From Stormzy to Gallagher: A British Party on Day 3 of Sziget
What happens when you schedule Stormzy and Liam Gallagher as headliners on the Main Stage? Exactly: day 3 of Sziget turned into a British party, with plenty of beer being thrown around and strangers climbing on each other’s shoulders to boo Gallagher for his love of Manchester City.
The first artist we caught on day three of Sziget was Yves Tumor. Those familiar with this act know that it can go in any direction. The American has previously impressed at festivals like Lowlands and Coachella and is known for their eccentric performances. Unfortunately, it wasn’t very crowded around the main stage yet, which might explain why Tumor started cautiously, not revealing all their cards immediately.
That changed with the arrival of Stormzy, who has been making waves for quite some time now. He was the first Black rapper to headline Glastonbury, and at Sziget, he once again proved why he’s so beloved. Stormzy’s energy was infectious, and the crowd went wild during “Know Me From.” It’s always great for an artist when the audience sings along effortlessly, and Stormzy made it clear multiple times how much he appreciated that.
However, Liam Gallagher’s interaction with the crowd was a bit more tense, but that’s what the former Oasis frontman is known for. He recently toured the UK with the ‘Definitely Maybe 30 Years Tour,’ and the celebration of that legendary album continued at Sziget. You might expect the younger crowd not to be familiar with that music, but British teens and twenty-somethings made up for their peers from other countries.
Gallagher opened with “Rock ‘N’ Roll Star” and then delivered exactly what you’d expect from him. Even in 30-degree weather, he had his parka zipped up and his arms behind his back, belting out song after song. As mentioned, the singer occasionally almost literally confronted his audience, for instance, when he asked if there were any Manchester City fans present. This earned him loud boos, but Gallagher still managed to spot a few City shirts in the crowd. Meanwhile, the field was filled with people singing along, partying, drinking, and throwing beer. A typical English vibe, where it wasn’t just about the artist.
The Bolt Party Arena was taken over on day three by Awakenings, the Dutch organization known for hosting major techno events worldwide. Carmen Lisa, Kevin de Vries, Enrico Sangiuliano, Joris Voorn, and Daria Kolosova played here until late into the night for a packed tent, which was not only filled with techno but also with an impressive light show and accompanying visuals. What’s cool about the Bolt Party Arena is that a different organization takes the helm every evening. For example, on the first day, Dom Dolla was part of the Elrow party, and later stages will feature artists from Q-dance and STMPD.
Teezo Touchdown was the last artist we saw on day 3, and it was another highlight. The American rapper/singer didn’t fill the Revolut Stage tent, but you wouldn’t have known it from the front rows. Teezo Touchdown started his performance calmly and introspectively, but the beats quickly picked up, and he moved across the stage with ease.
Teezo spent a lot of time on monologues about himself and interacting with the audience, which sometimes slowed down the pace of his show, but it also made it a very personal experience. Whether a show at 11:00 PM is the best time for that is up for debate, but his fans seemed to have no issue with it.
On the fourth day, the Main Stage will host Bebe Rexha, Louis Tomlinson, and Martin Garrix, so today’s younger Sziget-goers will be in for a treat. The Revolut Stage doesn’t feature big names today, but Crows, Analog Balaton, and especially MØ are acts you shouldn’t miss.
Photos (c) Marjolein van Veldhuizen
