The Quietus - A new rock music and pop culture website

The Spotify Playlist

The Quietus Field Day Festival Preview & Spotify Playlist
The Quietus , July 28th, 2009 10:53

It's a palava in Viccy park this weekend as Field Day returns. Tom Baker chats, and we present a Spotify playlist

The Quietus is checking Metcheck (current prediction - damp before the gates open, alright after) and wondering what sort of footwear will be most suitable at this weekend's Field Day caper in East London's Victoria Park as we enjoy a pot shot on the air rifle stand and enjoy the sounds of Skream, Wild Beasts, The Horrors, The Thing, Mogwai and more.

Although there have been issues in the past with the ratio of booze pourers to booze consumers, and afterwards with processed booze dribblers to dribble receivers, organisers Eat Your Own Ears insist things will be different this time around. We hooked up with organiser Tom Baker to find out more.

How's the Field Day preparations going? What's the most important last minute thing you have to do?

Going well thanks. The production guys are on site now, the fence is going up, marquees are being set up, signs being written. All coming together, main stage comes in on Monday, so lots going on already. We will be twittering from site as things happen... We are just finalising the programme design, and I'm just proofing that.

How will this year's Field Day be different from previous years?

Slightly bigger site design, bigger main stage and new sound systems in all areas. A new market brought to you by Sourced Market, which has some brilliant food options all locally sourced from markets around London, a new Cabaret tent hosted by Time Out magazine and Eat Your Heart Out and the Take Courage gallery. Some different activities as part of the Village Green Village Mentality area… so some great exciting new additions to Field Day 2009.

There's been criticism in the past because of a lack of loos and low sound levels. Have there been further changes this year to assuage people's concerns?

We have been working with sound consultants Vanguardia to try and get the the best levels we possibly can. Vanguardia have worked across live music from Wembley Stadium gigs, to major tours, to V Festival to the Download festival and are very well regarded within the business. As the organisers we're always working hard to get the shows to sound as good as we possibly can. This year, we've been working very closely with the councils in the area to look at ways we can improve noise levels for guests at our events without rattling the windows of our local neighbours around the park. We've made some good progress together and have had limits on some levels lifted as a result. And this is the second year Ear To The Ground (the production company are running Field Day) are on board, so they have been very careful to make sure all elements of the site are what is needed and beyond for our capacity.

How do you go about booking the acts?

I tend to book the acts based on what I like and what I think works musically and also provides a varied and diverse line up, from folk acts like James Yorkston to electronica from Fennesz and Four Tet to wall of sound pop from The Big Pink.

The Quietus was pleased to be victorious on the air rifle stall last year. Are you proud to be a fete that doesn't tamper with the sights?

Oh yes, very excited about the Village Mentality area this year, we have an Onion Peeling contest, Make do and Mend craft activities and a Human Fruit Machine... so lots going on check it all out here.

What acts are you most looking forward to?

Toumani Diabate, Mogwai, The Big Pink, Final Fantasy, Fennesz, Audion, The Horrors on the main stage... Santigold... loads really. I'll try and see as much as I can.

What are your plans for Field Day over the next few years?

Book exciting line ups and perhaps do it somewhere abroad as well... Be nice to go somewhere hot.

Listen to the Quietus Field Day Preview Spotify Playlist

Final Fantasy - 'This Lamb Sells Condos'
Wild Beasts - 'Hooting & Howling'
Errors - 'Songos Ya Mongos!'
Sian Alice Group - 'Way Down Under'
Micachu & The Shapes - 'Calculator'
Fanfarlo - 'Sand And Ice'
Malcolm Middleton - 'Solemn Thirsty'
The Thing - 'Snusvisan'
The Big Pink - 'An Introduction To Awareness'
The Horrors - 'Who Can Say'
Ballake Sissoko feat. Toumani Diabate - 'Kanou'
Skream - 'Irie'
Four Tet - 'This Is Six Minutes'
Mogwai - 'My Father My King'