Festival Preview: Applecart 2012

Dave Newbury
By Dave Newbury Last edited 141 months ago
Festival Preview: Applecart 2012

After the hipster heaven of Field Day, the laid-back, family-friendly attitude of Applecart Festival is a welcome relief. You can relax with a pint and the Sunday supplements as a wonderful array of new and established bands and comedians regale you with tantalising entertainment.

Not that Applecart is a chilled day of bland acoustica. Far from it. New romance icon Adam Ant appears with his legendary dual drum stomp, while Kid Creole and the Coconuts bring excitable salsa funk to an excitable Victoria park.

The comedy line-up sees Orpington’s Josie Long sharing a stage with Shappi Khorsandi, Sean Lock and Rich Hall. It will be like living in the tellybox, but if you start seeing the QI elves it might be best to stay off the cider.

There is magic — including that man in a dragon suit Piff The Magic Dragon — cabaret from The LipSinkers and The Fabulous Russella, as well as games and a Penguin Book Tent for the kids. Add Clapham’s Venn Street Market's food vendors, and you have a great day.

We’ve selected five of the best musical acts playing on Sunday, so you have more time to just kick back and enjoy the day.

Lianne La Havas 15:10 The Applecart stage
Our One to Watch has grown from an unknown to a borderline superstar following a string of blistering live shows and TV appearances. Her forthcoming debut album, Is Your Love Big Enough, is a phenomenal achievement of mellow soul and angular folk-funk. It’s good to be proven right.

Gaz Coombes 14:00 The Applecart stage
The former Supergrass frontman has been patient in launching a solo career, but the wait was worth it. His album, Here Come The Bombs, is as refreshingly eclectic mix of disjointed electro, guitar anthems and pulsating beats. Coombes is sounding like Radiohead without the pretentions.

Scritti Politti 20:25 The Spinning Wheel stage
The post-punk legends career is almost schizophrenic, their Marxist reggae roots juxtaposing their mid-80’s synth sheen. Undoubtable, though, is Green Gartside’s ability to craft beautiful pop songs with a unique edge. This is a rare opportunity to see a genuine genius at work.

Adam Ant 20:05 The Applecart stage
Adam Ant’s come back is miraculous. His live shows have received phenomenal reviews and he’s even recorded a new album. There may be a twinge of nostalgia, but the familiar qualities of his songs, even the ones you don’t recognise at  first, quickly shine through. Ant is a spectacular showman.

Beth Jeans Houghton and the Hooves of Destiny 17:55 The Spinning Wheel stage
She may “hate London” but her outsider folk is so charmingly quirky we can forgive her. Houghton succeeded in shying from her initial limelight to return with a monumental debut album, Yours Truly, Celophone Noise. If we all cheer her enough we might just persuade her to change her opinion about our city.

Applecart Festival takes place Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets, Sunday 3 June 12pm, Tickets £45+bf through theapplecartfestival.com £35+bf.

Check out all of London’s festivals with our guides to indie and rock, dance and RnB, and commuter belt festivals.

Last Updated 01 June 2012