It was tipped to be a miserable wash-out but the excited crowds at the Parklife Weekender at Manchester's Heaton Park somehow kept the rain Gods at bay (most of the time!) and a sunshine, fun-filled, fantastic festival was the result.
This year's Parklife line-up was world class with US superstar rapper Snoop Dogg headlining on Saturday night (Saturday 7 June) along with a host of other top names including Katy B, Rudimental, Annie Mac and Manchester's own Bipolar Sunshine.
The Parklife Weekender is now officially a HUGE festival - taking over practically most of Heaton Park (one of the largest municipal parks in Europe) and attracting bigger and better names each year.
The festival site includes several stages (giving the event a great sense of variety) each jam-packed with great artists and top dance DJs. For clubbers and dance music fans The Warehouse Project stage brought a top club atmosphere to the outdoors and was a huge pull for dance devotees from all over the UK.
For indie fans there was a seriously good line-up this year - Sunday brought fantastic performances from several of the best and most talked about British bands including Foals (headlining - picture by Chrissie Allen) and Bastille plus trip-hop outfit London Grammar.
A personal fave, over at the intimate Colonnade stage, was Public Enemy who did a great set and sent fans off with some sweet and wise words of advice: "Be your own best friend."
In total, the Parklife Weekender oozed a truly impressive list of almost 200 artists and top DJs. And, as if that wasn't enough, the festival now boasts Afterlife - the BEST array of after-show parties and DJ sets at various city centre venues for those who wanted to keep the party going after exiting the park. Some people just can't get enough of a good thing!
This year's Afterlife included Jamie Jones, Eats Everything, David Rodigan, Ben UFO B2B Midland and Nina Kraviz who, no doubt, will be in hot demand for Parklife Afterlife 2015. www.afterlifemcr.com
On a serious note, as reported in the news, there were police reports of some serious incidents - two stabbings and, as I write, reports of one male festival-goer being the victim of a brutal attack causing head injuries.
However, considering that over 160,000 people attended the two-day event credit has to go to the organisers, security staff, St John's Ambulance volunteers (who did an awesome job) and Greater Manchester Police who all ensured that Parklife 2014 was overall a very safe and good-spirited experience.
Who knows what is planned for Parklife Weekender 2015 but one thing is for sure it will be a blast... bring it on!
For more info go to www.parklife.uk.com
Photo credits: Chrissie Allen
