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Räfven @ the Palace

07 / 28
at 11:22 am

Toughest gig at the festival? Following Räfven’s Sunday night show at the Crystal Palace. Poor JVC Force had to play a DJ set after what was one of the most blistering performances of the weekend, complete with two encores.

It was Räfven’s eighth performance at this year’s fest. Is that a record? We used to think four shows a weekend was a big thing.

I have to admit that I was underwhelmed when I watched them first, at the Cafe de Paris. I’d been stunned by another gypsy act – Esne Beltza – and though the Swedes were entertaining and energetic, they didn’t have the benefit of the amazing woodland setting. But the Crystal Palace is perfect for this kind of show.

The first seven sets hadn’t worn them out, and had only built their reputation across the Naeba fields. The line to get in stretched halfway across the Palace field. I’d bought a sparkling wine a few minutes before the band came on. I didn’t even try to save it. The bubbles went flying across the floor, as did most of the audience. It brought back happy memories of Gogol Bordello last year, and a big anticipation for their set at Summer Sonic in a couple of weeks.

reported by don-coglione

 

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