Photo Credit: Press
Words: Skye Whitfield

Personal standout performances included The Royston Club, Scissor Sisters, K-Klass, Andrew Cushin, Park View, Elvana, TopLoader and Olly Murs. The weekend was filled with music that everyone could enjoy and is not something that you want to miss!

Charlie Floyd commences the weekend with some easy listens on the Main Stage, an indie opener perfect for a festival setting. With this not being his first rodeo at the North-East festival, the comfortability on stage is noticeable and admirable, Hardwick definitely know how to pick their openers!

Walking around the festival, food and entertainment vendors line the outskirts of the site with a bubbling atmosphere and tasty aroma, with guests taking an interest and being scattered across the grass with various items that they bought. After a quick pit stop at the Boogie Wonderland Stage to enjoy some ABBA classics, Rianne Downey brings a country-twang to the main stage. With that Scottish charm she attracts a crowd, festival-goers sit on the field with open ears to enjoy her talented musicality in the sun.

The Royston Club are welcomed to stage with cheers, powering through their set with a poise only achievable with the knowingness gained from their album shows only a week before. “Royston” is chanted enthusiastically by fans between song intervals with a purpose which is bantered back by their lead singer, making it known just who are inhabitanting the Hardwick main stage.

As the cool air flows through the crowd gathered at the front, black and pink shirts litter the barricade in uniform as The K’s march to the mics. A perfectly indie band with passion is only one way to describe them and their stage presence. They’re splitting the internet’s opinions like marmite on toast, but it’s clear that they’ve worked hard to be where they are, and that’s something you can’t fault.

Taking a break for food, we checked out the treehouse stage and saw a portion of Abel as he provided some house tunes fit for a celebration. We shortly made our way back to the main stage to hear The K’s last two songs before Sam Ryder brought the Eurovision quality performance to Hardwick. The skill of handling a guitar issue without letting it affect the energy of the performance is something Ryder has no trouble with. His musicality shone through his set with a spark that no one could dim, a bright smile permanently etched onto his face. Playing with the crowd by getting them to sing with him back and forth with his originals and a cover, holding out his most popular song for a crescendo.

Scissor Sisters brought camp to Hardwick, with enough sensuality and vulnerability for the crowd to get behind. Glitter, feathers and sparkles blur the stage in expressive joy as the crowd sings the words back with a pep to their step. A mix of soulful jazz pop and disco blares out in an intoxicating rhythm, pulsating throughout the crowd as they move to the beat.

Packing out the treehouse arena with ease, Definitely Oasis cure everyone’s Oasis fomo with an imitation that any indie festival lover would be all over. Making our way to the Courtyard for some house fillers, Mark Hutchinson brings ibiza classics to the North East with vibrant strobes and sunny weather, the tent fills up with two steps and good vibes.

Venturing over to Main Stage, The Clause are certainly ones to watch, arms go up as the crowd enjoys the music. Indie bangers back to back with an effortless edge that’s distinctive and enticing for those who haven’t heard of them before.

Hidden in trees, the Into the Woods stage fills up quickly as K-Klass’ first set of the day closes in, festival-goers clad with a drink in hand patiently wait for the music to commence once again. Accompanied by a man with bongos, K-Klass draws a crowd who are up for it, buzzing with a palpable energy.

Andrew Cushin fills the main stage with a Geordie vigour, with members of the crowd chanting out Newcastle postcodes between songs. As it was not being his first time at the festival, there’s a knowingness that he exempts, charming the festival with ease and putting on a stellar performance that’s turned me into a fan! With the amazing Johnny Bond also being a part of his performing crew, the talent standard was high, but make no mistake, Cushin drew that crowd off his own musical capabilities.

Melon Bomb has the crowd moving in delight as he brings more house classic to the Courtyard with a stylish swagger you can’t help but move along to. The Lathums hit the main stage with a well-approved status, belting out tunes that were easy on the ears and as the sun was setting, provided a soundtrack to the night turning darker.

Bringing the RnB vibes to the Treehouse Arena, Rio Sterling sang his heart out as he encouraged the crowd to come closer and dance with the music, he definitely caught our attention. With a queue down into the bar area, the Into the Woods stage was a saught after spot for house music lovers. Sunglasses on and arms in the air, the crowd fed off the energy that Jeremy Healy’s set provided and bounced along with their friends and strangers alike.

Pet Shop Boys descended onto the main stage as the final act of the night, the screen rose in parallel with the instrumental as the crowd cheered in anticipation. Clad in tall black masks, the show starts off with a slower track to gauge the gathering and then they began to charge through a setlist of the newest and most loved tracks.

Diago start off the final day on the Treehouse Stage with a perfect sound for the weather, gaining a crowd that basks in the warm weather, they play song-to-song with charisma which demands attention.

Following on soon after on the same stage, Park View take the stage and prove why they deserved the spot. Having seen them earlier in the month, the Hardwick set was nothing short of impressive, with heads bopping along from the minute they started.

Elvana, clad in black and white outfits, showcase their musicality as they belt out each track. With their lead singer wearing an elvis-like outfit to help ensure the crowd knows one of the acts they’d be covering, he’s like a magnet to a music lover. Their stage presence is addicting as they sure know how to entertain their crowd. He gets amongst the crowd, serenading those who catch his eye and letting out humoured remarks to make people laugh.

Sunday seems to be the day to jump, with acts from the main stage successfully getting the crowd to bounce with the music, a likeliness to a pied piper of sorts. Scouting For Girls are next up, an indie act that fills everyone’s playlists due to their hit songs and capability to turn every stage into their own. Tracks play out as the sun glares down on the festival, but that doesn’t bother anyone as they continue to sing along.

Toploader overtake the Treehouse stage half way through the day, with loud drum fills and skilful keyboard plays to accompany their set. The crowd soon gathers and packs out the grassy area as everyone dances along, giving the band their claps of approval. The speaker sends waves of enticing sounds across the festival as Toploader perform songs new and old. Noting their four albums in 25 years, their lead singer announces casually that they’re working on their next album before powering into a new track, fresh for Hardwick festival’s ears.

Tom Walker brings his powerhouse vocals to the main stage, standing in the centre he belts out each song and awes his listeners. Ballad after ballad, the songs roll in with a pull on your heartstrings as if your heart is an instrument within his band.

Olly Murs struts onto stage as the ending of the weekend looms over, set to bring nostalgia to life as he takes us through over ten years worth of his discography. As an act who soundtracked many people’s adolescent and young adult years, Olly Murs has the crowd in the palm of his hand as they sing the words back with joyful expressions.