Review:Soundwave Festival 2013

With every festivalgoer praying for a glimmer of sunshine during their uk festivals, where do you 

even begin when you’re guaranteed clear skies, a gorgeous beach and the scorching sun for the

duration of your festival experience?

Soundwave (not to be mistaken for the Australian heavy metal fest) delivered everything you needed for the perfect holiday festival with a few hidden surprises. It’s not just the array of DJs and singers from across the music spectrum pounding out electronic, reggae, jazz, afrobeat and hip-hop or the hidden location that is the garden Tisno.  It’s the escapism that makes soundwave so popular, the beautiful surroundings equalling to the perfect paradise, attracting a few thousand people who have hitchhiked, flown and some are even doing the incredible festival circuit that Croatia has to offer (Hideout, Outlook, Dimensions, Electric Elephant – this is the place to be).

Daily this festival began at 1pm, beginning with some chilled house vibes down at the beach stage, as it was prime time for people to catch a tan and relax either laying on the stoned beach or hanging out in the sea on a lilo. As the day continued the music gradually progressed into more uplifting dancing beats, the bigger the crowd, the bigger the cheers. Throughout the crowd’s appreciation for the music was obvious.  Partier’s were fist pumping and hip shaking their way through the day and night making for a lively atmosphere.  Whether people sat, socialised or danced everyone seemed to be enjoying him or herself.

Thursday night was particularly memorable with DJ Yoda performing on the main stage. The cartoon style that Yoda samples has forever set him apart in the busy realm of DJ’s and Thursday night was no exception. Performing an hour-long set of genre spanning tracks magnetised a crowd, Yoda was sadly forced of stage by a swarm of flies. Later that night DJ Yoda would perform an after party set at outdoor mega-club Barbarellas. DJ Shadow soon replaced Yoda serving up a course of experimental and obscure tracks something that was no surprise as the man has a record collection of 60,000. Overall, the set was one big nostalgic slice of hip-hop pie. The man is a genius at work.

Ghost poet strode onto the mainstage. Bang. Straight into his first track, the transition between rapping and singing is a terribly blurred line with Ghostpoet. His vocal style is natural and esoteric, a gentle wall of words that stream from within him, every syllable as heartfelt as the previous.  GP’s bands were terrific support, tight drums, and beats, guitar riffage that took you too another world. He bullbozed through tracks from both his albums churning the crowd up into frenzy with the big tracks. Doom’s Friday night main stage show draws a twilight crowd from 12-1 am. The cargo shorts and loose white linen shirt he sports are indicative of his set; relaxed and casual. The underground masked hip-hop hero isn’t a hugeperformer. Standing before a captivating monochrome video of dark eyes behind a signature silver mask, Doom raps to a sea of heads bobbing like buoys to the beat. Hip hop doesn’t always translate at festivals and there’s a sense that tonight is for those already familiar with his skilful lyrics and clever reference points.

Saturday saw nine-piece brass band Riot Jazz fronted by Mc Chunky take audience involvement to a new level. This band graced the main stage twice and also performed at sea making for one surreal gig. Everytime they delievered emphatic jazz with undertones of soul and hip-hop. Renditions of ‘don’t you want me’ by the human league feel too clean and polished on their soundcloud and can only be fully appreciated live. Down on the beach stage saw Craig Charles (yep, the Red Dwarf and Corrie star) laying down some classics, think Stevie Wonder, I wish through to the Bee Gees, staying alive.  

Usually Sundays are created for relaxation but Sunday funday was in full swing. With Hyponik and Eliphino supplying some megamixes of house, drum and bass and dubstep each with a distinctive style that created a mouth watering boat party experience. Later that night we saw headliner Bonobo with the main stage drawing in it’s biggest crowd of the festival. Simon Green definitely took ownership of the stage. The captivating surrealism of ‘Cirrus’ felt like the climax of the night with the crowd becoming a haven of closed eyed bonobo believers. Bonobo accompanied by a full live band plus a soul singer combined perfectly to bring to life tracks like ‘First Fires’ and ‘stay the same’ thrusting the songs into a new dimension.

Soundwave is the perfect combination of Festival and holiday that needs to be experienced. The headline names, the boat parties, the after parties and the absolute intimacy of Soundwave all create a quality festival. All together this had everybody at the festival not wanting to return to reality. If there is one good thing about it ending, it’s only 49 weeks until Soundwave 2014.