Hi:Fi South 2006

United Kingdom | by Nick Bruce | 28 May 2006

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Hi:Fi is this summer’s starting pistol, a shot that declares that we should all get out, get into the countryside and get dancing. And it's a declaration that's been heard by the thousands, as Hi:Fi’s followers arrive en masse to be greeted by picturesque surroundings and clouds that look a little too grey. The weather is disregarded, Hi:Fi’s line up just too juicy to be spoiled by a bit of rain. But it’s early afternoon and the heaven's are still firmly shut so it’s time to descend into the arena and check out the acts that are going to whip this crowd up into a frenzy.

The Live Arena is the beating heart of Hi:Fi’s indie offering: a 4,000 capacity tent that will house the seething mass of music lovers while dousing them in light shows and visuals that are projected on the 30ft screen hung above the stage. First up are Kharma 45 and while the audience is decidedly minimal, the band’s sound -  a fusion of electronica, dance and indie rock – is suited to Hi:Fi’s vision of dance and live acts appearing on the same bill. Whether visitors are asleep, drinking, or simply not interested in the first acts isn’t clear. What is clear is the view to the stage, with hardly any people assembled.

Numbers remain low as New Yorker My Robot Friend (aka Howard Robot) takes to the stage, launching into a multimedia show that succeeds in showcasing tracks from his new album Dial O whilst exhibiting the creativity and frenetic energy that have gained him a worthy reputation in the live music scene. It’s now early evening, and the rain is making its presence felt with showers that have thusfar failed to turn the Matterley Bowl into a Glastonbury-esque mudbath.

The Go! Team’s Ninja saunters on stage looking stunning in a flame red dress, her band equally as hot as they are greeted with rapturous applause by the audience that has, thankfully, swelled to half capacity. This Brighton based band – equipped with two drummers, a novel idea that pays off as the beats they produce are fantastic – are rowdy, energetic, everything you would want from a funk rock outfit. Ninja works the audience beautifully, dancing like she should be in the Godskitchen arena whilst declaring that they really don’t know whether they are “here or there” in terms of categorizing themselves, a character trait that fits Hi:Fi perfectly. These guys are indie dance, and the indie kids are dancing. A sex doll thrown on stage gives Ninja even more reason to tease the crowd, and they love it.

In stark contrast Super Furry Animals are wearing blue boiler suits and, predictably, look a little bit stoned. Lead singer Gryff Rhys has a great voice, distinctive, deep, Welsh, and his visage is projected in trippy colours onto the screen suspended above him, but there is a certain emptiness to their live act. Perhaps it is because members of the audience start leaving after the second track. It would appear that this is one act that doesn’t bridge the dance/indie divide. Super Furry Animals are a great band, exploring the psychedelic, surreal, sophisticated side to indie rock, but are perhaps a bit too niche to appeal to an audience that have probably come to see the likes of Pete Tong.

Uber-popular dj svengali Mylo would seem an odd choice to play in the Live Arena, but his DJ set is as polished and popular as the large crowd expect it to be. He fits snugly in between indie pioneers Super Furry Animals and Hard-Fi, playing tracks from his much lauded Destroy Rock N Roll to a bouncy audience. The tent is now almost full, as people flock to see the Scot who, according to some mouths in the music press, is single-handedly changing the face of dance music. Try telling that to Tiesto's fans. Whatever, he certainly knows how to work a crowd and is perfect as support act for Feltham darlings Hard Fi.

To say that Richard Archer is up for headlining Hi:Fi’s first day is a complete understatement. The man’s feet never touch the ground during a set to which the audience respond with excitement and extreme euphoria. Bathed in a white glow, fans have hands in the air as Hard Fi launch into anthem 'Hard To Beat', the poppy, bass driven 'Cash Machine' and end with a rousing rendition of 'Living For The Weekend'. A surprise hit is 'Stars Of CCTV', easily their album’s best track and a real crowd pleaser with Archer rallying 3,000 people to sing the chorus. The band’s club friendly tunes are perfect anthems to which the night is closed. Expect more headlining duties from these boys.