AT one point in their homecoming set, The K's reflected on the times when it "felt like the rug had been pulled out from under them" - yet if their Newton Music Festival gig is anything to go by, they won't be feeling like that anytime soon.
After a dizzying year that has seen the band secure a Number 3 debut album, play their biggest shows to date, and win a Breakthrough music award, they returned to perform at the revived music festival on Saturday, August 3.
As the band members have vague memories of the former Newton festival that took place around 20 years ago, the homecoming gig was always going to be special for The K's, especially as many of their lyrics reference the places where they grew up.
And as they played to a crowd full of fans, family, and friends, the set felt like a full circle moment that the band will never forget.
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With the newly-launched music festival following the ever-popular Town Show at Mesnes Park, some concerns were raised over the lack of signage and lengthy queues to collect wristbands, which impacted those who wished to catch a glimpse of all performers.
However, once inside, there was plenty of space to witness the new festival's impressive line-up, and prices at the food vans and drink stalls were reasonable compared with other festivals.
With many guests lounging in the late-afternoon sun, indie duo Asian Blonde impressed with a stripped-back set, and rapper Meduulla, complemented by a backing DJ, provided some good vibes with an upbeat blend of R'n'B and hip-hop.
The Rolling People then hit the stage with some infectious, riff-heavy tunes, and the chart-topping Lottery Winners got the crowd raring to go with their sing-a-long anthems and on-stage quips, even if they did call out crowd members for a little too long!
As the sun began to set, The K's came out on stage to rapturous applause, with many acutely aware of the significance of the set for the Earlestown four-piece.
Rattling straight into album opener 'Icarus' and crowd-pleaser 'Chancer', it was obvious that the band was determined to make the gig one to remember, and every word was lapped up and sung back by the crowd in unison.
Referencing times spent drinking cans and scoring own goals on Mesnes Park, and the times when it "felt like the rug had been pulled out from under them", the band members were often lost for words when speaking to the crowd and taking in the moment.
With mosh pits and flares igniting for heavier tracks such as Glass Towns and Black and Blue, frontman Jamie Boyle's voice particularly shone on slower numbers such as Hoping Maybe and Lights Go Down, which resulted in a thousand arms thrown around the backs of friends, family, and loved ones.
Thanking the adoring crowd and festival organisers, The K's finished with a heavy trio of Landmines, Hometown, and Sarajevo; a fitting finale as the former tracks reference these nearby places where they grew up, and the latter is the sing-a-long anthem that gave them their first leg-up into the music industry.
So in spite of some of the issues raised, the K's left the crowd only wanting more; more K's, more live music, and more Newton festivals in the years to come.
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