Friday Mixtape: top picks from ten years of Field Day

It’s Nice That is excited to announce that we have partnered with Field Day on the Shacklewell Arms stage for the festival next Saturday (3 June 2017). The stage will host bands such as Thee Oh Sees, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and Stranger Things soundtrack providers Survive. The full stage times for the event are now available for you to plan your day in advance here!

This year Field Day is celebrating it’s tenth birthday, in light of this, festival coordinator Tom Baker has created a special edition of the Friday Mixtape. Tom has chosen and described ten songs that best represent his memories over the past decade, the bands he was honoured to book and the most iconic performances he’s been lucky enough to watch.

Aphex Twin: Alberto Balsam

I couldn’t not chose a track from this year’s Field Day headline act Aphex Twin. I’ve always loved his intense yet beautiful music ever since I heard the album Richard D. James when I was 17! I love that there is so much mystery and magic that surrounds Aphex, from owning a tank, to living in a bank, to giving a label A&R his own track when asked to deliver a remix… I actually even tried to learn the drum beat of this track!

Ride: Dreams Burn Down

This track from Nowhere inspired me to learn the drums and form a band (called Mahatma) many, many years ago. It was a great moment when I got the call from Ride’s agent to say there was a possibility of them reforming and it was an honour to be part of the comeback. I got to go on the mini come back tour we did and it felt very special to be able to meet the band after so many years of being a fan.

Caribou: Cant Do Without You

Caribou played the first ever Field Day back in 2007 and I’ve been friends with Dan ever since. It was fantastic to have them back in 2015 to headline the main Eat Your Own Ears outdoor stage. This album really captured people’s imagination and their live show was just off the scale.

Four Tet: Love Cry

Kieran Hebden AKA Four Tet has always been a supporter and friend of Field Day since the beginning, playing most years either live or as a DJ. My most favourite set was when he played penultimate slot on the main stage just as the sun was setting. He set free a huge balloon drop, it looked spectacular and everyone was buzzing.

Toumani Diabate: El Nabiyouna

It was a very special moment when we first booked the Hendrix of the Kora, Toumani Diabate back in 2009 to close one of our tents. It was amazing to see everyone sing along to the Kora melodies even after Toumani had finished playing.

John Cale: Graham Greene

I love this song, and John Cale was perhaps the first time we had a real legend come and play at Field Day, the sun came out just as he walked onto the stage.

PJ Harvey: Let England Shake

It was the perfect dramatic setting for PJ Harvey last year with atmospheric dark skies and flashes of lightning as she played a brilliant set to a totally silent and mesmerised crowd.

Skepta: Shutdown

People were running across the site to the main Eat Your Own Ears stage to catch Skepta, he had a huge crowd, I’d say almost the biggest of the day. It was a glorious set, so much energy and people totally loved it.

Tortoise: TNT

I’ve always been a huge fan of Tortoise every since I heard Millions Now Living Will Never Die when it came out in 1996. The intricate drumming on the intro of this track from their album TNT is fantastic, it very much reminds me of jazz drummer Jack De Johnette. Continuing the theme of drumming, this is another track I tried to learn, it was hard! They are such truly incredible musicians and very inspiring to see.

Slowdive: Go Get It

What a come back after 22 years, so addicted to their new album Slowdive, absolutely lush. I’m very excited to seem them play new music alongside the classics when they headline the Crack Tent.