Hardwick Festival continued on Saturday with a second day of music. Phoebe Abruzzese reports from a field in Sedgefield.

The green plains of Sedgefield were filled with the sounds of The Kooks, The Vaccines, Mel C and Scouting for Girls on Saturday (August 20) as thousands enjoyed the biggest music festival the North East has to offer.

The indie, rock and pop lineup attracted music lovers from the region and beyond.

The festival returned for its 11th edition with one of its best line-ups to date over an expanded three days.

Scouting for Girls – a firm favourite of mums everywhere - played all their hits, and then some. Joined by Nick Tsang, the guitarist from Busted, they get the crowds all nostalgic with a version of “Year 3000”. 

Read more: Work completed on junction that was branded 'carnage' by residents after crashes

Mel C – bouncy and buzzy as ever – had a prime Saturday afternoon spot, spicing up the indie and self-admittedly “blokey” lineup. She performed old and new, solo and group material.

At 7.30 pm, Justin Hayward-Young, of The Vaccines, lolloped across the stage like an enthusiastic young teacher, performing a crowd call-and-response to “All My Friends Are Falling In Love”.

The audience roared along to their debut hits – still just as zingy and fresh more than a decade since they were first played on the radio – and behind me, an audience member murmured “God, they’re just so cool”. They still have it. 

The weather stayed clear all night – though many of the festival goers had little faith in the Met Office, and were sporting wellies and see-through rain ponchos.

Under the stars, a suited and booted Kooks frontman wass met with cheers. Their headline set was a polished affair – strobe lights bouncing about on tempo, instruments swapped out with clinical precision between songs – but with the band’s effervescent charisma, a field of 10,000 feels like an intimate gig.

To the audience’s delight, demands of “one more song!” are met with the band performing another three. When The Kooks wrapped up their biggest hit, Naïve, and the stage lights wemt down for the night, there was a mass exodus from the main stage.

People went off to the late-night DJ sets; back to their tents; to find a food stall that’s still selling chips; off to their car to drive home. Spirits were high, worries were low, and everyone is looking forward to doing it all again the next day. 

Read next:

Get more from The Northern Echo with a Premium Plus digital subscription from as little as only £1.50 a week. Click here.

Hardwick Festival continues today (Sunday) with appearances from Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Johnny Marr, The Cribs and Megan McKenna.

Images: SARAH CALDECOTT & ADAM KENNEDY

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo: Mel C from the Spice Girls performing on Saturday (August 19) afternoon,Mel C from the Spice Girls performing on Saturday (August 19) afternoon, (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo: The Jam Bass Guitarist Bruce FoxtonThe Jam Bass Guitarist Bruce Foxton (Image: ADAM KENNEDY)

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo: Luke Pritchard from The KooksLuke Pritchard from The Kooks (Image: ADAM KENNEDY)

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo: Scouting for Girls lead singer Roy Stride performing at Hardwick Festival.Scouting for Girls lead singer Roy Stride performing at Hardwick Festival. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo: Mel CMel C (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo: Vaccines lead singer Justin Hayward-YoungVaccines lead singer Justin Hayward-Young (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo: The Vaccines' lead singer Justin Hayward-Young on stage on Saturday (August 19).The Vaccines' lead singer Justin Hayward-Young on stage on Saturday (August 19). (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo: Vaccines leas singer Justin Hayward-Young plays Hardwick FestivalVaccines leas singer Justin Hayward-Young plays Hardwick Festival (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo: