Review of Summer Sundae Weekender

The Mystery Jets played an "oh so likeable set" on the Main Stage

Bridget Blair
BBC Leicester

They say the sun shines on the righteous.

Well, Richard Haswell and the other organisers must have been good and praying very hard this year.

With constant sunshine every day , record breaking receipts at the box office and thousands of happy smiley people, Summer Sundae was an unqualified success.

It could have all gone so wrong of course; especially with Friday's headliners cancelling due to swine flu.

Headlining

Saint Etienne played the Main Stage on Saturday

Following an oh so likeable set from the marvellous Mystery Jets , the ever reliable Idlewild stepped into the breach, filling The Streets' slot, but didn't exactly drive the whole crowd wild.

But a festival isn't just about the headline acts, which included the Charlatans on Saturday and the Zutons on Sunday.

One band who were getting the audience very excited in the Musician's tent that night were Cantaloup; everyone was sweating, smiling, shouting and dancing to the hip hop funkiness of Dannie Deeably supported by some strong sax appeal.

That's the thing I love about Summer Sundae, there's always a band you haven't seen before, and just manage to catch, an artist who you irrevocably fall for.

Three years ago, for me, it was Mr Hudson and the Library this year he came back, he played and conquered on the indoor stage on Saturday.

Many of the audience only knew 'Supernova', his latest track, but he won over legions of fans with an impressive performance.

OK, he's fit, but it was such fun to see the tongues of many of the females in the audience hanging out, a collective lust was definitely in the air.

'Unappetising underpants'

Teitur "seduced his audience"

Outside earlier in the evening, St Etienne had got the cocktail crowd dancing as dusk fell to their own inimitable style of indie dance pop.

Meanwhile Monotronix was the band whose name was being bandied about after their set on Sunday.

Performing in their unappetising underpants, they nevertheless hooked the crowd with humour and stunts such as jumping from the balcony to the auditorium.

Teitur (don't you jut love the name) seduced his audience in the Musician tent with an understated but beautifully judged set including the heartbreakingly good 'Don't let me fall in love with you'.

Sunday afternoon seemed an apt slot for the serious and seemingly shy musician from the Faroes Islands, and an hour later, the eagerly anticipated Bon Iver took to the main stage.

Lying on the grass gazing up at the sky close to twilight and listening to songs such as 'Blood Bank' and 'Skinny Love' was a highlight.

Something for all

Mr Hudson stole the hearts of many

What Summer Sundae does too is provide a showcase of the best bands on the local scene and Minaars captured many more new fans on the main stage with their own idiosyncratic, but tight set including 'Busy Hands' which immediately got a whole crowd to their feet dancing in the hot sun.

You can't judge a festival on the music alone though, and where Summer Sundae really comes into its own is the relaxed, chilled out ambience and sheer good natured-ness of the whole event.

You won't find Stasi like security guards at this festival; you can take your own food and drink in if you like and there was something for everyone, no matter what age.

There were lots if activities for younger children, the bigger kids enjoyed the secret disco, plus those of a more serious bent could enjoy the wordy goings on in the Phased and Confused tent.

Here's to next year - the tenth Summer Sundae!