REVIEW - SUMMERTIME LIVE

After being pushed back 8 weeks in advance, Show Up! Southend were finally able to head to Garon Park on September 10th to enjoy the last modicum of summer at the long awaited Summertime Live Festival.

Setting off the day with a variety of DJ sets, good drinks and a beautiful selection of food stalls, could you think of a better way to start off a friday afternoon in the sunshine? We certainly don’t think so, and it would appear other festival attendees would too. Maintaining a completely chilled and welcoming atmosphere the crowd ranged from early millennials up to the coolest of over 60s, some went box standard festival attire whilst others felt more comfortable in your everyday shorts and t-shirt combo. I guess this is the major advantage with a festival on your doorstep, there’s no pressure at all to be something you’re not, everyone is simply there to enjoy themselves and the surreal realisation that live music is back. 

The crescendo of the evening was of course the headlining act of the Classic Ibiza Orchestra. With a setlist complete with everyone’s favourite 90s dance floor fillers, including, Born Slippy, Insomnia and Sing It Back – just to name a few, the crowd was certainly either reliving their youth or just enjoying the party. Finalised with an electrifying light show, lazers, smoke machines and bubbles – it certainly gave Jean Michel Jarre a run for his money.

A perfect end (or even start) to the night, the spectacular orchestra finished just before 12pm, leaving festival goers able to catch the last bus home or carry on dancing into the early hours thanks to Southend nightlife. Overall, the festival was a refreshing success, with so many of us missing live events, Summertime Live gave summer 2021 an unforgettable send off that will leave us counting down the days until the next sunny music filled day.

www.summertimelive.co.uk