Photo Credit: Kevin O’Sullivan
Making our way to Southsea Common for the final day of Victorious 2024, we took another opportunity to check out the local stalls and company supporting the festival. Everywhere you look at Victorious there’s something to enjoy, learn or experience and it makes it a truly special festival.
Opening up over on the Common Stage was the delightful Brooke Combe, offering up guitar driven tracks and soulful vocals it felt like the perfect start to our Sunday. With her debut album Dancing At The Edge Of The World set for release in January, this was a great showcase of the Scottish singer-songwriter’s material. Miss Me Now saw a small, singalong kick off led by Combe of course as leader of the pack. Okay, the sun might have been replaced with the Scottish weather brought down with her but the stunning and chill vibes were something real special. Closing with the album’s title track, everybody was dancing all over Southsea Common what a great way to begin our day! (NC)
The Sunday special guest was none others than indie-pop icons The Kooks, having never seen them live before we were incredibly excited for their early afternoon set. After a little delay, the band led by vocalist Luke Pritchard took to the stage and into 2008’s Always Where I Need To Be. As a smile graced our face it was the summery soundtrack which we wanted and a huge dose of energy from the band. ‘Let’s see if you remember this one,’ exclaimed Pritchard before kicking off into a power duo of Ooh La and She Moves In Her Own Way. Even when the rain made an appearance, none of us cared as this was a masterclass in how to have longevity as a band with a solid live show and discography spanning setlist. Introducing Arlo Edwards from Isle of Wight band The Missing as ‘potentially the greatest guitar player of his generation’ before joining the band for Bad Habit. It’s always a delight to see bands supporting other bands, especially as Edwards guitar skills were next level. Turning things down with Seaside, it was a chance for a solo from Pritchard as hearing this sung technically at the seaside was a lovely memory for all. As the volume went right up to eleven as their set began to draw to a close, we loved seeing the band clearly having the best time onstage as the crowd were singing along to the easy listening tracks. Closing on the only track worthy, Naïve had become the soundtrack to many memories held by those in the crowd and a song of a generation even eighteen years on. What a band! We’ve heard their new album might be around the corner so here’s to even more Kooks goodness. (NC)
We have to big up the people who make Victorious so special, but in particular the security across the site especially those down over on the Common Stage who were giving out water, ear plugs and just generally checking in on everyone. There’s a great community vibe about the festival which in turn makes the crowd have an even better experience so shout out them!
Being given an early slot on the final day of a festival can be a tall ask; your audience is tired, either sunburnt or drowned, depending on the UK weather, and likely hungover. Add in that your slot also clashes with Brighton band and British indie favourites The Kooks, and no one could be expecting much. That was the case for The Road To Victorious winner Harvey Jay Dodgson, who’d also secured slots at Truck, Tramlines, and Y Not (amongst others) earlier in the year — but this was a hometown show, and he had something to prove. With a choir echoing behind him, and his bandmates ready and waiting to dive into the fray with him, it took mere seconds of the work song-esque Freedom for the crowd to know that they were witnessing something special. Front to back, Freedom to For The Love Of It, Harvey gave it all; if he doesn’t make it, the music industry is worse than we thought. Catch him in Haggerston’s Signature Brew later in September, and supporting fellow hometown heroes Crystal Tides playing Portsmouth Guildhall next March. (JOS)
Everyone got the memo for Red Rum Club’s set as the Common Stage had pulled in a great crowd. Following the release of their fourth album Western Approaches earlier this year, which saw it peak at number 8 in the UK charts it was a chance to see if their live set lived up to their recorded skills. Spoiler alert… it did. Opening with Black Cat and Hole In My Home; the later of which saw fans with inflatable trumpets in the crowd it was a funky, dance inducing set. Prior to Afternoon, vocalist Fran Doran commented ‘if you’re drunk enough at this moment this is one to shake your hips to’ and those both drunk and sober were on board. This was Red Rum Club’s first time at Victorious and with a solid setlist they were gaining new fans throughout and delighting those there to see them. Would You Rather Be Lonely? rounded off their set as we found the chorus swirling around our head long after they’d left the stage. (NC)
Will And The People, over on the Under The Trees stage, felt a little bit of a misnomer; though Will And No People Because They’re Stuck on The M27 didn’t have quite the same ring. With the majority of the band stuck in the traffic caused by an accident coming into Portsmouth, it was up to frontman Will Rendle, with more holes in his jeans than there was actual denim, a shirt considered done up in only the most technical sense, and his head shaved bare, to carry the group’s indie-ska torch to the masses. Joined at different points in the set by both impromptu trumpeter Teddy and his 9 year old son Rex, the crowd were treated to a rare acoustic performance featuring the likes of I Could’ve Been A Dancer, Troubled Pro, Trustworthy Rock, and for anyone who’d caught Jamie T the day before, a lovely conciliatory performance of Pixies’ Where Is My Mind? A fantastic set, particularly in light of the sudden change of circumstance. (JOS)
Bringing in one of the biggest crowds of the weekend, Natasha Bedingfield headed to Southsea Common to continue the throwback favourites vibe of our Sunday. Thanks to TikTok bringing some of her older hits back to the forefront of people’s minds it was a varied crowd audience. As expected previous hits such as Love Like This and These Words were the best received with the later going viral showing the power of social media. Making sure to cater for everyone there was a trio of covers including Purple Rain which was breath-taking and showing her incredible vocals in full. Taking us right back to 2004 when Bedingfield was at the height of her career, we loved hearing Unwritten live and passionately singing it right back with the attendees on Southsea Common. What a great chance to unite the crowd on Sunday afternoon. (NC)
