Slottsfjell Festival 2012 (pt 2)

Photos by CHRISTIAN ROTH CHRISTENSEN / SLOTTSFJEL

On the final day of this festival, excitement was mainly centered around the fact that Manchester legends New Order were going to make their first appearance here in over 30 years; yet before this landmark event arrived there was much else on across the festivals six stages to keep the festival goers ears entertained.

Of course it would be wrong to head to Norway and not check out the local talent on offer and early in the day local heroes Team Me appear on the mainstage. Oslo’s Team Me are a richly orchestrated sextet who recently unleashed their debut album ‘To The Trees’ and received a swarm of critical praise from their native press for their similarities to Arcade Fire and Sufjan Stevens indie-folk but this bands performance today has more in common with a relaxed less fidgety version of Los Campesinos! Slightly twee and overall melodic; it looks like it will only be a matter of time before this band starts to make strides into the UK’s indie scene’s consciousness.

Later in the day and the day after Pure Love have performed at the festival; the opportunity to see how Frank Carters old band Gallows have adjusted after his departure is given. Now with onetime Alexisonfire member Wade MacNeil on vocals the band describe this incarnation as being a “New Chapter” in the bands life but in truth today’s performance still as that powerfully fierce and long lasting impact the original incarnation possessed. Singer Wade taking the standard hardcore stance of immersing himself in amongst the audience at any given opportunity while heavy riffs of songs such as ‘Misery’ and ‘Abandon Ship’ thundered out behind him. Be thankful Gallows still have that magical thing in bucket loads.

While sets by Bastille and Noah & The Whale proved to be highlights for some during the day; it was soon after these had performed that New Order finally set foot on this Norwegian main stage.

Coming out to a large chorus of cheers, Bernard Sumner led the band on a fourteen journey through the bands back catalogue, songs were wheeled out at a frantic pace with little pause, as images from the bands discography flashed out behind them. Tight and with enough hits included to satisfy the casual fan, it was the perfect headliner set. After a brief pause they encore with two songs that pay respect to the bands former guise, that the band close the evening with ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ and ‘Transmission’. Much of Norway will be hoping the band return soon.

New Order played:
Elegia
Crystal
Regret
Ceremony
Age of Consent
Isolation
Krafty
1963
Bizarre Love Triangle
True Faith
586
The Perfect Kiss
Blue Monday
Temptation

Transmission
Love Will Tear Us Apart