In partnership with MEO Kalorama
âThis is our last show of the summer and what a truly lovely place to beâ, says a beaming Damon Albarn midway through Blurâs triumphant headline set on the Thursday night of MEO Kalorama. Heâs got a point as well, taking stock of the beautiful views in the valley of Bela Vista Park just north of the city, youâd be hard pressed to think of a better way to see out the season.
The Britpop giants are effortlessly whipping up a storm with a flurry of classics with âCoffee & TVâ, âCountry Houseâ and âParklifeâ and a palpable sense of joy emanates from the crowd. But Albarn wants more from the bouncing masses, stabbing, âcome on, that’s not good enough!â. The band are capping off a day brimming with even more indie royalty, with the likes of Metronomy and Yeah Yeah Yeahs putting in performances that prove why theyâre still among the best to do it, dispatching hits from their iconic catalogues on the mainstages.
A vital and defining factor of MEO Kalorama though, is that itâs not all about the big names, but the festival also proudly shines a light on the rising talent on its own doorstep. Lisbon local Pongo kickstarts the weekend with a high-energy set of pulsating African baselines and frantic dance routines, as she runs along the barrier summoning a wave of dust and applause. âObrigada,â she says to the adoring front rows whoâve turned out early in the sunshine.
Elsewhere Lisbon-via-Brooklyn dream poppers Hause Plants impress on the mainstage with their buoyant and uplifting melodies that seem ripe for the sunshine. Representing a complete other end of the genre spectrum, Dino DâSantiago proudly flies the flag for the cityâs thriving afro-electronic scene in front of huge crowds, met with the response of a bonafide superstar, he jumps into the crowd to perform as reggaeton beats roll down from the stage.
Itâs not just local musicians the festival are proudly championing either. The rattle and hiss of spray paint cans is a common sound around the site as Lisbon artists showcase their wares. Itâs something festival-goers can immerse themselves in as well, with regular arts workshops and mural painting activities taking place in corners of the park. Perfectly reflecting the cityâs vibrant arts scene, a sense of community looms large.
Friday nightâs headline set feels all the more poignant for Florence + The Machine, with it being her first return to the stage after undergoing emergency life saving surgery. âIâm alive, it was close but Iâm alive,â she says crackling with a breathless sense of giddy emotion, before bursting into an explosive and rousing rendition of âYouâve Got The Loveâ.
At their very core, these are anthems from the heart for the people, songs of love and togetherness, and as she runs into the crowd, Welch doesnât just hug her adoring fans, she embraces them like long lost family. A festival winner, the world needs Florence + The Machine, but judging by the adoring screams, it will have to fight Lisbon for her first.
Still riding high after a busy summer sealing their status as headliners once and for all, Foals feel like the safest booking in the world to bring the party on Saturday night. âThis is our last festival of the year and itâs been fucking amazing,â says Yannis Philippakis before soaking in his view from the stage. âWhat I want you to do now is grab your lover, grab your best mate, letâs go,â he says as they unleash âMy Numberâ, sending thousands of Portuguese fans into delirium.
Followed-up instantly by the rollicking rock and roll anthems of indie veterans The Hives who still pack all the explosive energy of a band much younger than their years, itâs crystal-clear that this really is a festival with something for everyone. If MEO Kaloramaâs mission statement is to embrace the diversity and beauty of Lisbon, then itâs most definitely succeeded here.
The post MEO Kalorama 2023: Lisbon delivers the ultimate summer swansong appeared first on NME.
