Essex
UK
Words by Ben Knight
Photo by Jonny Urgent

As you sit on the bus amongst the hoards of Nanas’ and their shopping, streaming past the council estates of Essex, it’s hard to believe that you are on your way to one of the UK’s freshest, cutting edge festivals. This point is made even harder to believe as you stroll in the sunshine, past the families playing cricket and the petting zoo in the idyllic Hainault Park. Then bang, we are into the Offset Festival and we’re immediately hit with the luminous, keyboard slamming, scream fest that is Load. Click. Shoot! on the Last.FM Stage.

This really is a festival different to most; head-liners wandering around amongst the masses, no queues at the bar, cold beer and lemon fresh smelling port-a-loo’s including wonder of all wonders – toilet paper! I was particularly partial to the Mad Hatters stand where you can rummage through a sparkling array of random hats. My eyes darted straight to a rather fetching duck hat complete with furry beak/peak but I was foiled in gaining its possession by a quicker handed rival. Offset also included one of my classic all time favourites – Dodgems. There is nothing more immaturely satisfying than t-boning your unsuspecting younger brother as he checks out indie girls.

Offset was blessed with a glorious day on the Saturday. It was so hot, my usual dark ability to laugh at others misfortune was overridden by a tiny tinge of sympathy for the dreadlocked Goth strolling around in leather trousers. Personal highlights on the Saturday included Southampton art punks Thomas Tantrum. Elvish front woman Megan Thomas had most of the male audience (including myself) in a state of adolescent frenzy with her innocent, breathless lyrical style and skittish guitar work. Backed up by cheeky, catchy hooks and dance friendly beats from the rest of the band, Thomas Tantrum captured the mood of the afternoon in the blazing sun.

Also impressing on the main stage was the fantastic bass driven rock of the XXTeens, who most definitely appeared to be giving a lot more than the ‘extra 47%’ they said they were providing us. To make sure our dancing shoes were still fully functioning, we busted some moves to the mischievous girls from Eeek Empire before checking out the New Band Stage where the Baddies really tickled my fancy. I think in the sweltering tent and after a rip roaring rendition of their track Open One Eye they may have considered the fashion pit falls of kitting themselves out in blue shirts. This aside, I predict big things for these Essex boys with their twisty, Futureheads-esque indie rock.

Young Knives were up on the main stage in the evening and they never fail in their ability to make me laugh with their witty, sibling banter and to make me pogo with their brand of high energy, geek rock. The bands unpretentious and ad lib style probably masks hours of toil but as they blast through punchy, crowd pleasing tracks such as The Decision Weekends and Bleak Days (Hot Summer) and Turn Tail, I realise that the Young Knives give hope to every late 20s spare tyre sporting rock star wannabe. Duck hats off to you lads.

Sunday offered the yang to Saturday’s festival ying with torrential rain and a load of running Shoreditch guy-liner but this did nothing to deter from the festivals excellence. Sunday served up what felt like a both rockier and dirtier electronic affair. At the centre of this was the brilliant Last.FM tent who presented French legend and pioneer Black Devil. Who’d have thought that a man looking like an ageing Harry Potter could thump out such delicious, dark and wicked electronic music. Also on were the light bulb chested Metronomy who created the most crackling atmosphere of the weekend in the packed out tent. Choreographed dance moves and some cheap stage effects all complimented the general tomfoolery which was backed by electronic music of real style and substance. It is no surprise that Metronomy have cultivated a cult following along with their impressive remix rap sheet – which includes the likes of Gorillaz and Klaxons.

On the Guitar Hero Rock stage I was mighty impressed with Brigade who offered not only tunes of rare quality but combined it all with a tight performance, brimming with personality and confidence from frontman Will Simpson. As the torrential rain descended, The Maccabees took to the main stage. With jittering frontman Orlando Weeks doing personalised shouts between songs, to those who have supported them through their first album – they delivered a performance of genuine intimacy and brilliance that was in perfect keeping with the mood of the festival. Offset was aptly rounded off by legendary post-punk group Gang of Four, who I’m sure, were a heavy influence on many of the bands who had preceded them.

The fact that a festival like Offset can exist, just down the road from the raging corporate, juggernaut that is V festival – is a total joy. As an original Essex wide boy who has escaped to darkest East London, I felt a tinge of pride that all this could happen in my home county (a place so regularly trumpeted as the home of all things crass and un-cool). Viva la Offset.

All additional photos courtesy of the Knight brothers