A busy summer season of London music festivals drew to a close with Gunnersville, a new three-day music event at Gunnersbury Park.
Unlike the crowded Lovebox and Citadel festivals, which were also held at the park this year, Gunnersville felt like a freer and more spacious affair. Indie rock and nostalgia dominated inside the big top, with the reformed Doves playing hits from across their career.
Sunday headliners You Me At Six were at it too, playing all of their singles. Noughties favourites Save It For The Bedroom and Gossip were crowd-pleasers but the performance waned as more recent songs were played towards the end of the two-hour slot. But crowd-surfing frontman Josh Franceschi impressed with his joyous stage presence throughout.
Jimmy Eat World struck a happier medium between the old and new, with material from 2016’s Integrity Blues receiving just as warm a reception as the classic Bleed American.
While there was much to enjoy about this inaugural event, nostalgia sometimes came at the expense of innovation and overall identity. The lack of female headline voices in a male-dominated line up was also noticeable. With a few changes, Gunnersville has the potential to become a highlight of London’s festival scene.
