After well-publicised financial and time struggles, this year’s Field Maneuvers was highlighted as its final iteration. In its eleventh year overall and third in its current location, Field Maneuvers draws a consistent and loyal crowd of seasoned ravers and kind souls. And that’s what makes the event: the people. Everyone is on good form all weekend, the DJs are dancing in the crowd when they’re not playing, the weather is spectacular, and the attention to detail stitches the whole package together into something truly magnetic and unique.
There are three stages: the main FM stage: a no-frills set up outdoors during the day, which moves inside at night (or in the rare event of rain). Then there’s Sputnik, the beating heart of Field Maneuvers, a sweaty dome filled with smoke machines, lasers, and silliness. Finally, there’s Laika, an intimate tipi with wooden beams becoming minor (and hilarious) trip hazards as the night draws in. One thing is consistent across the four locations: enormous, well-engineered soundsystems. Additionally there’s the Pack It Inn, FM’s Peggy Mitchell-inspired pub, littered with fruit machines, a dartboard, pickled eggs and men’s room wall-like scribbles on the wall.
The first music of the weekend that I see is courtesy of ohmydais. There’s no messing around: playing to a slowly-filling up tent, dais pushes the immaculate system to the edge, shelling it early doors, heavy on the percussion. Cutting a cool figure, bopping modestly behind the decks whilst sending my pal absolutely wild draws a giggle. In stark contrast, Toshiki Ohta is fully pumping his fist in the air instantly, packing out the tent, hyping the crowd up with his signature bass-heavy tunes. Ohta, an attendee-turned-crowd-favourite, popped into the start of ohmydais’ to deliver a big grin and goofy wave - this sense of community and collective spirit is what makes FM so special. Following on from Ohta’s hype-building set is Aloka, who cashes in on the energy in Laika, getting gunfingers aloft with the first smatterings of grime and speed garage of the weekend. Laika has shrunk a little from last year and it has paid off: the tent is intimate, steamy, and popping off all weekend.
After an extended stay in Laika, we move to the now-indoors FM tent for the legendary Regis. He willingly pummels the crowd with heavy kicks, however we quickly move to catch the end of djrum in Sputnik, seeking a little more variety. He is more than willing to oblige, flying through the genres in his closing moments. I catch a little bit of lcy closing Sputnik before calling it a day.
Saturday starts with a qualifying round for the darts tournament, but then quickly and unashamedly becomes all about Sputnik. Curated by FM royalty Local Group, Sputnik showcases the full spectrum of Field Maneuvers tonight. Things kick off with West Norwood Cassette Library, who weaves together predominantly UK-based sounds with a single, artful disco drop, stylishly mixing all vinyl.
The fancy dress is out in full force today (my lot are teletubbies), brat summer is still going strong if the sea of lime green and lowercase arial is anything to go by, and the vibes are immaculate.
My one adventure away from Sputnik, a solo boogie, is to Tia Cousins on the main stage. After her Sputnik set last year secured legend status, there’s maybe nobody who lives and breathes FM more than Tia. Where last year’s set had the immediate payout with opener Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s “Welcome to the Pleasuredome” (plus an emotional playout of “Goodbye Horses”), this year’s set is a groovy masterful build until the genius closing tune, Republica’s “Ready To Go”. Hands in the air, crowd belting it out: vintage stuff.
After, it’s back to the Pleasuredome for an extended stay: the legendary Manix, Local Group styling out a powercut (ironically, I also lost all my notes from the weekend around this time), before Angel D’Lite took to the stage, with my defining moment of the festival: a ground-shaking remix of Geri Halliwell’s “Scream If You Wanna Go Faster”. This was Sputnik at its electric best: sweat dripping from the ceiling, crowd packed in, arms aloft, ravers hugging their mates. Following on from that is hardly a desirable slot, but Chris Liberator is up to the task. Heavy on the acid but also heavy on the cheese, we get spins of “Saturday Night”, “The Bells”, and “Jump Around”.
Field Maneuvers is a place where you can chat absolute drivel to your mates (and strangers) for three days, and the tasteful-yet-daft energy in Sputnik tonight feels like that in musical form.
My Sunday is dominated by the essential Dalston Superstore takeover. A colourful, loud, garish, camp and unashamedly queer celebration, there’s plenty of flesh on show from people of all genders and body types, costumes and props galore, and overall beautiful vibes. Beginning outside under the baking heat, Faff deliver typically Superstore vibes in the beautiful sunshine, with pulsating, rolling pumpers. I can’t help but enjoy the duality of the beautiful, scenic surroundings and the unhinged party crowd.
After a small intermission for the FM darts tournament (a narrow victory for the author), I emerge from the seedy pub to the glorious main stage. The poppers are out in full for returning FM favourite, Michelle Manetti. She continues along the same theme, teasing a Spice Girls vocal to the getting-more-feral crowd. All the while, a rotating cast of dancers hop onto the small stage to dance, wave flags, and deliver camp. Manetti gets her moment too, as she gets on the mic to lay down vocals for Cher’s “Believe” towards the end of her set to rapturous applause, signalling the changeover of the main stage to indoors for the night.
The DS takeover is punctuated by Solid Blake in Sputnik, who throws down a rhythmic set of bass-heavy tunes: it’s straight up, and it hits - a welcome punctuation to the day’s offerings so far, keeping things fresh.
Then it’s back to the now-traditional closing set for us, in the main stage: HAAi> and Jennifer Cardini. The unparalleled delight as my friend exclaims “Warhammer!”, pointing at the screens rocking space marines, in hilarious contrast to the massively queer belters being played. Tops are off, fans are out (including for HAAi behind the decks), seeing us out in style with a Bronski Beat x Destiny’s Child mash up for one final singalong.
As I tuck up in bed, ears ringing, beaming from ear to ear, my heart is very full. The good news, as announced by the winning prize of the pub quiz, free tickets for next year (we may have claimed that too), is that the FM crew aren’t done yet. It’s been a tough few years post-pandemic, but the love and care oozing from this festival is second to none, and the organisers certainly know that. One thing is for sure: whatever direction the FM team decide to take things moving forward, it will be a party worth attending.
An intimate, underground electronic music festival held annually in a secret location near London, UK, known for its carefully curated lineup of DJs and producers, boutique atmosphere, and focus on the underground dance music scene.