Music

IN PHOTOS: iTunes Festival 2013 (Week 2)

The Philippine Star

September 9, 2013 | 2:59pm

Performance highlights

September 8

Since their performance at the iTunes Festival in 2012, Bastille have had success with their debut album Bad Blood, a virtual fixture in the Top 10 of the iTunes UK Top Albums chart ever since its release in March. Led by energetic lead singer Dan Smith and backed with a 5-piece string section, the band's set warmed a chilly September evening. Leading with the title track from their album, swiftly followed by current single â€œThings We Lost in the Fireâ€, Bastille had the audience in raptures from the start. With smoke cannons blasting on "Icarus", Dan singing â€œFlawsâ€ from the midst of the crowd, a cover version of Corona's â€œRhythm of the Nightâ€ and â€œPompeiiâ€ providing a rousing finale, this was another night to remember at the Roundhouse.

First up on this special night were Manchester's The 1975. The four lads breezed through previous singles â€œThe Cityâ€, â€œSexâ€ and the already-classic â€œChocolateâ€ plus songs from their debut album which was announced as No.1 on the official UK Albums Chart minutes before the band went onstage.

Related: IN PHOTOS: iTunes Festival 2013 (Week 1)

September 9

Arctic Monkeys kicked off the night with the lead track from their new album "Do I Wanna Know". The charisma of lead singer Alex Turner is undeniable. Fans were treated to his throwback swagger as the band worked their way through favourites from previous albums including "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor" and "Brainstorm" mixed with new tracks "R U Mine" and "One For The Road". Their cool confidence coursed through the venue and the feeling was electric with fans from floor to ceiling jumping, dancing and singing along throughout the show. Miles Kane joined Arctic Monkeys on stage to play guitar for the final song "505", bringing to a close one of the highlight shows of the Festival thus far.

You would be forgiven for thinking Drenge is a band of 4 or more people given the amount of force coming from their music. However, these two brothers from Derbyshire complete one of the most exciting new rock acts this year. They've made a name for themselves with live shows, performing their electrifying, riff driven songs to full impact: snarling vocals, raging guitars and relentless drums. Gripping performances of their most well-known tracks "Bloodsports" and "Back Waters" confirmed that these two brothers are on their way.

September 10

Having just stepped off a plane from Los Angeles, Jake Bugg took to the Festival stage like a seasoned pro, backed by an energetic young band, and an equally young and enthusiastic London crowd. He then ripped through almost every hit off his album. Stand out tracks included "Lightning Bolt" which had the audience singing every word and the big ballad with it's Orbison-esque chorus "Broken". He whooped it up with "Two Fingers"and a live version of Neil Young's "Hey Hey My My" was an unexpected pleasure. He raised the Roundhouse roof as the audience joined in on the chorus of "Seen it All". The teenager gave a great night of rockabilly groove and the audience continued singing the words as they danced out of the Roundhouse into the brisk Camden air.

First up was Tennessee's Valerie June. She's has a strong unmistakable, Billie Holliday-infused voice that had her charming the audience all the way through her 11-song set. Her music has tinges of classic soul, country-gospel and gutbucket blues all the way into West African Pop. She warmed the audience with tracks like "Workin' Woman Blues" and "Somebody to Love" from her album Pushin' Against A Stone which has been in the top 20 of many iTunes charts around the world.

September 11

Kings of Leon did not disappoint with an awe-inspiring 21-song set of hits and songs from their forthcoming album "Mechanical Bull" due to be released on 23 September. The band warmed the capacity crowd with an endless string of hits like "Use Somebody", "Fans", "Pyro" and encores of "Radioactive" and "Sex on Fire". Fans also sang along to the new single "Wait for Me" and "Supersoaker". Overall a musical feast from a band who made it known they they are appreciative of their UK fans and global audience. An iTunes Festival night to remember.

Opening the evening, Jimmy Eat World delivered the bristling vigor that has marked a trailblazing career. Singer/guitarist Jim Adkinsâ€™ and the band's youthful delivery sharpened their set to a fine point featuring hits and songs from the group's eighth album, Damage. Infectious, urgent tunes like â€œHowâ€™d You Have Meâ€ and â€œBook of Loveâ€ prove that this Arizona band keeps getting better.

September 12

Elton John dazzled the audience, who couldnt believe they were witnessing something so special. Starting with an opening track from 2CELLOS, the set list was filled with hit after hit - "Bennie and the Jets", "Levon", "Tiny Dancer", "Rocket Man", "Yellow Brick Road, "I'm Still Standin"and "Saturday" as well as a few tracks from his soon-to-be-released album The Diving Board, a collaboration with Bernie Taupin. For the first encore "Home Again" he brought out a horn section and choir from his alma mater The Royal Academy of Music - it had the audience in awe. Elton ended with "Your Song" which had the crowd singing every word and he left the stage truly having had a great time. A memorable show we will be watching on VOD as much as we can.

Opening the evening was Tom Odell, winner of the Crtics' Choice BRIT Award earlier this year. For someone so young, Tom packs a punch in both emotional songwriting and performing stakes. He performed a nine song set including "Grow Old With Me" and "Another Love" with the audience singing along to every lyric. He also surprised the Elton crown with a cover of "Honkey Tonk".

September 13

Tim Bergling (aka Avicii) wasted no time giving his fans exactly what they wanted - big, heavy, noisy beats. The relentless nature of his set was awe-inspiring, highly intense, and accompanied by a spectacular light-show that took in not only the stage and the audience, but the entire auditorium. With his long-awaited debut album, True, out on Monday, Avicii featured many of his own new songs, including â€œYou Make Meâ€, as well as the awesome â€œSuperloveâ€, a track he made with Lenny Kravitz. A sprinkling of vintage London classics - â€œLondon Callingâ€ by The Clash and â€œBaba O'Reilyâ€ by The Who - added a local flavour to the show, seamlessly worked into a mix which also included tracks from David Guetta, Duck Sauce and Florence + The Machine. When the intro to the anthemic worldwide summer smash â€œWake Me Upâ€ kicked in, the crowd roared, and most assumed this would be the last song of the night, but Avicii had one last trick up his sleeve - â€œLay Me Downâ€, a fantastic new song co-written with and featuring Chic's Nile Rodgers (who was in the crowd for the show). The perfect blend of pounding beats and disco flourishes brought the set to a euphoric climax.

Henrik B got the eager crowd warmed up with a nicely paced set. Opening with a euphoric, symphonic intro, Henrik got hands in the air with remixes of Bruno Mars' â€œLocked Out of Heavenâ€, The Killers' â€œMr. Brightsideâ€, Coldplay's "Every Teardrop's A Waterfallâ€ plus his own recent single â€œEchoesâ€.

September 14

Chic, fronted by the effortlessly cool Nile Rodgers, performed their impressive back catalogue of hits, including "I Want Your Love", "Le Freak", "I'm Coming Out", and "Upside Down". As the iconic opening riff of "Good Times" rung out across the venue, members of the crowd took to the stage to dance, joined by opening act Janelle MonÃ¡e, For the finale, the band led the ecstatic audience in a singalong of the recent Daft Punk hit "Get Lucky" - a joyous finale to a formidable night.

Janelle MonÃ¡e owned the stage, as she burned her way through cuts from her new album The Electric Lady, including "Q.U.E.E.N", "Dance Apocalyptic", and an expertly sung cover of the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back".