The Hampshire coast has once again welcomed the return of Victorious Festival, which continues to cement itself as the UK’s biggest metropolitan festival with success year on year.
The three-day weekend consistently plays host to an impressive array of musical talent, spanning the breadth of everything from rock & roll and indie-rock, to dance acts and pop talents, all which captivate great crowds. Alongside the music, attendees can explore the diverse range of stalls & vendors, comedy sets, and local attractions along the seafront, with many hidden gems found right through the enormous festival site. As Victorious enters its 13th year in 2024, it promises to be the biggest and best yet, highlighted further with the return of the popular Seaside Stage. Crowds eagerly flocked in their masses down to Southsea Common for the beginning of their unforgettable weekend, ready to see what Friday had in store across all 13 stages.
Although it was still early in the day, time didn’t deter those streaming through the gates, many smiling and brimming with anticipation as they first entered; the beautiful afternoon sunshine was a bonus for Friday’s festivalgoers. Many towards the front of the Common Stage had already settled in, eagerly waiting for that one chart-topping performance at quarter-to-five; I’m talking about Louis Tomlinson, of course! In the meantime, there was plenty to enjoy whilst waiting as Pacific Avenue opened the Common Stage just after noon before afternoon headliners Razorlight continued the entertainment at quarter-past-one to an immense crowd. The four-piece excelled onstage throughout and hearing their classic indie-rock outfit live was delightful; many of their guitar solos were particularly remarkable. With emerging and established talent spread across the site, Friday was off to a flyer!
You couldn’t have asked for better weather to kick off the bank holiday weekend, and as people continued to pour in, the array of outfits, merchandise, and costumes on display was quite amusing. The Castle Stage, stood adjacent to Southsea Castle, was soon a focal point as Nieve Ella danced her way onstage for yet another encouraging live performance. This was her final UK festival appearance of the year before supporting ‘Girl in Red’ across Europe through the autumn. Nieve shook things up by adding the divine Sweet Nothings and latest release Ganni Top to her set, both a real treat for her surrounding audience.
Wrexham quartet The Royston Club were next to erupt onstage to a much bigger crowd who would soon be sent into total frenzy. Opening with their latest single, Patch Where Nothing Grows, the group continued to pull off a stellar showcase of their pacey indie rock soundtrack. Hit number Mrs. Narcissistic was a standout of their performance too, with the dedicated fans loud in response and others dancing with their friends. The band have a run of some huge shows coming up in November, and their Victorious performance was the perfect warm-up. The Common Stage was still full of life too, as Sheffield’s very own, The Sherlocks, were on at half-past-three, a welcome replacement for The Snuts who sadly couldn’t perform. It was a great advert for their work and reflected well upon the sunny atmosphere set across the arena.
One of the weekends biggest crowds came late on Friday afternoon at the Common Stage, where thousands gathered to witness the award-winning singer-songwriter, and one-fifth of previous global phenomena One Direction, Louis Tomlinson, who amazed Southsea with his UK festival debut. Fans were fully immersed in the moment, whether swaying to the chorus of Bigger Than Me, or singing aloud to Drag Me Down. Finishing on the uplifting Silver Tongues, from his 2022 record Faith in the Future, was triumphant and will live long in the memory for sure. It was a defining performance of the weekend which saw out most of the afternoon sunshine.
Friday kept getting better for festivalgoers, as while many including myself opted to grab some food and relax ahead of the evening’s entertainment, others came together to see The Lottery Winners dazzle the Castle Stage and Idles unleash a stormy yet commanding blockbuster on the Common Stage. Friday happened to be vocalist Joe Talbot’s birthday, and he made sure the crowd joined him in a post-punk-rock celebration as the daylight slowly faded.
As the sun set over Southsea Common, a palpable sense of excited anticipation filled the air as Snow Patrol prepared to hit the stage. The Northern-Ireland natives opened with You’re All I Have to resounding reception, and it was clear they would deliver. Their set was a treasure trove of tracks spanning all six of their records, with fan favourites like Run, Chocolate, and the iconic Chasing Cars making it a euphoric experience to see out any remaining daylight. Portsmouth was also treated with cuts from their upcoming release, The Forest is the Path, with new tracks like The Beginning winning over dedicated fans up front. Their performance was a magical way to precede Friday’s headliners.
