So Parklife is most certainly back. Yes, it was back last year too, but this time it feels different. There are no vaccine passports, no LFTs, no masks, no elbow bumping. It all feels like it was a nightmare and that ‘new normal’ that people were talking about has been truly abandoned, in favour of the old normal, which everyone liked fine.
It’s the first time at Parklife for Charlie, 23, and Aaron, 28. They’ve travelled five hours from Bournemouth and South Wales respectively, and it’s a relief to be back in a field after two years with no festivals. They know each other because they do extreme sports on horseback together. Obviously. It’s called the Mounted Games Association, and it takes them all over the world.
“We jump on and off and do stunts together,” bellows Aaron in deepest valleys brogue over Girls Don’t Sync’s garage set at, appropriately, The Valley stage. “We compete internationally, European championships. Flat out, mate. It’s just what we do.
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“We’re having a year where we’re just going to really go for it, and have a good time, like. It’s been two years since we’ve been to anything at all. We’ve missed it all so much, absolutely we have. We love it.”
Ahmed is another first-timer, and at 47, says he’s come to festivals a bit later in life. But with a golden eye transfer and a floating robe, he’s thoroughly embracing his inner rave. He’s a pharmacist from London, and his 19-year-old daughter is here - ‘somewhere’ - too. They’re hoping to meet up at Four Tet, who’s playing behind us.
“It’s my first time, I’ve heard it’s one of the best festivals, and I love dance music,” he says. “Almost everyone who I love in electronic music is here. I’m not a huge festival goer, I started late in life. My daughter is here with friends, and I hope we’re going to link up later on. I’m probably the oldest person here!”
He’s not. “It’s really great to be back in this kind of setting after the past two years,” he goes on. “Honestly, you can see people are so happy, and free and just want to have fun, it’s just fantastic.”
Kyle, 27, and Sarah, 22, meanwhile, may be among those having clocked up the biggest round trip to this corner of Heaton Park. They’re both originally from Thailand, Kyle is visiting from New York, and they’re both up for the weekend from London. Sarah has just graduated, so this is a bit of a blow out, though she has also just got from Coachella in Los Angeles.
And, judging by their fully branded gear, they’re here to see one person in particular - South Korean icon Peggy Gou (Sarah is wearing Peggy boxing shorts, and Kyle a football shirt branded Gou). “It’s fabulous,” says Sarah. “I missed this so much, walking around, no masks, enjoying the music.”
Backstage, Sacha Lord says it feels different this year too. Last year, the event went ahead, but in September, and with vaccine passports among the restrictions, not to mention a reduction in the enclosed stages.
“Last year, it was great, but you felt that everyone was a little bit tense,” he tells the M.E.N. “There was no handshaking, lots of fist bumping, and elbow bumping. I’ve been walking around all morning, and there’s people hugging. There was no hugging last year. I don’t think it was because people didn’t want to, but we’d kind of been conditioned not to.
“It doesn’t take long. But everyone seems really happy, they really do. There’s a lot of smiles out there. The vibe feels really nice.
“There are kids who have saved up and saved up to come out for this weekend, and I just hope they have an amazing time, and on Monday they go back with smiles on their faces.”
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