Glastonbury Festival 2010: Day 4

Saturday

The first artist we wanted to see was Imogen Heap, who wasn't playing until mid-afternoon, so we slept in (for as long as the heat would allow us to) and then wandered down to West Holts. The Phenomenal Handclap Band, who were recommended in the guide that we were given at the start of the festival, were due to play a set on the stage there just after we arrived. Their sound was upbeat and modern, but I couldn't help feeling slightly sorry for them, as they were given a relatively early slot which didn't do wonders for the lively atmosphere that they were trying to create. I found overall from the festival, that anything on before about 3pm should be made to lounge around to, as a lot of the audiences are still tired and hungover from the night before!

Imogen Heap

I have been a fan of this quirky lady for a fair few years, so was excited to see her live. The stage that she had was very intricate; there was a metal tree structure in the centre and various bizarre looking instruments scattered around. Quirky and bizarre are exactly the right adjectives to describe Imogen Heap, as she wandered around the stage, dressed in draped shawls and scarves, muttering to herself. She reminded me of someone's batty old aunt, or perhaps Emma Thompson's portrayal of Professor Trelawney from the Harry Potter films. That is not to say that her performance was a let down, far from it. She involved the audience constantly, splitting us into thirds to do harmonies, and getting us to sing along to her classics, such as 'Hide and Seek' most well known for being used in 'The O.C'. Having always thought she was American, I was thrilled to hear her British accent as she spoke to the audience. That's another one we can add to our repertoire.

Kate Nash

Miss Nash was on next after Imogen Heap, so we stayed to watch. I know a few songs, but have never gone so far as to buy an album. She was OK, it is obvious that she doesn't lack talent, but I held a slight grudge after she heckled the crowd for not cheering enough. In my mind, if you're doing a good enough job, people cheer, so perhaps that is something she should have taken on board. Just a hint. And as my friend commented halfway through, she had a lovely scum of purple lipstick above her top lip, so no gold star for maintaining poise and dignity.

Marina and the Diamonds

After reading an interview with Marina Diamandis, the driving force behind Marina and the Diamonds, I was distinctly turned off. She seemed like a spoilt, arrogant rich girl who had her fame handed to her on a plate. But that aside, I love the songs, so thought I'd hop along and give her the benefit of the doubt. We sat outside The John Peel Tent on the hill, as it was crammed to the hilt with people, and listened to her performance. I must admit, she's not the best singer, but all her songs had pizazz and you have to give the girl credit for keeping her massive heels on throughout! I especially enjoyed her acoustic rendition of 3oh!3 feat. Katy Perry's 'Starstruckk' which was done gorgeously.

Editors
Editors were the perfect run up to Muse, well written songs, easily recognisable riffs and a rather handsome frontman. Lead singer Tom Smith looked brooding and in control suited up playing an impressive black grand piano centre stage. They opened well, and although there was a slight lull in the middle while people waited for their favourites, (probably Munich or End Has A Start) they didn't disappoint and ended perfectly, leaving people pumped up and ready for the meander to The Pyramid Stage.

Muse
This time, the headliners didn't disappoint. The crowd was immense, easily the largest I'd seen so far and we had a good vantage point from up on the hill, avoiding the crush of the masses below. They played a good long set, full of epic guitar solos, and a guest appearance from The Edge of U2 fame, who sang 'Where The Streets Have No Name' with the band. There were lights and lasers, fireworks in the distance and a whole lot of cheering. It definately made up for the poor effort made by Gorillaz previously!