a BBC Radio 6 regular.
Following Sharelle comes East London’s finest, Hak Baker. Easily one of the most underappreciated live acts at the moment, Baker brings such a euphoric energy onto the stage.
A highlight for the audience certainly comes from Baker’s rendition of The Stone Roses ‘I Wanna Be Adored.’ Although most Mancuian music-lovers are perhaps fatigued from the Oasis, The Smiths and The Stone Roses covers, Baker truly brings something unique to the usual cliche. Perhaps it’s his cheeky-chappy charm or his very genuine excitement at the opportunity to cover The Stone Roses, but whatever it is the cover is striking and nostalgic, and smiles are abundant in the audience.
To close the evening come live performance heavyweights Young Fathers. When reviewing live events, there is a tendency to create comparisons between the artist and influences of the past. Young Fathers are perhaps one of the only live acts out there which refuse any comparison. Watching their visceral, wild, irresistible performance there is no doubt that Young Fathers are truly doing something unique. The core trio – G Hastings, Alloysious Massaquoi and Kays Bankole – are a force on stage, engulfed by restless lights, their kinetic silhouettes forming vast shadows on a grimy cloth backdrop. They are all energy, all life, all ecstasy.
Their music, impossible to pigeonhole, is immediate and striking, stitched with intricate political lyrics. Anthem ‘Get Up’ simultaneously calls audiences to the dancefloor and demands revolution. Their biggest applause however, comes from their simple demand: “We are Young Fathers and we want a ceasefire now…” They are an unstoppable force, even more so tonight when joined by the Hulme and Moss Side based NIA community choir. The choir, hesitant at first, erupts into dancing and joy as the setlist continues. Young Fathers are clearly infectious.
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Words: Grace Dodd
