REVIEW: Nelly and Kano top the bill as blossoming Strawberries & Creem Festival is a hit again
Hip-hop star Nelly entertained 5,000 festival goers at Strawberries & Creem Festival at Haggis Farm in Barton on Saturday. - Credit: Archant
Cambridge is a city steeped in history. Known for its meandering lanes, glorious architecture and celebrated academics; it’s perhaps the last place you’d expect to find 5,000 grime lovers on a sunny Saturday afternoon.
But, last weekend, that’s exactly how many revellers descended on the fields of Haggis Farm just outside the city for burgeoning festival, Strawberries & Creem, and they were treated to almost 12 hours of grime, reggae, drum and bass and everything in between.
Now in its third year, the festival boasted its strongest line-up yet across three stages, featuring hip-hop star Nelly, grime guru Kano and reggae master David Rodigan, as well as viral sensation Big Narstie and ‘All My Friends’ hit makers, Snakehips.
Belting out a mixture of classics and new material from hit album, Made in the Manor, Kano drew a big crowd early on in the afternoon on the main stage, but it wasn’t until 5pm – and the arrival of Nelly – that the party really got started.
The 41-year-old (I know, right) took me – and thousands of others, I’m sure – back to their teenage years with hits Hot in Herre, Dilemma and Ride Wit’ Me during his brief but energetic set.
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As well as packed bill of musical treats, Strawberries & Creem offered a whole host of edible joys too, including Steak & Honour, Fired Up Pizza and the Great British Sausage Company, which kept party-goers fed and watered over the course of the one-day bash.
Grime kingpins D Double E and Big Narstie kept things ticking over nicely in the early evening, before fans congregated infront of the giant cinema screen to take in England’s 1-1 draw with Russia. A nice touch – shame about the result.
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Legendary DJ David Rodigan and urban collective Kurupt FM kept the crowds dancing up until 11pm on a day that proved to be a huge success for the festival’s young organisers.
My mates and I can’t even organise a night down the pub, so credit must go to this cluster of 20-somethings for putting on a festival that is destined for bigger and better things.
How would I sum up Strawberries & Creem Festival in three words? Watch this space.
