InsideOut festival presented York with a diverse selection of bands and DJs against a family friendly backdrop of real ales and fairground rides.
Although all of the acts were excellent, it was predictably the two headliners who had the biggest impact, with BBC 6 Music presenter Craig Charles dominating with his DJ set, while noughties indie trio Young Knives attracted a younger crowd with their energy and enthusiasm.
The Young Knives played a selection of new and old, although the best crowd reaction always came from the songs released during the indie-rock heyday of last decade. ‘Weekends and Bleakdays’ proved to be immensely popular, a promising sign that good old-fashioned guitar rock still has a place in today’s dubstep-oriented musical landscape.
As a long-time listener of his 6 Music funk and soul show, it was a pleasure to see Craig Charles bring every ounce of energy and joy his shows are known for to this small field in Askham Bryan. With a set heavily featuring remixes of funk and soul classics (find ‘The Reflex’ on SoundCloud for a taster), Craig teased the audience with his chopped and changed edits of the tracks we know and love.
When the chorus to ‘Play That Funky Music White Boy’ finally arrived after ten minutes of tantalising hints, the crowd of hipster parents, excitable children and drunk students hit the roof. His set was a panoramic view of all things funk and soul from the last forty years, with true classics and unknown gems cropping up throughout.
InsideOut managed to provide entertainment for a large cross-section of York’s residents without compromising on quality or diversity, a feat made more impressive by the fact that this was its first year. It is easy to see InsideOut becoming an annual highlight of York’s ever-growing musical calendar.