Review: Victorious Festival 2019 Friday
Now in its 8th year, Victorious Festival 2019 for Mr Teeth Reviews started with a group who were there at the beginning. Britpop band Dodgy were one of the main acts back when the festival first took place in the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. However, Victorious Festival soon moved to its new home along the seafront. Which for the 2019 event, saw Dodgy opening the larger Common Stage on Friday afternoon.
Doves – Photo by Geoff Cousins
Dodgy, Los Cojones and Doves
With their feel-good hits “Staying Out for the Summer” and “Good Enough”, Dodgy were the perfect beginning to a sunny weekend. In keeping with the rest of the line-up, which would feature other indie bands from the 90’s alongside local artists and the hottest modern acts.
It’s also a chance to experience a contrast in musical styles. As DJ’s Los Cojones demonstrated over at Beats & Swing. With their entertaining mix of swing and jazz with more electronic dance music.
As for Doves back over on the Common Stage, to a certain extent, they were the 2019 equivalent of 2017 Victorious Festival headliners Elbow. Although Doves are far from a modern group. They may not have released anything in the last 10 years, but Doves can still put in a decent live show. Where some of the songs lack energy, they make up for it with some rather nice visuals.
The Specials
The Specials – Victorious Festival 2019
Even though Two Door Cinema Club were billed as Friday headliners, it was the Specials that were the real pull for the night. Having recently released “Encore”, their first studio album in 18 years, it’s possibly the best album of 2019 to date.
As such, they were more than happy to showcase a couple of new tunes at Victorious. These would include “10 Commandments” featuring Saffiyah Khan on lead vocals. It’s a song that comes with a strong message and fitted in nicely alongside the likes of “Rat Race” and Toots & the Maytals classic “Monkey Man”.
It would also be a performance featuring newer band member Steve Cradock from Ocean Colour Scene, who were then playing the following day. Although this was really about the two front men, Terry Hall and the ever upbeat Lynval Golding.
Dub Pistols
Dub Pistols – Victorious Festival 2019
When the Dub Pistols appeared at Victorious Festival last year, the weather couldn’t have been much different. Barry Ashworth and Seany Tee forced to run through puddles at the front of the stage while under an umbrella, whereas the rest of the band took shelter in the only dry corner.
This time they were in a tent after dark, bringing the party to Beats & Swing. Dub Pistols always have a dedicated following, however, festivals are also the chance to win over new fans and it was near impossible to get down the front.
The whole tent bouncing and overflowing at the edges, with Beats & Swing yet again proving, it’s the place to be: come rain or shine.
