Lincoln’s annual 2Q music festival returned to the city on Saturday. This year, it was bigger than ever, offering up over 90 acts across 10 venues.
Founded in 2017, the festival invites area locals and international artists to perform sets in the city’s clubs, bars, and cafes. This year, thousands bought tickets to spend the day enjoying the work of 98 singers, bands and DJ sets.
Over at The Angel Coffee House, local lad Toby Johnson kicked off the day’s proceedings. His soft indie vocals and acoustic guitar set a mellow tone for the start of the event. Back for their third 2Q performance, Boston based rock band Kings & Bears closed the night.
The Jolly Brewer, despite facing a recent threat of closure, made its way onto the venue list after The Tap and Spile closed its doors. It played host to ten acts, ranging from Sheffield-based new boys Jetski to well known Lincoln boys Carry The Crown. In from Nottingham, alt-rock 4-piece Don’t Forget Rupert headlined The Jolly Brewer’s night, completing an impressive alt-rock setlist.
Home nightclub offered up two rooms, each with their own setlist. Its main room was graced by pop trio Calva Louise, Indie quartet October Drift, and recently named The Guardian’s one-to-watch list: Working Men’s Club. Post-punk band The Futureheads closed the show, playing an hour-long set for a packed-out crowd.
The Loft, found at the top of Home, brought in a heavier crowd: staging seriously talented up-and-comers Milk Teeth to the enjoyment of a room almost full to capacity. Earlier in the day, the room did reach its limit as Demob Happy hit the stage.
Record shop Back To Mono invited DJ acts to the stage throughout the day. Possibly the smallest space of the day, it even timetabled a “secret set” halfway through the day. Elsewhere across the town centre, Red Five, Liquor and the Engine Shed staged a host of artists. We’ll tell you a little more about them in our upcoming reviews, and in The Linc’s soon-to-be-published print edition.
The day’s 10 venues offered the opportunity to see artists of every genre under the sun. The Linc’s 2Q team headed out to each one, catching as many musicians as we could. Watch this space for interviews with the likes of Nottingham’s Reflekter, indie stroke dirty-pop quartet Marsicans, and many more.