Longitude 2013: Day One

Even though we've been enjoying this heavenly heat wave long enough to get somewhat used to it, it is still very surreal to be at a gig in Marlay Park that doesn't involve watching Morrissey in the rain or shuffling along to Van Morrison in wellies.
Consequently, first impressions are overwhelmingly positive with AlunaGeorge offering up a complimentary soundtrack. The London duo release their debut album next Friday. On this evidence, it’s one to put on your check out list for sure.
Judging by the crowd thronging to the main stage, Friday is all about Foals, even though they're not technically headliners.
It's a sure sign of a confident band on the up that they can drop the likes of 'My Number' early on and still have tunes to burn. Yannis Philippakis is in fine form, stalking the stage and adding a further burst of nervy compelling energy to match his band's pleasantly angular sound.
'Inhaler' sounds colossal, revealing itself to be a festival pleasing monster. The Oxfordshire band work the crowd up to a crescendo of waving hands and bobbing heads for Two Steps. It's a job terrifically well done with pristine sound and production to match.
Poor Jessie Ware. She's great and has got some seriously slinky summer tunes in her repertoire, but going up against Foals is a curse rather a blessing. Consummate pro and all round nice girl that she is, she makes the effort to make everyone feel welcome and appreciated.
Phoenix are a festival headline act a decade or so in the making through stealth rather than hype.
Slowly but surely the Frenchmen they've graduated into the major league. A track on the Lost in Translation album certainly helped and now they're lauded from the heavens for this year's album
Their light show and production is stunning, bathing the stage into moody deep red light one moment and exploding into retina-piercing life the next. As hard as they try, they fail to ignite the crowd to any significant intensity after the shock and awe of Foals.
Day one whets the appetite nicely for a bumper weekend of fun and sun.The main lesson we've learnt is that Foals could well swap positions with Phoenix on the bill. Most punters would just nod their head deliriously in agreement.