Common People 2017
WANNA LIVE LIKE COMMON PEOPLE?
Ah, the Common People Festival. If you, like Pulp, want to live like them (/us), come along to Oxford or Southampton for a self-proclaimed ‘grand day out’ — stretching over two days, actually, and two unforgettable nights!
The Rundown
Common People was founded by the creators of Bestival, so it’s got some dazzling festival credentials. This May Bank Holiday, revellers from all over the country (and beyond) are set to land in either of the festival’s two spots: South Park, in Oxford, or Southampton.
Oxford Beats
Getting wild on the Common Stage in Oxford on Saturday, you’ll find reggae don Sean Paul and electronic masterminds Groove Armada. On the Uncontained Stage, get ready for My Nu Leng & M8S and Goldie. The Uncommon Stage will feature the likes of Shaodow, The Balkan Wanderers, and Little Red. Pig’s Big Record Club welcomes artists including Redfoot, Datum Plane and The Henry Brothers. On Sunday’s Common Stage, if you’re not partied out from all the excellent commonness, we’ve got Pete Tong presenting Ibiza Classics performed by the Heritage Orchestra (dreamy), Rag’N’Bone Man, and the incredible (and very uncommon-sounding, if we must say) Elvana: Elvis Fronted Nirvana. The Uncontained Stage will showcase talents including Joy O and Midland.
If you’re not a whirlwind kind of a person, and you like to get down and listen to one group of artists across the weekend, we’ve got a number of names staying the length! This loyal bunch includes Housewurk, Alex from Wigan, Bustmasta Barrydark, and Peepshow Paddy. (We’ve got some serious name envy over here.)
Southampton Sounds
Pete Tong’s getting up on that Common Stage once more to present the Heritage Orchestra, so don’t worry that you’ll miss out if you’re not at Oxford! You can also jam to the eclectic sounds of Faithless, Kassassin Street, and Black Kat Boppers. Sean Paul and Groove Armada are also switching between spots. The Uncommon Stage is lighting up with red-hot acts including Beans on Toast, Black Honey, and Happy Accidents. And across the weekend we’ve got Buddy Love, Hadda, Soul45, and Handsome Dave Rocker ... plus many more.
Feed Me!
Both locations are set to offer excellent entertainment options, as well as scrumptious food and drinks, so you won’t go hungry! Oxford’s got on a lot on its plate, from a disco shed (glorious), to vintage funfair rides, to pop-up performances from community band The Horns of Plenty and other artists. Southampton boasts the World’s Biggest Bouncy Castle (seriously, what? Even if there was no music, we’d be on the next train just for that), a remodeled 19th century salon called The People’s Front Room (definitely more glam than our front room), and the magnificent Sugar Skulls Cocktail Bus (at this point we’re just overwhelmed). Both locations have a kids’ area with a circus, face painting, and other fun stuff (which we’ll definitely try and join in with). They’re also both home to the Jam Jar Bar (this rhyming is getting us into a freestyling mood): an outdoor cocktail lounge with a chilled, summery vibe.
Have we convinced you to join us? We must have gotten you somewhere, either at Pete Tong, Black Honey, or bouncy castle. We can’t wait: just look for us at the bar, faces painted, living our best life. See you there!