Field Day - 2016 Live Review

"Don't forget your wellies" read the message on the Field Day Twitter account. Of course it did. Welcome to your British summer of music. And rain. And mud.

Wellington boots and waterproofs; it's a familiar tale at festivals across the country and there was a fine selection on show at this year's Field Day. But it wasn't just east London's finest array of ponchos that caught the eye this weekend. Oh no.

Field Day, celebrating its tenth year, managed to upstage the weather gods and put on a festival masterclass. Boasting one of the most eclectic and exciting line-ups at any UK festival this summer this was a proper birthday bash and undoubtedly the best Field Day to date.

On arrival at Victoria Park (the last time grass was ever seen) there was only one place to start; Anna Meredith. As the rain began its opening set of the day, Anna Meredith produced something even more spectacular as she, and her extraordinary band, set about marrying electro and classical music, which I can only assume was the cause of the emerging rainbow over Victoria Park.

It's difficult to remember if I saw more rain drops or heard more mentions of Skepta, but it was a close-run thing. Clearly one of the most popular artists at the festival took to the main stage at the same time as the simply brilliant Nimmo wowed the Fader stage audience with their infectious dance-pop. This was a genuinely special festival set and one that throws Nimmo into the top tier of 2016 festival hype. Talking of hype, Fickle Friends took to the Shackwell Arms stage as the evening began to draw to a close and demonstrated just why people are so excited about them. 'Swim' and 'Paris' are spellbinding and the songwriting is the best you're likely to find anywhere.

"Eclectic" seems like an important word at this year's festival. You name a genre, and there was something there for you. An evening stroll in the direction of the main stage led you to the iconic Deerhunter and they've never sounded better. Minutes later it was the turn of Floating Points on the Resident Advisor stage and it was one of the most delicate, euphoric and intriguing sets you're likely to see. It's an astonishing mix of dance, jazz, electro and just pure ambient brilliance that needs to be heard, and seen, to be believed.

The main stage at this year's field day was a bit of a magnet for cult, legendary American bands and Yeasayer aren't far off that very status. Off the back of their brilliant new album Amen & Goodbye and a sold out show down the road at Oslo this was a set that grew into life and culminated in the exquisite Silly Me, Ambling Alp and O.N.E.

A change of pace followed over in "Mud Tent One" and "Mud Tent Two" as Dusky and Bicep turned the East London volume up a couple of notches and both delivered sets worthy of bigger tents, bigger stages and bigger audiences. An exploration of dance, techno and house that was continually flirting with perfection.

The Saturday night headliner didn't attract the huge numbers seen for previous headliners, and the soft and gentle euphoria of James Blake made it difficult to enjoy with people talking around you, but this didn't stop him from delivering the most polished and beautiful set of the weekend. It's easy to forget just how good his repertoire is now and any doubters are slapped into shape as The Wilhelm Scream reaches its crescendo.

The Sunday was a more civilised, and muddier, affair.

Luckily, one of the most exciting new acts in UK music right now were on hand to help. Battling a late change of stage and some early sound issues, Formation proved - once again - just how big of a live force they are. It's all somewhere in between The Stone Roses, Friendly Fires and These New Puritans and it's a simply incredible place to be.

And, after Parquet Courts drew one of the biggest crowds of the weekend (and joked about us English people being well behaved compared to our football fan cousins) it was time for indie heroes Mystery Jets. The return of 'The Jets' was a welcome surprise and recent album Curve Of The Earth is their most exciting, and best, to date. The packed tent sang along to 'the classics' whilst the new material sounded even better live.

And then, in a frighteningly quick couple of hours it was the eclectic mix of Blossoms, The Brian Jonestown Massacre and John Grant. Blossoms, who seem to get better with every performance, warmed up for their Other Stage Glastonbury appearance with a powerful set that opened with early Blossom highlights At Most a Kiss and Getaway. And, what can you say about The Brian Jonestown Massacre that hasn't already been said. You'd have to go a long way to find a more intriguing group of musicians but you'd also be hard pushed to hear a better song than Anemone. Standing in the middle of a packed Field Day crowd watching The Brian Jonestown Massacre felt like a genuine privilege.

It's the London festival that keeps getting bigger and better and I can't wait to come back, despite the mud.