The sun-kissed fields of Deepdale played host to a star-studded lineup of 90s and 2000s acts, bringing the curtain down on the summer season in style. As a 21-year-old, I was excited to experience the nostalgia-fueled extravaganza, and I wasn’t disappointed.
The festival kicked off with Travis, who brought their signature blend of Britpop and indie-rock to the stage. Frontman Fran Healy’s warm and witty banter had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand, and their setlist was a masterclass in crowd-pleasing. From the opening chords of “Sing” to the anthemic closer “Why Does it Always Rain on Me?”, Travis proved why they’re one of the most beloved bands of the past two decades.
Next up was Shaznay Lewis, the former All Saints star, who brought her own brand of sass and style to the stage. Her set was a masterclass in showcasing her impressive vocal range and songwriting skills, and her chemistry with the crowd was undeniable. She performed a range of hits, including “Never Ever” and “Bootie Call”, and even threw in a few surprises, including a cover of Destiny’s Child’s “Say My Name”.
Pixie Lott was the perfect act to follow, bringing her signature blend of pop and rock to the stage. Her high-energy performance had the crowd dancing and singing along, and her setlist was a greatest hits package that left everyone wanting more. She performed a range of hits, including “Mama Do” and “Boys and Girls”, and even threw in a few new tracks, including her latest single “Breakthrough”.
But the real highlight of the day was Craig David, who brought his smooth vocals and effortless charm to the stage. His set was a masterclass in crowd-pleasing, with hits like “Fill Me In” and “7 Days” getting the crowd singing along. And in a surprise move, he debuted his new song “Your Hands”, which had the crowd in raptures.
The Sugababes were the perfect act to follow, bringing their signature blend of pop and R&B to the stage. Their set was a greatest hits package that left everyone wanting more, and their encore performance of “Push the Button”, “Round Round”, and “About You Now” was the perfect way to cap off the day. The crowd was singing along to every word, and the girls’ harmonies were as tight as ever.
Sting was the headlining act of the day, and he brought his signature blend of rock and reggae to the stage. His set was a masterclass in showcasing his impressive vocal range and songwriting skills, and his chemistry with the crowd was undeniable. From the opening chords of “Message in a Bottle” to the anthemic closer “Roxanne”, Sting proved why he’s one of the most beloved artists of all time.
The second day of the festival was marked by rain, but the crowd and the acts didn’t let it dampen their spirits. Haircut 100 kicked off the day with their 1980s-inspired sound, bringing a sense of nostalgia to the stage. Their set was a greatest hits package that left everyone wanting more, and their encore performance of “Favourite Shirts” and “Love Plus One” was the perfect way to cap off the morning.
Delta Goodrem was the perfect act to follow, bringing her own brand of pop and rock to the stage. Her high-energy performance had the crowd dancing and singing along, and her setlist was a greatest hits package that left everyone wanting more. She performed a range of hits, including “Born to Try” and “Innocent Eyes”, and even threw in a few new tracks, including her latest single “Sitting on Top of the World”.
Paul Heaton and Rianne Downey were the perfect act to follow, bringing their own brand of pop and rock to the stage. Their set was a masterclass in showcasing their impressive vocal range and songwriting skills, and their chemistry with the crowd was undeniable. From the opening chords of “Happy Hour” to the anthemic closer “The Day We Caught the Train”, Paul Heaton and Rianne Downey proved why they’re one of the most beloved duos of the past two decades.
The next three acts, Shed Seven, Gabrielle, and Sister Sledge, brought big hits and suited the vibe of the audience perfectly. Shed Seven’s set was a greatest hits package that left everyone wanting more, Gabrielle’s soulful vocals brought the house down, and Sister Sledge’s disco-infused set had the crowd dancing and singing along.
The Manic Street Preachers closed out the festival with a powerful performance, bringing their signature blend of rock and punk to the stage. Their set was a masterclass in showcasing their impressive vocal range and songwriting skills, and their chemistry with the crowd was undeniable. From the opening chords of “A Design for Life” to the anthemic closer “If You Tolerate This Then Your Children Will Be Next”, the Manic Street Preachers proved why they’re one of the most beloved bands of the past two decades.
Finally, the Pet Shop Boys brought the curtain down on the festival with a synth-heavy set, evoking the recurring 80s nostalgia that the crowd was craving. Their set was a greatest hits package that left everyone wanting more, and their encore performance of “Go West” and “It’s a Sin” was the perfect way to cap off the weekend.
Overall, the festival was an amazing weekend of music, with not one poor act, a fantastic crowd, and a shed (seven) load of mud! It was the perfect way to bring the curtain down on the summer season, and I’m already counting down the days until next year’s festival.
As I left the festival grounds on Sunday evening, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over me. The music, the atmosphere, the mud – it was all just so perfect. And as I looked back at the sea of happy faces, I knew that this was a weekend that I would never forget.
The festival may have been over, but the memories will live on forever. And as I made my way back to my tent, I couldn’t help but wonder what next year’s lineup would bring. Would it be more 90s and 2000s acts, or would they mix things up with some newer talent? Whatever it is, I’ll be there, ready to dance, sing along, and get my mud on.