Portmeirion State Of Mind: The Stereoboard Festival No.6 Setlist
Thursday, 04 September 2014
Written by Gavin Rees
They don’t make ‘em like Festival No.6 anywhere else. It will again set up shop in the picturesque, delicately surreal surroundings of Portmeirion for a weekend of tunes, talks and art pop ups between September 5 and 7, helping to bring the curtain down on the festival season in typically idiosyncratic style.
London Grammar have leapt up the bill after playing the festival last year and will headline the opening night, with Beck and Pet Shop Boys also in line to top the bill. Of course, the Twin Town cast reunion is the weekend’s real draw, but, as we’re here, here are a few recommended sets for good measure.
Beck - Stage No.6/Saturday
Beck’s whole ‘vibe’ just seems to fit with Festival No.6. His youthful quirks have been dubbed over with an almost stately sense of cool and he continues to deliver, whether on the brilliant ‘Morning Phase’ or helping to bring Jenny Lewis’ recent - also excellent - album to life.
Kelis - Stage No.6/Sunday
See above. Part R&B powerhouse, part chef and, these days, full-time soul badass, Kelis has had a good year. ‘Food’ is just great; bold, packed with melody and delivered with timeless cool. This set has the hallmarks of a weekend-stealer.
Jon Hopkins - The I Stage/Saturday
Hopkins is preparing to wind things up on ‘Intimacy’, meaning that this is one of a select few chances you’ll have to see him do his thing for a while. Live, Hopkins’ glitchy tunes seem to sprout extra, all-enveloping limbs. It’s a techy embrace and really quite good.
tUnE-yArDs - The I Stage/Sunday
Drum loops, neon paint, dressing up box costumes and big, big songs. That’s pretty much the tUnE-yArDs blueprint and, oh boy is it fun. Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner delivered another album of wild variations and insistent hooks with ‘Nikki Nack’ earlier this year and haven’t slowed down since.
CianCiarán - The Clough Stage (NythGwydir)/Sunday
Following the twists and turns in the careers of the blokes from Super Furry Animals is a very rewarding pastime. While Gruff Rhys has become a multimedia adventurer/historian/pop genius and Guto Pryce has dabbled with the lovely Gulp, Cian Ciarán has released two great solo records, including the strident but beautiful ‘They Are Nothing Without Us’.
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