SO.CO Team
Festival Report: Float Along Festival 2023
Summer is over, and it’s taken festival season with it. As Autumn get underway and winter comes ever closer, it seems a long long time before music fans can get together for days of good food, good beer and great music. But fear not, for festivals such as Sheffield’s Float Along are keeping the flame in these ever-darker months with an incredible diverse line-up for music obsessives of all ages.
Benefits @ Float Along Festival
The festival was split across three of the city’s finest venues, each with two stages to keep the line up large and varied. Starting off with the venue next to Trafalgar Warehouse’s wristband collection point / bar / incredible food van selection was Corporation, one of Sheffield’s best nightclubs which was transformed into a live music paradise.
Alaskalaska @ Float Along Festival
On the second smaller stage bands such as London’s White Devil Disco brought sleezy grungy energy to proceeding, whilst Miss Tiny captivated a crammed in crowd with hypnotic songs. The main stage birthed some intense live performances from TRAAMS and Benefits, the latter providing easily the most gut punching set of the day.
Tempesst @ Float Along Festival
A seven-minute walk through the centre of Sheffield brought you to Sidney & Matilda, a relatively new bar with a beautiful central courtyard splitting up the two rooms. In the smaller rooms Steve Lamacq made a special appearance to give the crowd recommendations for must see bands, this was followed by an atmospheric synth heavy set by Guest Singer.
Guest Singer @ Float Along Festival
Downstairs in the trippy, low ceiling main room, Alaskalaska turned the basement into a dancing sweat-fest by laying down some mean grooves. It wasn’t the last time either, as those looking for a bit of late-night action were treated to a killer set from Erol Alkan.
The Murder Capital @ Float Along Festival
The third and final venue was the iconic Leadmill, and on a week when its once again hit all the headlines it proved what a vital resource it is for Sheffield. A luscious Americana inspired set from London’s Tempesst warmed the hearts of the side room crowd. Over in the legendary main room, psych rockers Genghar blissed out the crowd with tracks for their latest album Red Sun Titans. Whilst headliners The Murder Capital proved why they are one of the county’s most exciting acts with an emotional and vital performance full of new and old cuts, what a way to end the day.
When looking for a festival to get you through the Autumn months, you can’t do much better than Sheffield’s Float Along.
Words and photos: Robert Barrett