Festival Review: Parklife 2024
Electronic Euphoria and Mud Slides.
This year's Parklife Festival saw up to 80,000 festival-goers descend upon Heaton Park, maintaining its tradition of high-energy performances and vibrant crowds. However, 2024's iteration brought a few twists. Dominated by an electronic-heavy lineup, Day 1 headliners included Disclosure and Camelphat, setting a different tone from previous years.
For those familiar with Parklife, the scene was typical: a sea of young faces, a plethora of DJs, and the ever-changing Manchester weather. Saturday kicked off under unexpectedly beautiful skies, with dry ground and high spirits. The festival's rejigged stage layout, lacking a clear main stage and fewer indoor tents, marked a notable change.
One name on everyone's lips was Sammy Virji, who’s early 14:35, b2b set with Manchester's Interplanetary Criminal, drew a substantial crowd to The Valley stage. The duo attracted a large crowd, and as Virji's track ‘Shella Verse’ played, the audience erupted into a roar-like, thunderous cheer. This electrifying start made the day feel like a haven of sublime music under clear skies. Following this start, female DJ Jyoty continued to captivate the audience. Known for her Boiler Room sets, Jyoty delivered a mix of R&B, garage, and funk, radiating joy and proving she could hold her own on a larger stage despite her more intimate performance style.
In contrast, the many people who headed over to see Eliza Rose in the Palmhouse, were left disappointed with the deteriorating grass and extreme heat making it it unbearable. This new Parklife stage setup was a failure, and I, like many others, left after just one or two songs.
Casa Bacardi provided a welcome escape, offering an Ibiza-meets-Coachella vibe with a slightly older audience. Where Bristol-based DJ Cosworth, an emerging tech house DJ and head of Hardline Sounds, impressed the audience with his fresh sound and ability to move the crowd, despite his usual behind-the-scenes prominence. With fresh tech house beats and a humble stage presence. His shy demeanour only made him more endearing, bringing all the summer vibes.
However, festival-goers faced harsh scheduling clashes. I chose Four Tet at The Valley over Hybrid Minds at the Magic Sky stage, only to be let down by a monotonous set from Four Tet. The dense crowd, filled with under-18s, made it difficult to move, forcing many to stay put.
Peggy Gou's arrival was highly anticipated, especially following the release of her recent album ‘I Hear You.’ While her set was competent, it lacked energy and the dynamic performance she is known for.
However, anticipation for Pawsa’s set was palpable. Pawsa is a prominent figure within the techno scene, who has gained significant acclaim with his unreleased track ‘6 in the Morning,’ the anthem for major parties in Ibiza last summer. The London-based DJ reinvigorated the crowd with his authentic and compelling techno beats, though the experience was somewhat diminished by the overwhelming presence of phone-wielding attendees.
Despite being a 17+ event, Parklife seemed to attract a notably younger crowd this year especially noticeable at Pawsa, which visibly impacted those around me. Typically, it’s evident that many regular attendees of Heaton Park come just for this annual festival. However, this year, there appeared to be a general lack of basic event etiquette. Post-festival discussions online indicate that many others have noticed and commented on this issue as well.
I departed early to attend a portion of the Sugababes performance at the Parklife Stage, which now occupies the space formerly held by a tent stage whose name eludes me from previous years. The potential for an exceptional set was evident as the trio delivered hit after hit, including the crowd-pleaser ‘Touch The Button.’ Ironically, some attendees, adorned in highlighter-coloured sports attire, sang along while perched on their friends' shoulders. However, the unfortunate proximity of the stage to the Hangar posed a challenge, as the deep basslines from Pawsa's performance interfered with the sound system, resulting in a Sugababes ft Pawsa set almost.
The festival garnered criticism due to last-minute dropouts by major acts like J Hus and Fisher. However, Saturday ended on a high note with captivating performances by Camelphat and Disclosure. Choosing between the two proved challenging, but the allure of Camelphat's set at the Hangar stage won out. Despite a modest audience, the atmosphere was electric, with attendees clearly there simply for the music. Scouse duo, Camelphat delivered a seamless performance, incorporating both new tracks and favourites from their EP ‘Dark Matter.’ The highlight came with a fantastic rendition of their acclaimed 2018 single ‘Cola,’ eliciting a wave of nostalgia and enthusiasm from the crowd, leaving the duo visibly elated to close out the evening.
