Set in the heart of London, The 1-2-3-4 Festival first opened its doors nine years ago for just 150 people. This year the festival stands just a little bigger than way back when. Mclusky and crew have pulled off an incredible line-up for this year’s festival with The Cribs and The Jesus and Mary Chain headlining a busy day for Three Mills Island. The festival takes place on September 3rd, making it the perfect way to close off the summer before heading back to good old Notts. The indie extravaganza hosts plenty of alternative bands that have solidified a line-up to provide the best end to the festival season possible. Here’s our preview of who to check out and why.
The Cribs
Just in case you needed any more justification as to why these guys are sitting pretty at the top of the bill, this family trio of indie megastars have charted within the UK top 10 with their last three offerings. The band formed in Wakefield in 2002. Fourteen years and one Smiths member later, the trio stands as one of the biggest names in Indie-Rock today, a complete institute of the genre. With a hectic live show and an incredible back-catalogue, these boys have earned their place at the top of the bill, and you can expect them to prove that once more on the 3rd September.
Carl Barat & The Jackals
When not busy being the better frontman of The Libertines (sorry, Pete), Barat has always made sure to keep producing as much music as humanly possible. His latest project, The Jackals, are a group of musicians he discovered through auditions on Facebook. Fortunately, despite forming in a similar way to most modern romances, the band have actually developed great chemistry and gel perfectly. Barat makes for the perfect bandleader and he seems to have found an impressive platoon to back him up. After their performance at Camden Rocks last month, there are no doubts that this will be a show to catch.
The Wytches
Nottingham favourites The Wytches have taken the country by storm over the last two years, appearing more and more frequently at ever-larger shows. Their name graces the bill of many line-ups and it fits perfectly on this one. The band have a knack for making every show seem special. It’s easy to recall their dominance over last year’s Dot to Dot festival, playing to a huge crowd at Trent SU and then tearing up a beyond-capacity Chameleon Café at 2am. The Wytches appear to be on the cusp of greatness, and it is easy to see why.
The Jesus and Mary Chain
Another band of literal brothers stand out on this bill. The Jesus and Mary Chain have been a force to be reckoned with since the mid-eighties. Their 2007 reformation served as a gentle reminder that they still have it and nine years later, it hasn’t gone anywhere. With a ferocious live show, and massive anthems like ‘Just Like Honey’, this set could be huge.
Pins
In an industry dominated by men that seems to institutionally exclude women, it is truly refreshing to see girl groups coming through and gaining well-deserved credibility. Especially when they are this good. Pins bring a dark brand of Indie Rock that can comfortably stand toe to toe with any other band in the field at the moment. New single, ‘Trouble’ provides a fantastically eerie atmosphere and yet seems to invite the listener to echo its distinctly infectious chorus, something to look out for in London this summer.
Milk Teeth
Milk Teeth are one of the heavier bands on the bill and have a punk edge. With a cult following and no fear of mixing genres, the band have gained a great deal of attention across the press, for good reason. ‘Vitamins’ will sound great when it is blasted around Three Mills Island. The Gloucestershire quartet will provide a chaotic experience perfectly fit for a sunny Saturday afternoon.
If these and thirty other bands seem like a decent way to spend a late summer day in London this year, then tickets are available here.
Liam Fleming
FFS it serves no one, and certainly neither band member, using terms like “better frontman”. Who writes this crap.