Field Day 2018: Preview

With only a month to go until the London festival, we take a look at some of the not-to-be-missed acts on this year’s Field Day line-up

Preview by Nadia Younes | 02 May 2018

For the first time since its inception in 2007, Field Day is moving south to Brockwell Park in Lambeth, to make way for new festival All Points East taking over East London's Victoria Park this summer. As always, the line-up features an exciting and eclectic mix of musical acts covering a range of genres, from R’n’B, hip-hop and jazz to house and techno.

Taking place over the course of two days (Friday 1 Jun-Sat 2 Jun) and across five stages, Field Day will host UK festival exclusive performances from neo-soul singer and musical icon Erykah Badu and Swedish electronic musician Fever Ray. Elsewhere, you’ll also be able to catch the likes of Thundercat, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Four Tet (live) and many others. As well as the music, there will also be a variety of street food vendors at hand, organised by London blogger Fat Gay Vegan and South London food markets Street Feast and Venn Street Market.

Apart from the obvious must-see headlining acts, here are six of our top picks from across the rest of this year’s line-up.

Moses Sumney

LA-based musician Moses Sumney has gained a reputation as a musician’s musician over the years, guesting on Solange’s 2017 masterpiece A Seat at the Table, being selected by Beck to appear on his covers compilation Song Reader and performing with Sufjan Stevens at this year’s Oscars ceremony. His debut album Aromanticism, released September last year, is a concept album about loneliness and acceptance, layered with Sumney’s stunning soulful falsetto and otherworldly soundscapes. Fri 1 Jun, Eat Your Own Ears in association with Fader stage

Earl Sweatshirt

It’s been three years since Earl Sweatshirt released his last album I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside  – presumably he’s not been outside since this declaration – but at the end of last year the ex-Odd Future member teased us with the promise of new music in 2018 in a tweet. That music may not have surfaced quite yet, but with a string of festival appearances lined up this summer, including this one, we can only hope he’ll be throwing a few new tracks into his setlist. Sat 2 Jun, Crack stage

Princess Nokia

New York rapper Princess Nokia, real name Destiny Frasqueri, fka Wavy Spice, is one of the most important voices in hip-hop right now. Her latest mixtape, the emo-influenced, sad boy-esque A Girl Cried Red may have seen her veer off in a slightly bizarre direction, but 2017’s 1992 Deluxe was undoubtedly one of the best releases of that year. A remastered and expanded version of 2016’s 1992, the mixtape explores the many different facets of Nokia’s sound: from the fast-paced, club-heavy Tomboy to the chilled, soulful Saggy Denim. Sat 2 Jun, Crack stage

Jayda G

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more energetic DJ than Jayda G. Splitting her time between Vancouver and Berlin, as well as maintaining a hectic touring schedule, she also finds time to co-run the Freakout Cult label she founded with DJ Fett Burger. In February 2016, she put out her debut solo release Jaydaisms on the label, incorporating her wide-spanning influences into her own production. Catch a sneak peek of what to expect from her set when she plays Sub Club in Glasgow on 18 May for Bigfoot’s Tea Party’s 10th birthday celebrations. Sat 2 Jun, Bugged Out! in association with FACT stage

Cornelius

Another, slightly more low-key UK festival exclusive performance comes from Japanese multi-instrumentalist Cornelius, aka Keigo Oyamada. Following the release of his 1997 album Fantasma, Oyamada gained a reputation as a “modern-day Brian Wilson” and the “Japanese Beck,” and became one of the most sought after producers in the world. Since falling off the radar for a while though, Oyamada returned with a new Cornelius album last year, Mellow Waves. Known just as much for his live shows, which feature visuals synchronised to the performance, as well as his recorded work, you definitely won’t want to miss his set. Sat 2 Jun, Crack stage

Nabihah Iqbal

A new addition to the line-up is Ninja Tune-signed artist Nabihah Iqbal. Recently ditching her former moniker Throwing Shade to embrace her Asian-British identity, Iqbal also made another change, switching from making electronic, club-suited music to lo-fi, guitar-driven shoegaze. Iqbal’s debut album Weighing of the Heart, released at the end of last year, dives right into the deep end of synth pop, combining lots of reverb with Iqbal’s ethereal vocals to great effect. Fri 1 Jun, Printworks in association with London In Stereo stage


Field Day takes place in Brockwell Park, London, 1-2 Jun

To find out more and to see the newly-announced stage splits, visit fielddayfestivals.com