Live Review: Dream State, Graphic Nature, And More – Lume Fest 2023 – Camden, London

A big talking point in the music industry over the past few years has been the lack of equal representation on festival bills around the world, so when Lume Fest was first announced with the goal of bringing a spotlight on underrepresented groups hype quickly started to build. Months had passed and it was finally time for the first edition of Lume Fest to commence in the heart of Camden Town. Here’s what went down!

As the festival organisers opened the doors to the underworld, so patrons could collect their wristbands, you could feel a sense of excitement building around Camden. Fans from around the country gathered at the home of the alternative and the first band Neversaid would take to the stage in The Camden Eye! Drawing a sizeable crowd, the rambunctious rockers brought an insanely chaotic set full of energy and passion. The Camden Eye stage would be a place for fans to discover newer artists who had a golden opportunity to grow their bands following!

This stage was full of excitement and charisma as each band brought something new to spice up the intimate stage! From the whacky yet energetic Lucky Hit to the more delicate San Demas, there was truly something for everyone in The Camden Eye. Tether had the pleasure of closing out the stage and their extremely heavy post-hardcore sound obliterated the smallest venue on the bill. As the room hit capacity, the band were in full swing and encouraged as much movement as physically possible. The walls were shaking and the floor was bouncing, what better way to celebrate the next generation of music?

For many, The Black Heart is home to Camden’s infamous music scene so what better place to host the second stage of this festival! Not only did it host some of the stand-out acts of the day, it also offered food from Ld’s Kitchen – One of London’s most flavourful and tasty plant-based eateries was the only way to fuel your day of moshing and singing! Opening this stage was Moskito who made sure those in attendance were awake and ready to give them all as they obliterated their early time slot!

Lizzy Farrall drew a massive crowd and delivered a highly energetic and memorable set that was met with nothing but positivity while Led By Lanterns brought a fancy light show to match their colourful music that filled the festival goers with joy. This stage would see Black Orchid Empire be the first of a Co-Headline bill and they did not disappoint. No-nonsense rock was met with passion from their fans and the band’s crowd only seemed to grow as their set continued. Closing out this stage was the emphatic Graphic Nature and this band needs to come with a warning! The venue hit capacity and the entire floor became a chaotic pit! The band’s gritty sound echoed around The Black Heart as even the patrons down in the bar below could see their beers slowly moving across their table as Graphic Nature’s sound devoured The Black Heart!

Right in the middle of all of this was The Underworld which was Lume Fest’s main stage. Kicking things off in a big way was the mysterious Your Misery who captured and cast a spell of charm upon the London masses. For me, the day really turned up to the next gear as Delair The Liar took to the main stage. Their sets are always full of passion and charisma but this one felt different, their sound was extremely crisp and their whole stage presence just seemed to hit a new level that I haven’t seen from them before.

This was followed by the eccentric sounds of Bambie Thug who took no prisoners as they interacted with all of their fans while strutting the stage as if they owned it! The electronic style of their music may not have been for everyone, however, those who were in the venue for them absolutely loved it and everywhere you looked you were met with a smile. Lake Malice may have genuinely stolen the whole damn festival with their action-packed set. Their energy couldn’t be matched by anyone else and they drew a massive crowd. Massive mosh pits, sing-a-longs, and controlled chaos were exactly the way to warm the festival up for the Headliner’s Dream State! As the venue started to fill with all the festival goers, Dream State took to the stage and left everything they had in the heart of Camden Town.

The band’s latest lineup changes may have left a few fans wondering what the band’s back catalogue would be like in this new era and this set would put any worries to rest. The band delivered a diverse set which mixed the band’s latest material with their earlier tracks and they seemed to fit together beautifully. This set was just as wild as anything before it as the band was met with crowd surfers, Row pits and a circle pit around The Underworld’s support pillars. As their set drew closer to an end, emotions were running high as everyone from the crew to the fans realised this would mark the end of a truly special first edition of Lume Fest.

Sometimes first-time festivals can end in disaster as in this day and age we are so used to hearing these horror stories however, the Lume Fest team have put on an event that they should be extremely proud of! Everything from the bands on the lineup to their choice of food vendors captured the heart and soul of the alternative music scene. I cannot wait to watch this festival grow and flourish! Until next time.