Live Report: Child of Prague impress fans old and new at Electric Picnic

Huddled beneath the trees of the Artlot stage, the rain has failed to deter Child of Prague’s fans from their Sunday afternoon slot.

The Artlot stage is a very intimate venue- we are nearly in the band’s faces as they tune up, but this makes for a friendly atmosphere as they crack jokes with the crowd to keep them entertained.

Tuning and technical difficulties conquered, the band storm into their set with ‘Grass Stains’, showcasing their genre-defying sound with an emotionally charged case-study.

Normally a 6-piece, vocalist and violin-player Amelia Durac announces they’re short a saxophone- something the crowd display faux-outrage over, getting themselves involved in the performance.

Though it’s a shame they’re short a member, Durac makes it work, translating the sax elements into violin ones, seamlessly blending it in with her usual responsibilities.

Her playing mixes beautifully with the guitars onstage, creating a fantastic mix of traditional elements with the harder, distorted sound of the guitar playing and rumbling bass.

This blending is supported by the drums of Miranda Gallacher, whose shuffling rhythms are an addictive underlying constant throughout the set.

The band are endlessly thankful to their fans, who are full of beans- some of them know the members personally and fanatically scream their names at full volume (despite being 2 metres from them).

Their set is filled with spectacular musical talent- each member has moments where they can show off individual ability, via solos or together through their obvious chemistry, all to enthusiastic praise.

One particular highlight is a cover of Sinéad O’Connor’s 'Mandinka', a challenge for the average musician but done justice to the point that it sounds like an original for the band.

Durac channels O’Connor’s vocals and does her justice, while her band support her by capturing the high energy of the original recording.

By the end of their set the audience has grown exponentially- there are the fans who joined them from the beginning but the band have managed to stop passers-by in their tracks, drawing them in to the stage- something that further validates their status as ones to watch.