While not an ideal start weather-wise, the ominous dark skies surrounding the Woodlands at Dover Downs did not deter thousands of excited festival goers. Music fans flocked to the scene of another great summer festival kick off exuberant with the promise of a great weekend filled with a variety of great bands and festival activities. .
Any campers who came to the area 24 hours before the official festival kick off were in for the special treat of campground HUB prequel performances from POWERS, Arkells and Robert DeLong. Anyone new to the festival grounds on Thursday could note that Red Frog Events’ new ten year lease of the property was already benefiting both spectators and artists alike, as the roads and pathways were relatively mud free (due to the work to actively drain the area) – a stark comparison to last year at the same time when mud was so common that it caused an area-wide buy-out of rain boots. Rain boots were spotted here and there, worn by a few who remembered last year’s mud-filled obstacle course which were the Firefly pathways.
Overall, everyone was in good spirits, as many small opening bands started to play to the ever growing crowd. By the time Arkells hit the stage at 6:30, the party atmosphere had contagiously spread, fueled by the positivity of the band lead by front man, Max Kerman. They filled the area surrounding the expansive Lawn Stage with their alternative rock music paired with entertaining and comedic commentary. “Now you might think this next song is about me finding God,” Kerman explained to the crowd, “but really it’s about friendship and a friend of mine named Pete”. With that the band headed into “A Little Rain (A Song for Pete)”. The song, with its upbeat sound and message, set a great pace for the entire night, speaking to the souls of everyone around, comforting them that even though it may rain it wasn’t going to ruin the weekend. The dynamic performance continued on, as the band introduced a medley of crowd-requested Elton John songs including “Benny and the Jets”. They ended their set with their popular hit, “Leather Jacket”, Kerman commenting “who the hell uses the pay phone anymore?!”
The Backyard Stage, that is located on the other side of a large tree line of its twin counterpart The Lawn Stage, featured two dynamic one-man-bands, Jack Garratt and Robert DeLong. Singer-songwriter Jack Garratt’s smoky vocals were as infectious as his percussive drumming. Robert DeLong’s enthusiasm and energy were on full display as the artist effortlessly moved from keyboards, samplers, drums and a rare performance on guitar.
Deeper into the festival grounds, the Pavilion Stage was the scene for futuristic BOT, electronic Kittens and eclectic Whilk & Misky to inspire dancing amongst the crowds. Whilk & Misky, a duo based out of London, is as different sounding as their name implies, an intriguing mix of Techno, Folk, Electronica and the Blues.
Opening night headliner Two Door Cinema Club came onto the stage swinging, performing many of their hits including “What You Know” and “Changing of the Seasons”. The Irish indie rock trio’s set was loaded with crisp vocals, down to earth lyrics, pulsating beats and synth-pop soundscapes.
Like dipping your toes into the pool, the shorter opening night of Firefly once again was an excellent warm-up for a big weekend of music when all seven stages crank up for the first full day of music on Friday.
All seven stages were cranked up for the first full day of music on Friday. Access at Dover Downs International Speedway for the festival at The Woodlands is surprisingly hassle free for music fans who are staying off-site or going just for a single day. It is refreshing to see a festival that still has plenty of free on-site parking.
The first stage inside the gates is The Lawn Stage, and the smooth sounds of Australian folk rock band Boy and Bear greeted the many music fans still streaming into the venue at 2:15; two hours after the music kicked off with sets by Teen Men and The Shelters. The weather could not be more perfect for a festival gathering, clear blue skies and not a drop of the rain many still expected to see from an earlier forecast. Next up, The Heydaze performed a set of guitar heavy anthems mixed with pop hooks and danceable beats on one of the festival’s smaller stages.
Southern Californian progressive pop band Saint Motel raised the energy level on the massive Firefly Stage, the festival’s main performance area located at the furthest reaches of the property. Oftentimes described as dream-pop, Saint Motel was worth the walk, playing the well known whimsical melodies of “My Type” and “Puzzle Pieces”. Keyboard heavy tunes drifted over the crowd from the large orange tiger piano hammered out by A/J Jackson further enhanced the summer dream atmosphere.
Back on The Lawn Stage, Guster’s set really shined, particularly when the whole group sang together as they ran through a set spanning their long career. The bleed over of sound from the nearby Backyard Stage of Vince Staples set was more than a little noticeable and was often distracting.
Fitz and the Tantrums’ set, later on in the afternoon, was nothing short of explosive. The energy and chemistry of vocalists Michael Fitzpatrick and Noelle Scaggs is amazing and they front a super tight band. The band introduced songs from their newly released self titled album such as “Complicated” and “Burn It Down”, as well as playing hits off previous albums such as “Moneygrabber” and “Out Of My League”. Fast paced “Complicated” was finished off with an unexpected and phenomenal saxophone solo by James King. The band ended their set on a high note, the catchy opening notes of “The Walker” bringing cheers from the crowd. Overall a very satisfying set for thousands of fans surrounding the stage and a great sampling of the band’s extensive song collection.
Of Monsters and Men, scheduled at the same time as Flogging Molly on a nearby stage, brought in a larger crowd, but the smaller flock was noticeably more exuberant for the Irish-American Celtic Punk band fronted by Dublin Ireland’s Dave King who dedicated “Whistles the Wind” for the people of Orlando. The powerful performance included everything we’ve come to expect from the Irish punk rock band blending both acoustic and electric instruments and included upbeat notes from accordion and banjo. Back on the Of Monsters and Men stage, the Icelandic band were noticeably right at home on the festival stage and powered through a lively performance including hits such as “Dirty Paws” and “Little Talks”. By the end of both sets, the weather turned cooler as many of the festival goers started wandering back up to the main stage to catch Ellie Goulding’s main stage performance.
Australian psychedelic rock band Tame Impala performed a crushing set that featured fantastic lights and confetti cannons that further created a psychedelic experience. The band left their guitars in the racks, including front man Kevin Parker who concentrated on vocals for a keyboard heavy “The Moment”.Other highlights of the set included “Why Won’t They Talk to Me?” and their big hit “Elephants” that erupted an explosive reaction from the crowd.
Redemption for Kings of Leon and for their fans came Friday night as the headlining set they were slated to perform last year was cancelled during the mass evacuation from a powerful storm. The emotions of every song poured out of lead vocalist guitarist Caleb Followill during a stirring set. They began with the powerful “Crawl” and the energy remained at a high level with “Notion” and “Molly Chambers”. The band switched gears to a slower grind with “Back Down South” and “Milk”. The band’s big radio hit from 2010 “Pyro” received an expected big reaction from the crowd. The set ended with a pounding version of “Black Thumbnail”. Kings of Leon returned to perform “Radioactive” and “Sex on Fire” as an encore.
It was another phenomenal festival day with good music and vibes shining through each performance. While the seven stage festival grounds allow for much in the way of musical offerings you should be sure to have your most comfortable shoes at Firefly, as there is a lot of walking (and sometimes running) required to see as much music as you can.
Photos by ALive Coverage
