Liverpool Sound City 2015 review: Aquilo, The Bohicas, Millions, 35 Summers

With festivals recognised as much for their quirks nowadays than headline acts, it’s only right that Getintothis’ Tom Konstantynowicz points out some of the quirkiest acts on a gloriously sun drenched day two of Sound City.

Over by the North Stage, people in mustard t-shirts could be found spread around the area hours before Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5’s stage time. You kind of knew it was going to be weird. By twenty past seven, there was a man in a vest and a sailor’s hat crowd surfing in a rubber dinghy.

Forest In His Heart brings positive thoughts and energy over from Canada with a short set over in the Cavern Stage. An ode to his mother at the end turned surreal as he walks into the centre of the crowd, mic-less, screaming ‘I love my mommy’.

The site is a totally different place in the sunshine, memories of yesterday’s grey skies and sound problems are a million miles away. Collectors Club got the day off to a fine start on the North with some sun-tinged indie pop.

Tokyo’s Moja burst some eardrums on the Cavern Stage before people had even finished their first pint of flat, overpriced lager. The drummer hits her drums so violently she needed a stage hand constantly re-positioning them as they shuffled further forward with every smash.

The Cavern was a haven for hidden gems all day, Ellie Godwin fronted four piece No Violet have that Wolf Alice like blend of grunge and nice as pie vocals.

When you need a chill hour or two, and you always do at some point at a festival, the place to go thus far has been the Cargo stage. Astronomyy and Aquilo deal in sort of the same minimalist guitar plucks, floaty riffs and snappy drum beats under laying a super slick vocal. Femme with her pink sparkly stage lights and pink hair looks a bit like a Sheila’s Wheels advert but with Charlie XCX style electro pop goodness.

The sun certainly makes one hell of a difference, the atmosphere today is noticeably more cheery than Friday. It even makes the site look nicer as the surrounding water actually looks blue instead of grey.

Over inside the warehouse containing the Baltic Stage, The Bohicas are tearing it up with their indie rock and roll that is getting them plenty of recognition of late. Even the oldies are having a go over on the North as Sound City CEO Dave Pichilingi and his band 35 Summers show us some dad dancing.

Here’s hoping for more sun on Sunday!

Photos by Getintothis’ Martin Waters, Martin Saleh, Michael Hegarty, Jack Thompson, Tom Adam, Vicky Pea, Chris Flack:

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