The biggest seaside party of the year erupted at the Common Stage as Grammy & Brit award-winning producer & DJ Fatboy Slim cranked up the energy to an all-time high! His electrifying set was packed full of belters like Praise You and Right Here, Right Now, while confetti and pyro made it a poignant moment for those watching on. The decorated DJ showed exactly why he’s considered music royalty, and the crowd, some of whom had met him earlier in the day down at the Pitt St stall, didn’t stop moving for a minute. Fireworks lit up the night to make it one of the sets of the weekend.
While Slim sent The Common into delirium, many flocked to the Castle Stage for world-renowned popstar Jess Glynne and her shiny suitcase of hits, one of which you’ve definitely heard while stepping off a plane. For those seeking something different, the Introducing Stage highlighted Manchester’s latest musical export, The Covasettes, who lured in festivalgoers with their indie-infused showstopper. Friday set the bar high, and everyone was ready to do it all over again.
Festival goers arrived in Portsmouth on Saturday to a stark contrast from the day before: miserable weather and wet, muddy ground. Despite the dreary conditions, attendees proudly arrived in their colourful ponchos, coats, and wellies ready for another enjoyable day of music. A little rain wasn’t going to dampen their spirits!
Despite a smaller crowd for Cameron Hayes as she opened the Common Stage just after noon, the Castle Stage was packed an hour later with fans eagerly awaiting the weekend’s ‘Secret Set.’ The surprise was none other than Gen Z sensations Busted! The noughties legends kept the momentum soaring amid torrential rain which wasn’t enough to send anyone running for cover. With anthems like Airhostess, What I Go to School For, and the timeless Year 3000, the crowd sang along ecstatically to every word. There really was something so special about dancing in the rain to one of your favourite bands, even if you were soaked through after.
The rain gradually eased and many, me included, emerged from cover to catch the final few tracks from Tom Walker, who’s crisp and composed vocals fascinated the dampened Common Stage crowd. At half-past two, Pompey’s own Crystal Tides hit the stage ready to lift spirits and showcase their riveting indie-rock outfit to a local audience. The quintet, another promising act off the Fitz Promotions roster, delivered a cool and confident set; lead singer Billy Gregory shared his aspiration to headline Victorious one day, a dream which seems entirely within reach with the way these guys are performing.
Now the rain had fully passed it was a pleasantly bright afternoon. Australian duo Royel Otis entertained the Castle Stage just after 3pm, delivering an all-electro-alt rock set that included a charming cover of Linger by The Cranberries. Fresh off the back of her supporting role at Taylor Swift’s ‘The Eras Tour,’ Holly Humberstone graced the Common Stage with a sweet selection of tracks including Into Your Room and Dive in her final show of the summer. It was a lovely way for festivalgoers to enjoy the now settled weather, even if it was still a little muddy. One of the stages tucked away among the stalls and food stands is the Under the Trees stage, which hosted Liverpudlian singer-songwriter Michael Aldag just before six. He brought his charismatic indie pop to life, complete with bubbles eliciting Oohs and Ahs, a gorgeous cover of Coldplay’s Sparks, and a guitarist urgently needing the toilet. Aldags set had it all. It was a fantastic Saturday afternoon with something for everyone.
As evening settled in and another heavy rain cloud passed over Southsea, The Lathums took to the Common Stage, keeping spirits high with their country rock & roll soundscape. The band members played around various plants and greenery scattered across their stage setup and threw the excitable crowd into hits including Fight On, and a new single No Direction. Their set closed to the backdrop of a spectacular sunset over the coast. While many gathered for pop icons Sugarbabes over by the Castle Stage, modern indie legends Courteeners ripped through a summer defining performance on the Common. Crowds bounced along to classics like Are You in Love with a Notion? and shared tender moments during a heartfelt rendition of Madness’ It Must Be Love too. Their set culminated with one of the biggest summer anthems, Not Nineteen Forever, against a setting of dusky, lambent orange sky which had lit up before nightfall. It was undoubtably one of the weekends standout moments.