Sunday began under a downpour, and the festival’s mood was as damp as the weather. Despite some standout sets, the overall atmosphere was gloomy. The rain turned the grounds into a muddy mess, and safety became a concern, especially at the Palmhouse stage, where the mud was treacherous.
Despite the festival's fair share of criticisms, let's not blow things out of proportion. Sure, the grounds turned into a mudslide playground, but hey, it's Manchester in early summer – what do you expect? Weather happens. However, some spots, like the swampy mess near the Palmhouse stage, were genuinely hazardous, leaving one guy shoeless. Due to this I stayed far from that stage, unfortunately meaning I missed out on acts like Oden & Fatzo and Max Dean.
Ella Henderson kicked off the day with a set that defied expectations, celebrating the anniversary of her track ‘Ghost’ which she credited for her success. Her heartfelt performance, coupled with audience interaction, showcased her gratitude and stunning vocals, taking listeners on a nostalgic journey with tracks like ‘React.’
Barry Can’t Swim delivered a captivating live set, starting promptly at quarter to 5 and lasting for an hour—a performance never to be missed. The Scottish DJ, known for his immense talent, thrived on the expansive Parklife Stage. His distinct, funky beats, coupled with engaging crowd interaction, created an unforgettable experience, striking a perfect balance for a dance in the field without overwhelming heaviness, especially at that time of day.
Following Barry Can’t Swim's refreshing tunes, the eagerly anticipated act, HorsegiirL, took the stage. While making my way to the Magic Sky stage to catch her set, a group of men attempted to jump over the fences, visibly unsettling some young girls nearby. Nonetheless, the festivities persisted.
HorsegiirL, the Berlin-based German DJ concealed behind a horse mask, commanded the Magic Sky stage. Her set left me impressed by her effortless coolness, impeccable fashion sense, and ability to captivate the audience. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that her music was better suited for the iconic Berghain in Berlin at 2 am—appreciated by those who understand its vibe, yet potentially out of place for this setting and time. It's a matter of time and place, after all.
After spending a hefty amount on nachos and a pint—standard for UK festivals—I headed to the Parklife stage to catch Folamour. A veteran at Parklife, this was his biggest stage yet. His disco-esque tunes and funky sound were just what I needed. Usually underrated, Folamour felt truly celebrated here, and I hope to see him rise in future festival lineups.
Next up was Anne-Marie, providing a refreshing break from the electronic-heavy Saturday. Though many of her songs blend together, her crowd engagement and high energy, showcased in a stunning orange suit, were impressive. This was one of her first performances since having a baby girl with rapper Slowthai, and she shared an emotional moment while singing ‘Rockabye.’
A standout moment was the surprise appearance by Manchester-born rapper Aitch on Anne-Marie’s track ‘Psycho.’ Aitch, who headlined last year, caused the crowd to erupt in screams, proving he's a fan favourite at Heaton Park.
Due to Anne-Marie finishing slightly early, I caught the end of Dutch DJs ANOTR, who are perfect for sunny pool parties, not mudslides in the M25.
Taking a break to recuperate before Doja Cat’s performance, there was palpable excitement in the air. This was her first UK show in years, following her withdrawal from the 2022 Brit Awards. She took to the stage just before 10 pm when the rain was at its heaviest. She made her appearance on the Valley stage dressed in a clear poncho on top of her usual style of outfit being a white thong, little top, and furry boots.
Known for her extravagant performances and Doja Cat didn’t disappoint. She had the stages attention from the get-go all whilst hitting every note perfectly. She started to sing a snippet of Hilary Duff’s ‘Come Clean,’ in reference to the rain and when the audience didn’t join in, due to the fact the majority were too young to know the song, she laughed, “You don’t know that s**t? What the fuck.” She got over the almost awkward moment as her band kicked into the last part of her set with top single ‘Say So,’ definitely re-gaining the audiences attention. Doja's set rounded off the weekend.
Now, I'm typically a big advocate for Parklife, but unless they return to their usual standard of mixing genres and revert the changes in stage arrangements, I don't think they'll attract their usual audience numbers. Although I had a lot of fun and you can't let the weather bring you down at a UK festival, I believe the issues many faced were due to the organisers rather than any of the artists.
Words by Lucy Holden
Photography by Izzy Clayton
