Hazy Days at The Tropicana

This entry is really going to test my ability to find synonyms for awesome...

The Hazy Days Festival at The Tropicana in Weston Super Mare - Saturday July 8th.

You've gotta love The Tropicana - I used to swim there as a child, it was the home of Banksy's Dismaland, and this weekend it was the place to drink Somerset cider and enjoy live music in the sun.

HD17 was awesome. Two stages, both featuring a great line-up. We headed to The Walls Stage first for Goan Dogs - from Bristol - they were superb, now featuring highly on my Spotify playlist. Friendly lads, happy to chat after their performance, as were, New Opera Hero. New Opera Hero were insane in the best possible way: loved, loved, loved their set! No sketches of the bands I'm afraid, I was way too busy dancing to wield a pencil!

Even after the acts left the stage, and the roadies did their work, I found it hard to leave the walls. I was powerless, how is it possible not to dance to 'Fools Gold' (the full version), even if it's just you, and your better half, and a dark, empty dance floor. Brilliant.

Okay, time for a Thatchers Haze and to sit in the sun. After we'd enjoyed a popular set by Sian Evans, Mr Sketchesbylisa disappeared to find his fleece, leaving me with the chance to get some sketches done. The sun beamed down on a crowd of happy revellers dancing to the ska of the Neville Staple band. I was very content to sit ignored on the ground, indulging in sketching and people watching.

I was quite pleased with the movement I got into the sketch of Sian Evans dancing with a member of the crew, also with the group of friends chatting near me (the girl reminded me of my friend, Alexis, and I was inspired by the drape of her dress).

Next on the main stage: Sophie Ellis Bextor. We eagerly squeezed into position at the front of the stage, having loved Sophie Ellis Bextor since the Audience in the 90s. Although she didn't quite go that far back in her catalogue, she did treat us to some Spiller & Groovejet, her latest from 'Familia' and ended with 'Murder on the Dance Floor'. Fabulous. And Mr S was very happy too - yes, dear, she really did wink at you...

In a genius piece of scheduling, the divine Sophie was followed by the raucous Reef. Bellies rumbling, we beat a retreat from the stage to feast on some spicy fare from The Poetry of Curry - heavenly. Reef were loud and excellent. I particularly appreciated their cover of The Stones 'Paint it Black'.

As the sun went down over the Tropicana walls, and dusk settled into the dust, anticipation rose for the headliners. The Fun Lovin' Criminals: the reason we bought the tickets. 'Mimosa' is one of my all time favourite albums. I love these guys!!!

Sometimes it pays to be slight: we wove our way back in to the front; watched the roadies set up, tune and test; excitement zinging through the air like swooping seagulls eager for chips. And they were awesome - I know, that word again. I have clearly failed my synonym challenge - but they really were! Rock and roll. Tunes. Banter, unfazed by a brief power cut. And at the end? Fun loving' Criminals overshadow the best fireworks WSM have seen in a long while.

'Did you enjoy the fireworks?' we're asked on our return (our children saw the display and heard the set from 2 miles up the coast). What fireworks? Who's watching Fireworks off the stage when the Fun Lovin' Crims are on stage!!? Awesome.

(Shots of the bands courtesy of my alter-ego on Instagram, @mrslighters)