You’d be forgiven for thinking the equation of gay boys in barely-there short shorts and tit slings, plus a rain-soaked, mud-logged field in East London would equal hideous carnage. You couldn’t be further from the truth, son. Despite several pairs of trainers blatantly being flung in the trash come Sunday night, the day’s entertainment was a delightful, sensory overload of top acts, ice-cool club brands and a plethora of guys and gals eagerly sucking on the Lovebox party teat.
After the initial deluge of rain, which prompted hilarious, queenish screams and a mass exodus from the great outdoors to any nearest shelter, the weather goddess must’ve been in the mood to party, as she provided plenty of sunshine later in the day. Just in time for some amazing acts to take to the stage, including an energetic Beth Ditto who generated column inches by returning to the stage wearing next to nothing, and all but guaranteed them by dropping to the floor near the end of her set. But neither events took away from that gorgeous voice and her sheer stage presence. Pint-sized Robyn whizzed around the stage like a firecracker, as Kelis had the whole of East London jumping with her excellent ‘Milkshake’ mash-up with Madge’s ‘Holiday’. Scissor Sisters suitably smashed it too, with Jake Shears and Ana Matronic looking like they’d put more than a few hours in at the gym and a ridiculously energetic performance, plus pop-punk legends Blondie showed some of the younger acts how it’s done.
The NYC Downlow’s fabulous urban-inspired set was unpacked from Glastonbury and filled to the brim with debauchery, as Horse Meat Disco hosted a ram-packed stage. Boasting probably the most colourful collection of revellers for the day, The Shit Robot Show, the Sink the Pink gang and a handle-barred and horny Ashley Ryder ramped-up the energy to epic levels of glitter-fuelled proportions.
After a brief respite in the immense VIP area – complete with bars, a crazy golf course and toilets that were nicer than half the flats this reviewer has lived in – we were soon back in the action, rocking to some darker and dirtier sounds in the Trailer Trash & Hot Boy Dancing Spot stage. Then, as evening approached, it was time for the Circus stage to shine, as Jodie Harsh and Kris Di Angelis provided a colossal slab of Shoreditch cool, fused with mainstream appeal for an amazing closer to our Lovebox day. Former All Saint Mel Blatt had us foaming at the minge with an energetic performance of her and Di Angelis’ gorgeous new tune ‘Just Say That You Love Me’, followed by Boy George, an orchestra – yes, a bloody orchestra – and a surprise appearance by the Sugababes, performing their storming new single ‘Freedom’. Literally, our jaws were on the floor.
If you missed this year’s kick-ass Lovebox, put some money aside for next year’s ticket NOW!
Words by Lee Dalloway
Photos by Loveimagelondon, Kamil Kustosz & Nick Adams