Despite having a band that closely resembled your local venue’s resident metalcore group, Bastie Ingram’s set turned out to be a hearty half an hour of wholesome rock, led by the charismatic, and allegedly hungover, frontman himself. The 2021 singer songwriter UK songwriting competition finalist, joined by Aleksander Staalesen on guitar, Sam Clarke on bass and Pablo Amador Flores on drums, joyfully treated his gathered masses to a litany of originals — Whiskey, the afore-mentioned competition runner-up Trouble, and recent single She’s Got To Go — along with a triumphant cover of The Killers’ Human, the crowd happily singing, dancing and drinking along. With a sprinkling of interspersed stories, such as recounting his having playing Gordon Brown’s charity gig a few weeks before, the set flew by in just the best possible way. A triumphant set from a future star, and one whose ascension is inevitable. (JOS)
Over on the Castle Stage The Pigeon Detectives had kicked off their set and we arrived for throwback anthem This Is An Emergency, with a bustling and enthusiastic crowd chanting back with Matt Bowman’s vocals. Joking ‘you must be sick of hearing nice things but Portsmouth it’s lovely to see you all. You could have made the 45 mile journey to see Yard Act!,’ but we’re glad we made this decision. Done In Secret was a party for all of us without work on the bank holiday Monday as Bowman shouted out those sat on the hill who needed to get down in the crowd for a party. It was great to see a band who instead of just playing track after track were checking in on the crowd, showing off their personalities and then going back into the frantic fun of tracks such as I Found Out and Everybody Wants Me which saw people taking to shoulders. Giving a shout out to Southampton which received a solid ‘booo’ from the Pompey crowd, they explained how they were no strangers to this area and it looks like they’ll keep coming back. ‘I’m not a fan of the encore bullshit’ as this was skipped to allow them to closer with I’m Not Sorry rounding it off in style. (NC)
Heading back to the Common Stage with what felt like the whole of Victorious, we were in awe of the crowd size James Bay had pulled in especially after Saturday night’s headliners getting a considerably smaller one. Bay’s guitar work from the onset was something really special, reaching out to the crowd who knew the words to sing or those who didn’t to try and pick up the Wanderlust lyrics. In his ten song set, he made sure to showcase not only the beautiful vocals in If You Ever Want To Be In Love but also his jokey personality ‘how many songs before my hat goes flying over there?’ – it happened and we think it was about five thanks to the coastal breeze! Celebrating ten years of Let It Go, as the guitar intro began and the band came together it felt simply magical. It was hard to describe but looking round as people embraced and sung back the words passionate to each other, you felt as if this was a really special moment kind of like Tom Walker and Leave The Light On the following day. Going straight into new single Up All Night, the evolution of his sound and the singalong choruses which have gone with him through time made it clear why there’s such a hype around forthcoming album Change All The Time. Grabbing back his hat and giving the crowd a little chance to hold back their excitement, we knew what was coming as Hold Back The River rounded off the future Victorious headliners set. As Bay left the stage with a smile, all we can say is WOW, what a reminder of the magic of Victorious. (NC)
This was a stacked evening of live music at Victorious with a taste of every genre you could fancy. Becky Hill gave a chance to dance to the ‘rock and roll of dance music’ before Biffy Clyro closed the Common Stage. With people given a choice between Wet Leg and Biffy Clyro, it was a nasty clash but we knew from the start we’d be rounding our weekend off with the Scottish band. Biffy are everything you need from a headliner, singalong choruses, a mixed tempo setlist, driving drum lines and guitars which will leave you amazed. Kicking off with The Captain complete with fireworks, they didn’t give any breathing time as we went into That Golden Rule and Who’s Got A Match? causing the crowd to give Simon Neil and co. their remaining energy. Slowing things down with Re-Arrange, there was a full onstage light show where for a moment we forgot where we were and thought we’d be transported to an arena set up before throwing themselves into Biblical.
Space is for us one of the best songs written by the band, it’s magic to hear live, with Neil, James Johnson, Ben Johnson and Mike Vennart always making this an emotive part of the set but as the rain fell down it stole the position of best moment of Victorious 2024; we’re not afraid to say a little tear was shed. With such an extensive back catalogue there really was something for everyone with Saturday Superhouse and Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies on the setlist. In between the wind, Neil reminded the crowd it had been two years since Biffy played a show before their Halifax headline the night before and being back on the stage performing to a see of happy fans, it felt like they’d never been away! With ongoing chants of ‘Biffy fucking Clyro!’, Neil responded ‘you’re a bunch of awesome mother fuckers. I feel bad calling you motherfuckers but you’re awesome’ much to the delight of the crowd. Packed with singalong favourites including Mountains accompanied by runaway confetti thanks to the wind, Machines which was a showcase of beautiful, delicate vocals and Wolves Of Winter with a dose of chaos. It felt like a really brilliant way to round off a great weekend, it was clear the band appreciated the response too as closer Many Of Horror saw the sky lit up with fireworks and closing words of ‘You’ve been awesome, we’ve been Biffy fucking Clyro’ as Victorious 2024 drew to a close. (NC)
Victorious has become one of the best festivals in the South of England and 2024 was a great example of this as it was evident they’d listened to feedback from past year attendees. Showcasing the best in upcoming and established names on the music scene, with a true community feel, roll on 2025 and beyond!
Check out our review of Friday HERE and Saturday HERE.
Written By: Nicola Craig and James O’Sullivan
