Review: Beacons Festival

16th-18th August

Heslaker Farm, Skipton

6/10

Beacons Festival returns to Funkirk Estate, a quaint farm near the Yorkshire Dales. In its second year, an impressive line up has expanded its capacity and reputation.

Though described as an ‘art and music’ event, the site feels drab and uninspired. Some effort has been made to make the main arena- a field- feel like a festival, but more than the odd art installation is required. A ‘pop-up’ Urban Outfitters doesn’t help. Aren’t festivals an escape from such high-street normality? The painfully homogeneous crowd- students- only reinforces that feeling.

Thankfully, the music in the Resident Advisor tent goes a good way to make up for this. New York hotshot Anthony Naples kicks off Friday’s antics, making a strong selection of gritty, grooving tunes. Move D follows with a three-hour master class possible of only a true veteran. John Talabot’s closing set keeps the crowd moving until the fun is stopped by the far-too-early 2am curfew. No sunrise raving at Beacons.

Saturday’s highlights are house-revivalists Bicep and Hessle Audio big man Ben UFO. In a trademark stompy set, Bicep find the time to drop Scuba’s rave-pastiche anthem ‘NE1BUTU’. It goes off. Ben UFO’s darker cuts make for a fascinating change of tone and as the crowd lap up every pounding kick drum, there’s no need for sing-a-longs here.

Andrés and Theo Parrish embark upon a five hour journey through only the most soulful hip-hop, house and techno to close the festival on Sunday. For a very different ride, James Holden delivers his euphoric, trance-influenced progression outside on the RBMA stage. Finding an act to provide that weekend climax any better would be near impossible.

It’s clear Beacons has the music side of things sorted, but a truly great festival is a lot more than this. Bring on the day this twigs with the organisers.