Rudimental @ Thetford Forest

If you have never been to a Forest Live event and fancy it, you should so do it. The events team are all super friendly down to the rained-on car park attendants who cheerfully wish you a great night to the security guards checking for bottles and drugs who tell you to enjoy yourself. Nestled in the middle of Thetford Forest with tall pines surrounding you, food and drink stalls and loads of space for blankets and chairs, the place feels ready to party with a smile on everyone’s faces. Thetford Forest events have a policy of allowing people to bring in their own booze as long as no cans or bottles enter the arena, and whilst this could be a disaster for crowd control, the amazingly vibrant and positive crowd were simply having a great time swigging from water bottles full of rose or vodka mixers.

Local boy Franko Fraize brought us some street poetry backed by a band rather than decks and dancers, his British bars sounding much phatter for it - the growing crowd were behind him from the start. It’s not easy opening for a huge act in a damp forest at 7pm, but he sorted it out with “Oi Oi” letting us know he was here. Running was my highlight, with Americana style guitars and every syllable articulated with chutzpah and gusto. Bravo Franko, next time I see you you’ll be higher on the bill for sure.

The place was filling up, and by the time Anne Marie hit the stage the party atmosphere was becoming infectious. Her familiar brand of club pop was the ideal warm up for the band she has collaborated with on several tracks, and the style has rubbed off; 90’s drum beats and chart friendly vocals. The only thing missing was sunshine although the rain had at least stopped by now. With plenty of crowd participation and enjoyable vibes, she looks and performs like a star in the making.

The music played during the interval before the main act heaped on the skanking anticipation, with people getting last minute drinks and friends meeting up and shaking out limbs to the beats. I can’t stress enough how friendly and up for it this crowd were.

When Rudimental trooped on stage, a sea of smart phones were thrust aloft and the crowd went wild. It was indeed a heroes welcome for one of the UK’s best loved festival acts, with multiple platinum singles and albums in several countries. Wow - there was an atomic reaction in the crowd with leaping figures as far as the eye could see. Their signature Amen Brother drum beat was delivered with such enjoyment you would have to be Scrooge to avoid being taken away by the vibe, a really unifying event with everyone welcome in the dance off. Some of the mid tempo tunes lacked some bonkers craziness, but mixing it up with house music goodness and soulful funk gave everyone a chance to strut their stuff. While the all star contributors were missed, every respect should be shown to the onstage vocalists, who turned their hands, and voices, to recreating the tunes that more familiar singers had made their own.

Some brilliantly judged covers validated their old skool credentials, M Beat’s Incredible and Shimon and Andy C’s Body Rock both took the groove to new heights, irresistible to the human body almost. This 46 year old was down to a t-shirt and raving like it was 1995 all over again despite the cool weather and midweek mid forest setting. The set was filled with hits from both of their Number 1 albums, but the set closers, the John Newman collaborated hit Feel The Love and Ella Eyre’s contribution Waiting All Night (Tell me that you need me), the latter delivered by Anne Marie in the last of half a dozen euphoric crowd pleasers. What a set. Some research today shows that they deliver a changed set most nights, so expect new covers and a rearranged set every time, but Rudimental really deliver live. The tunes continued for a while after the band left the stage, with plenty of groovers keeping the party alive dancing in groups and for a while at least, the illusion of being at a summer festival rather out on a school night and a drive home being imminent. A totally fulfilling festival night out, with so many memories created from just evening.