Festival season continues this weekend as Hardwick Festival returns to County Durham.
This year the event is marking its milestone 10th anniversary. And thankfully glorious weather once again blessed the North East on the opening evening of the festival.
Of course, many legendary artists have graced the festival’s stage over the last decade including the likes of Madness, The Specials, Noel Gallagher, Nile Rodgers and the Stereophonics to name but a few. And this year’s line-up is equally as impressive.
Much like last year, the festival continues to run as a three-day event. And Friday night's festivities witnessed the return of chart-topping superstar Becky Hill. Of course, Becky delivered one of the standout sets of the festival’s 2022 edition and as such the anticipation was high for her return.
The North East theme featured early in the evening thanks to tribute act Scam Fender, who was sporting a Newcastle United training top. The artist belted through a set full of his namesake's hits and provided a thoroughly entertaining show at the top of the evening.
An exceptional R&B fuelled performance from British singer ADMT along with an impressive set from Soul II Soul got the Hardwick crowd moving early in the evening. The collective featuring DJ Jazzie B along with a vast ensemble of musicians turned back the clocks with an enjoyable airing of the classic Keep On Movin. The band also performed their take on Nothing Compares To You to great effect.
Jack Savoretti was the precursor to the headliner. Unlike others on Friday's bill, Jack was making his Hardwick debut this year and certainly had a lot of fans in the audience. As the sun began to set over the festival site the performer commented on how romantic Hardwick looked, and with the main stage positioned adjacent to Hardwick Park with vistas overlooking the lake who could disagree. Jack also sang in Italian for the first time in the North East further enhancing the mood of the artist’s performance.
One new addition to the event this year is the Boogie Wonderland stage which was a real hit on Friday night. With its disco sounds and entertaining dancers’ revellers flocked to the corner of the site where they partied like it was 1979.
A pop up Greggs concession backstage proved to be popular with the artists. Both ADMT and Jack Savoretti were spotted at the North East's beloved baker.
Topping the bill, Becky Hill was always going to be a huge draw. The artist has a whole raft of Top 40 hits and has collaborated with some of the industry’s biggest names including Wilkinson, David Guetta, Joel Corey, Sigala and Ella Henderson to name but a few. Armed with an arsenal of floor fillers Becky wowed the Hardwick crowd with her smash hits and incredible production.
A highlight of the set was always going to be the unmistakable Afterglow. The last time Becky played Hardwick she was a guest to headliners The Specials. We called it back then that Becky was destined for headliner status and here we are two years later, and that prediction has been realised. Not only that but based on this astounding performance it was entirely warranted.
If you missed Becky Hill this time around the artist will return to the North East later this year with a headline date at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on Sunday 13th Oct.
Hardwick Festival continues on Saturday with headliners Snow Patrol, The Charlatans, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Heaven 17 and more.
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