Live Review

Dot To Dot Festival – Various, Manchester

• 31st May 2011

Spread over six Manchester venues and with over 40 acts on the bill there’s certainly a lot to choose from at Dot to Dot 2011.
Before the big headliners later in the evening there’s plenty of new music to be discovered. There’s so much going on at Dot to Dot it’s impossible to mention everything but we’ll do our best to cover the standout performances.
Academy 3 plays host to Wolverhampton indie quartet The Lines as they turn the rather unappealing 5.30 Monday afternoon slot into a hell of a rock show. Loud is an understatement. It’s like they brought along the sound system for Wembley stadium and crammed it into the slightly less than stadium sized Academy 3. Energetic and full of enthusiasm, The Lines are certainly ones to watch for the future.
Later in the evening Glasswerk checks out Benjamin Francis Leftwich as he lights up the Academy 2. Hotly tipped as an up and coming song writing talent he didn’t disappoint. His delicate, figerpicked guitar progressions providing the perfect accompaniment to his beautifully structured and well thought out songs. ‘Maps’ is perhaps the most direct offering of the set and thusly generates the biggest audience reaction. Unbelievably still only 21; there are surely big things to come from Leftwich.
Then it’s over to the big gig – As Darwin Deez takes to the stage of the Academy 1 at half eight there is a definite buzz in the air. The penultimate slot on any festival card is often the highlight. Traditionally we think these ‘perfect festival moments’ occur because the sun is setting and there’s magic in the air. Well there’s obviously no sun to set here – indoors at an urban festival, but we still get ‘that’ moment. Perhaps it has more to do with the mysterious cocktail of sweat, adrenalin and warm booze? Singles ‘Constellations’ and ‘Up In The Clouds’ work the busy Academy 1 into a frenzy. Everyone is dancing, singing smiling; it’s like the greatest indie disco you’ve ever attended.
But as anyone who’s seen Darwin Deez live will know, what we’re really looking forward to is the dance routines! Tongue in cheek, and superbly choreographed, it’s really like nothing else you’ve seen before. Too many bands at festivals blend into one another. Darwin and Co make it a certainty that won’t happen here. Instead of between song mumblings abut the inspiration for the next song and what not; Darwin Deez treats us to a spot of body popping to the Spice Girls! To the delight of the Manchester crowd these routines continue at regular intervals throughout the set. A particular favourite is the ridiculous mash up of Enya’s ‘Sail Away’ and Rage Against The Machine’s ‘Testify’. It’s hard not to smile. It’s hard not to love.
That’s not to say Mr. Deez doesn’t have the songs though. ‘Bad Day’ is a lyrically superb little ditty. Quirky couplets like “Maybe you should wonder why your apartment is always so empty/Well I hope you get locked out of that apartment and have to call Jenny” make perfect sense when sung at full volume by an ecstatic audience. But the highlight of the New Yorker’s set is undoubtedly the closer – ‘Radar Detector’ always a fan favourite, its choppy rhythms and instantly catchy hook leave the audience craving more.
The big headliners at the Academy 1 are Manchesters very own synth pop duo Hurts. Impeccably turned out as always, they take to the stage just after 10pm. Backed by a band consisting of live drums, a violinist, guitarist, and keys, Theo Hutchcraft and Adam Anderson have certainly developed quite a stage presence. In contrast to the ‘fun at all costs’ mantra of Darwin Deez, Hurts are deadly serious. They power through their positively epic set list with a style and confidence befitting pop royalty. The flawless delivery of ‘Unspoken’ and ‘Beautiful Life’ show exactly why Dot to Dot made them headliners.
The understated ballad ‘Verona’ is certainly a highlight of the set as is debut single ‘Better Than Love’. However it is the mass sing along of ‘Stay’ that steals the show.
On the basis of this performance Hurts’ meteoric rise to fame is well deserved.
All in all the Manchester leg of Dot to Dot 2011 was a great success. An eclectic line up, varied venues and a white hot atmosphere made for a thoroughly enjoyable experience. There was even a BBQ! Roll on summer.