Wild Fields Day Two

Norwich's first Wild Fields Festival came to a pumping conclusion in Earlham Park last night as London-based dance producer SBTRKT dropped live tracks from 'The Rat Road', his first new album in six years, and performed alongside a live drummer and vocalist. It brought to a close a magnificent two days of live music that had seen twenty six acts performing on the Norwich parkland site – an eclectically curated line-up that had showcased home-grown musical talent, as well as bringing national and international names, and Mercury Music Prize winners and Brit Award nominees, to our city for one glorious, totally inclusive, weekend (well, Friday and Saturday).

Saturday began with Zo Lief, a dream pop duo from London, playing on the open deck of the pink Climate Change bus. Their deliciously sixties sounding songs feature the vocals of Laura Chen and the guitar of James Attwood, and their inspiring summery set provided the perfect start to the Festival's second day.

Over on the main stage, Birmingham quartet Chartreuse impressed with a set of songs that, whilst inspired by folk tradition, still possessed a contemporary ambient darkness that I found quite alluring. And, of course, they take their name from my most favourite French liqueur ever.

Big up to Gabby Rivers and her band, stepping up at less than twenty four hours notice to play the main stage, and filling Saturday morning with their positively good-time vibe. Those who already know Gabby already know how good she is. Saturday's Wild Fields appearance should now have garnered even more new fans.

Norfolk rap duo Sleep's Cousin and Lieu resolved their tech gremlins atop the Climate Change bus, and shirts came off in the heat, but it was the lyrics and the beats from their album 'The Horse Is Dead', that really had the temperature rising. Those who think that Norfolk rap is an oxymoron really need to listen to these two.

London artist Jess Greenway (aka Jeshi) has a charismatic stage presence, a message on his t-shirt that still makes sense without the vowels, and seems to be having a good time. His trick with the two drinks cans was spectacular, even if it did leave the stage floor rather sticky. But, it is his manifesto of disenfranchisement under austerity that we should really be taking home from Wild Fields.

Back on the bus, Arthur Black and their three-piece band remind us just why this 18 year old local songwriter is pulling in so many views (19 million and counting) on YouTube. Dressed in black, and with a complexion as pale as a full moon, one really wonders whether they should be allowed out during the day.

Rising Tamil-Swiss star Priya Ragu became one of the standout acts of Wild Fields for me. Infectious rhythms, an overwhelming sense of positivity and a bagful of good vibes, ensured that her tight, r'n'b based sound had me completely hooked, and had most of the field dancing.

Lieu was back on the bus, sorting out the beats for the mysterious cat-mask wearing Lfay, another local act with a distinctly urban feel, and creating the sense that, underneath that mask, possibly lurks a dangerous party animal.