Lower Than Atlantis – Port Lympne

By Tom Aylott

Straight Lines

TURBOGEIST are the first band we catch of the weekend, and though full of promise, they fall a little flat and seem to have a little trouble finding their feet. Their snotty garage punk is certainly an attention grabber, but there’s plenty of work for them to do in the next year to drag in a bigger crowd.

STRAIGHT LINES certainly aren’t playing to the biggest crowd of the weekend, but the South Welsh boys never fail to deliver great entertainment – a conga line and a pile of fun later, there’s a tent full of people dissapointed they aren’t carrying on a bit longer. With the second album on the way, hopefully they’ll be much higher up the bill next time around.

CARCER CITY (left) are Friday’s big surprise. With an audience member shouting, “slap bass is shit” as the band are setting up – an amusing moment, no doubt to the band that dives head first into delivering a set full with tight musicianship and a heap of energy that brought the Front/Etnies tent to life.

The band could well be on the cusp of a big breakthrough, and with more performances like this one and it will be well deserved. Most definitely one to watch in the future.

Heading over to the Red Bull stage, DON BROCO deliver a professional albeit slightly dull performance. Sound problems took away from much of the set, but an excited crowd lifted the performance from being one of very few disappointments of the weekend. We’ll be catching them at Reading and hoping the sound does them a few favours…

A jam-packed Front/Etnies hails the arrival of LOWER THAN ATLANTIS. What followed was a chaotic, passionate and awesome set. Lower Than Atlantis owned the crowd and showed why they are fast becoming a big deal with a set consisting of big song after big song. The definite highlight of Friday, and there’s nowhere the band can go but up and and.

This year’s Hevy had entertainment spread around the stages after the main acts completed their sets. Friday’s entertainment was a live set from TEK ONE. Shockingly, live Dub-Step after a solid day of drinking is loads of fun. A nice way to end the day and a great way to guarantee a hangover on Saturday.

HENRY MCCAUGHTRIE / TOM AYLOTT

For galleries, videos and more from Hevy 2011, head to our festivals section.