BBC Radio 6 Music Festival 2024 – O2’s Victoria Warehouse
There is a rich industrial history with the expansive and adaptable space that is the O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester. It’s an ideal host for this years BBC Radio 6 Music festival. Once a bustling textile storage facility, now stands as an iconic symbol of the city’s industrial past and vibrant present. Its towering brick exterior and cavernous interior offer a striking blend of history and modernity. For artists like Young Fathers, whose collaboration with the NIA community choir will charge their performance with communal energy and spirit, the warehouse’s vast interior offers ample room for creativity and connection. Similarly, for GOSSIP, making a triumphant return with their first UK show in 4 years, lined up in celebration with International Women’s day, the warehouse’s raw, edgy ambiance compliments their style, sound and ethos. As for The Smile, comprised of Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, and Tom Skinner, their world-exclusive performance alongside the London Contemporary Orchestra finds a fitting home within the warehouse’s industrial-chic aesthetic, where innovation and experimentation are celebrated. As you can imagine, we’ve had quite the time covering all of this. The BBC Radio 6 Festival is full of exclusive performances, new music debuts, and surprising collaborations. It’s everything we love about the industry. Let’s dive into the excitement of each day’s events as they happened.
Thursday 7 March – Young Fathers, Hak Baker, SHERELLE (DJ Set)
Young Fathers defy categorisation, blending elements of hip-hop, soul, and experimental rock to create a sound that challenges convention. Led by the trio of Hastings, Massaquoi, and Bankole, their live performances are electric, with each member bringing their own distinctive flair. Hastings delivers gruff rhymes while tinkering with electronics, Massaquoi switches between melodic vocals and pounding drums, and Bankole serves as the band’s charismatic frontman. With a lineup bolstered by a stand-up drummer, exceptional keys and guitar player, and singers Amber Joy and Kim Mandindo, Young Fathers create a sonic landscape that is both intense and melodic.
Their music confronts complex themes, such as race, culture, and political unrest, with tracks like “Old Rock’n’Roll” and “Shame” delving into societal issues. But amidst the thought-provoking lyrics, their songs harbour undeniable pop sensibilities, featuring infectious hooks and powerful emotions. Their anthem “Get Up” blends invitations to party with calls to revolution, while “Drum” juxtaposes a hedonistic refrain with a darker undertone.
Young Fathers took centre stage at O2 Victoria Warehouse, delivering a riveting performance for the packed out venue. As Bankole’s frenetic movements blurred across the stage, backed by Massaquoi’s soaring vocals and Hastings’ commanding presence, the audience are well and truly captivated. Dressed in a crisp white shirt and black trousers, Bankole exuded swagger as he danced against the simplistic backdrop casting silhouettes which assuresall eyes are on him.
The set kicked off with the pulsating beats of “Shoot Me Down,” setting the tone for an evening of high-octane music. Soon after the crowd are treated to “Queen Is Dead” and “Get Up,” the trio showcased their eclectic musical influences, blending hip-hop, post-punk, gospel, and soul with effortless precision. Each song filled with raw energy that was evidently infectious on tonight’s audience.
The NIA community choir (featuring the Hulme and Moss Side-based NIA community choir) really shone and gave the stand out moment of the night with “It’s Only God Knows,” adding depth and poignancy to the track, creating a truly unforgettable experience. The choir’s presence throughout the performance underscored the sense of unity and community that Young Fathers strive to cultivate.
Throughout the set, Young Fathers balanced upbeat anthems like “Geronimo” with slower, more introspective tracks like “Shame.” Hastings’ impassioned plea for a ceasefire in Gaza during “Shame” struck a chord with the audience, highlighting the band’s commitment to addressing pressing social issues through their music.
The setlist was a testament to Young Fathers’ versatility and innovation, featuring a mix of fan favorites and newer tracks from their latest album, “Heavy Heavy.” From the anthemic “Wow” to the introspective “I Heard,” each song showcased the band’s ability to blend disparate genres into a cohesive and compelling sound.
As the final notes of “Toy” faded away, Bankole addressed the crowd with gratitude, thanking them for their support and enthusiasm. The audience, caught up in the euphoria of the moment, responded with thunderous applause. What a way to kick off the BBC Radio 6 Festival.
Friday 8 March: Gossip, CMAT, AFRODEUTSCHE (DJ Set)
Gossip, the punky disco outfit led by the charismatic Beth Ditto, returns with a bang, showcasing their upcoming album, ‘Real Power,’ for the second night of the BBC Radio 6 music festival. It’s been a while, and in these cases, there’s always a worry that sometimes the magic of that era could have been lost in transit. Thankfully, these fears are thrown away the moment Beth, guitarist Nathan Howdeshell and drummer Hannah Blilie take to the stage and open with Love Long Distance. For those wondering if Beth’s vocals still stand the test of time – you can be safe in the knowledge that they absolutely do. Her soulful powerhouse vocals are rough-around-the-edges yet smooth at the same time, it’s quite the mix and boy does it pay dividend. There are a lot of breaks in the show for Beth with her story telling and unintentional costume changes. For some this might frustrate, for most, it’s just a firm realisation that this is Beth and the gang in their element.
Over the years the band has evolved into a powerhouse of infectious melodies mixed with a liberating stage presence. Beth Ditto’s shy off-stage persona transforms into a fearless force on stage, with powerhouse vocals and often barefoot and basic. Beth is a great role model for self expression.