Headlining Saturday night was acclaimed singer-songwriter Jamie T, who entertained the thousands who chose his set over Pixies, who simultaneously rocked the Castle Stage. He tossed us into his satisfying, swaggering performance stuffed with signature fast-paced lyrical flows and standout hits like Sticks ’N’ Stones and Sheila. Jamie’s set was a testament to his enduring success and effortlessly amused the Saturday night crowd. Closing with Zombie amplified the animated audience and left many longing for more as they headed into the night, itching for the festival’s final day.
All-too soon was it Sunday, offering festivalgoers’ one final chance to enjoy the fabulous live music on offer. Victorious 2024 had certainly faced its share of the unpredictable British weather, and Sunday was no exception, with a brisk and often chilly wind sweeping through the festival grounds.
After a decent turnout for Common Stage opener Brooke Combe, tens of thousands descended to see afternoon headliners The Kooks deliver their summery set. Despite the windy conditions, vocalist Luke Pritchard powered through to treat his crowd to beloved hits like Ooh La and Bad Habit with Arlo from Isle of Wight band The Missing joining on guitar. The audience roared along to Naive, and there was something truly special about hearing Seaside played right by the Southsea seafront.
A quick dash across to the Castle Stage brought us to 2024’s ‘Road to Victorious’ winner, Harvey Jay-Dodgson, whose summer of performing reached the ultimate climax. The Portsmouth singer-songwriter effortlessly captivated his audience, with a dedicated following chanting along down the front and many surrounding spectators enjoying the music too. His vocals were on top form, and he delivered numerous hits like Alligator and For the Love of It all with such astounding professionalism. It was a monumental moment in his career without a doubt.
The afternoon rolled on with Natasha Bedingfield bringing her ‘Song of the Year’ contender Unwritten to life at the Common Stage, met with a loud reception and seamless enthusiasm. Meanwhile, The Hunna rocked the Castle Stage with their rhythmic hits, including fan favourite Shes Casual which never disappoints live. Sunday was packed with highlights, so whether you were supporting the incredible emerging talents on the Casemates Introducing Stage or enjoying the established acts on the main stages, the magic of Victorious was found everywhere you turned.
Yard Act hit the Common Stage around late afternoon, offering attendees a lively alternative rock & roll set before grabbing a bite to eat before James Bay. The singer-songwriter and guitarist expertly executed a laid-back set, blending upbeat tunes with mellow tracks as his hair danced in the wind. His hat’s ongoing battle with the breeze kept the crowd entertained, anticipating the next big gust to send it flying. Platinum award-winning single Hold Back the River had everyone chiming along and was the perfect lead-in for the evening’s big hitters.
From the moment the backing music faded, it took merely minutes for Victorious to be sent into a disco frenzy for dance sensation Becky Hill. She wasted no time in emphatically sending Portsmouth into a whole different genre of music and the heart of her formidable, infectious anthems at such an unstoppable pace. It was one hit after another, from the rave classics like Afterglow, to fresh cuts from her new record like Right Here; the crowd had no choice but to keep dancing the night away. Hill was everything Victorious wanted on their final night, and so much more.
All-too soon had Victorious reached its final sets of the weekend. Many chose Isle of Wight duo Wet Leg over at the Castle Stage, while thousands assembled for Scottish rock trio, Biffy Clyro. A light drizzle began to fall, prompting ponchos and coats to appear instantly and turning the headline set into a scene straight from a movie.
Their set was nothing short of spectacular, blending raw energy, emotion and musical prowess which resonated so closely with the crowd. After launching with The Captain, the arena was hooked. Their ability to oscillate between heavy rock anthems and melodic, introspective numbers kept fans enthralled, with songs like Rearrange, Mountains and closing hit Many of Horror evoking powerful sing-alongs and fireworks. Their newer material demonstrated their evolving sound, while the intricately stunning visuals enhanced the experience for all. Their authenticity and passion shone throughout, making it clear why they’ve cemented themselves in the top-tier of UK rock bands. Crowds were sent towards the exits reflecting on a breathtaking final day of music, and already looking ahead to next summer.
Victorious Festival once again secured its status as one of the leading metropolitan weekend music festivals in the country. The entire weekend was loaded with excitement, showcasing the best in live music, comedy, and local talent. Here’s to many more unforgettable moments along the seafront next summer!
Words by Kieran Tibbert and Hannah Kenyon
Images provided by Hannah Kenyon and Strong Island Media / Victorious Festival