As this is the 6 Music Festival, there are also surprises in store for the audience. The impeccable Alison Moyet joins the band on stage for not one but two renditions of Yazz’s Situation, after Beth becomes too emotional during the first performance and forgets the words. The band’s set is a celebration of life and sexuality, infused new wave punk and pop influences. As Ditto belts out anthems like “Move In The Right Direction” and “Heavy Cross,” the crowd is in full swing, this band are still relevant and judging by tonight’s reaction, still mean a hell of a lot to people. Standing In The Way Of Control is kept until last and it is the song that, quite rightly, makes the most noise. Written in response to the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2004 which, if approved, would have outlawed same-sex marriage In America, the song is laced with power and anger. This anthem is still more than relevant today. There is no better headline act for International Women’s Day than GOSSIP. Fitting.
CMAT, the rising star from Ireland, commanded the stage as the supporting act for GOSSIP at the 6 Music Festival. With great energy and a playful spirit, she had the crowd line dancing and even sported a cowgirl hat from someone in the audience, making the atmosphere electric. Each song felt like an encore, filled with CMAT’s soulful vocals and genuine showmanship. To top it off, John Grant made a surprise appearance, joining CMAT on stage for a memorable duet. Her performance was an embodiment of fun and joy, leaving a lasting impression on everyone in attendance. Going off tonight’s performance CMAT will be headlining such events in the future.
Saturday 9 March: The Smile, Jordan Rakei, Mary Anne Hobbs + Anna Phoebe (DJ Set)
It’s safe to assume that most are familiar with The Smile, their origins, and impressive musical lineage. Following the success of their latest album, “Wall of Eyes,” The Smile headline the closing night of the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival. Their performance was a one-of-a-kind experience, featuring the London Contemporary Orchestra (LCO). Together, they reimagined both new and old tracks, harnessing the LCO’s formidable power to elevate their already exceptional music.
They open the set with the title track from their new album, a gentle acoustic melody that holds a lot of depth and sense of unease despite its tranquil nature. It’s textbook Thom. However, with the complexity of the composition, one can’t help but feel it might have more impact later in the set.
Followed up with the fan favourite that is Pana-Vision, a piano lead ballad with a similar tone, one of the strongest moments from their debut album has the crowd well and truly tuned in.
Thom’s lyrics are polarising at times, coming across as random segments, often politically fuelled. This is evident with “Friend of a Friend,” where the line ‘All of that money, where did it go? Where did it go?’ seems to critique the UK government’s handling of the pandemic funds. Thom has always had a political through line with his work, channelling his activism into his artistry.
Another example is the song A Hairdryer, it’s hard not to picture Donald trumps reign in the USA . Evoking such childlike imagery as “look at all the pretty lights” and suggesting that it’s about the most powerful people in the world creates an uneasy feeling.
One of the standout moments of the set is “Skrting on the Surface,” an old reworked Radiohead demo that has evolved into an emotional anchor in The Smile’s catalogue. Thom’s falsetto transcends at times, hinting at deeply personal reflections on mental health. The song resonates with a universal feeling of shared experiences, offering a sense of optimism and solidarity amidst adversity. Highlights from the first part of the set include “Free in the Knowledge,” one of Yorke’s most traditional-sounding songs, with a catchy hook reminiscent of his earlier works. Similarly, “Friend of a Friend,” with its Beatles-esque charm from their latest album, captivates the audience. Skinner switches to the modular synthesiser for “Waving a White Flag” the LCO really add a lot to this delicate tune with live strings, making it sound a lot grander than what is on record.
Bringing an end to the first half of the set with the LCO is Bending Hectic. This is the perfect ending for the LCO. Greenwood’s string arrangements come to life in what can only be described as a deranged car crash love ballad. Fans may observe a thematic connection to car crash events portrayed in the Radiohead songs such as “Airbag” and “The Tourist.” As the song starts to crescendo the LCO emulate somewhat the sound of tires screeching. The orchestral addition adds depth and intensity to the composition, providing a standout moment in the performance before we are graced with all the guitars, turned all the way up for a chaotic finish. The LCO get the biggest cheer of the evening as they depart and are humbly thanked by the band for helping create such a one off experience for the audience.
The intensity is turned up a notch as Thom bellows the words “THIN THING! ” before launching into the krautrock inspired track. It’s chaotic, rowdy and one of the bands strongest songs to date. The clostrophobic guitar patterns, the effects on the vocals and the high tempo drumming have the audience bopping a long. It feels like the band are starting to let their hair down for the evening. The gloves are off. The calm doesn’t last for long between songs as Tom Skinner kicks off “The Opposite” with a prolonged drum intro, demonstrating why it’s one of the catchiest drum patterns of recent times. The entire band visibly enjoys playing this song live, clearly a favourite amongst the trio.
Another highlight is “The Same,” This brooding number delves into political commentary and critiques the current state of social media and news coverage, exploring themes of division and manipulation. The orchestral arrangement adds a haunting depth to the song, amplifying its message of societal introspection and unity.
After some set list confusion and a fumbled but still groovy rendition of The Smoke the night draws to a close too soon and we can’t help but think the guy who yelled “This is the best day ever!” might have been right.
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