Victorious Festival, Southsea Common, 22nd – 24th August 2025
Header shot © Hannah Mesquitta
Actions have consequences, and sometimes those actions have unintended consequences. The Streisand Effect was first used as a term in 2005 after the singer Barbra Steisand attempted to block the publication of an aerial photo that included her home in Malibu. The image’s intended purpose was to highlight the impact that coastal erosion was having on the area. However, Streisand sued the photographer for violation of privacy and lost the case, which subsequently brought more attention to the environmental issue and helped to increase public awareness of the project.
It’s no secret that Victorious Festival has been involved in its own controversy this Bank Holiday weekend. On Friday, Irish folk band The Mary Wallopers had their set cut brutally short after taking a pro-Palestinian stance on the Common Stage. The story has since found its way onto numerous news sites including the Irish Independent, BBC and CNN, and this only served to raise the band’s profile whilst giving them a much larger platform to spread their message. By attempting to censor the band in real time and then publishing a misleading statement on the incident afterwards, the festival organisers unintentionally created more drama and backlash than simply allowing the band to stand up for what they (and many) believe is right. Further consequences of the organiser’s decision to cut The Mary Wallopers off included several bands scheduled to perform on the Saturday pulling out in solidarity, including The Last Dinner Party, The Academic and The Cliffords. Saturday’s Common Stage headliners Vampire Weekend also waded into the situation during their performance stating that the Irish band ‘deserve an apology’. With the ongoing backlash (mostly online of course) and acts themselves calling out the decision to cancel The Mary Wallopers, the festival organisers were forced to issue a further statement saying, ‘We are sorry that this situation has come about and will be making a substantial donation to humanitarian relief efforts for the Palestinian people’. I do hope Victorious are sincere about this commitment to the people of Palestine, and that they avoid censoring bands in future by instead seeking to protect freedom of speech and expression.
Drama aside for now, I did in fact manage to see some bands over the weekend. First up we have Ash on the Castle Stage. Walking on to the theme from The A-Team (see what they did there?), they launch into A Life Less Ordinary followed by another summer favourite Oh Yeah. At the midpoint of the set, we get a punk-inspired calypso cover of Harry Belafonte’s Jump In The Line (Shake Senora) with things coming to a thunderous close following a great rendition of Burn Baby Burn.
Ash © Hannah Mesquitta
After the incident involving The Mary Wallopers earlier today, it’s up to Wunderhorse to liven things up on the Common Stage. Starting things off with Midas there’s plenty of passion on display here, and it’s clear why they are creating a bit of a buzz right now. Next up, we’re back to the Castle Stage to see Everything Everything. Again, the weather is the perfect backdrop for their brand of electro indie floor fillers. Songs like Pizza Boy, Kemosabe, Jennifer and Cold Reactor have the crowd up and dancing along to every beat, and the band are clearly having a good time as well.
Left: Wunderhorse, Right: Everything Everything © Hannah Mesquitta
It’s then back over to the Common Stage to catch the last half of the Kaiser Chiefs’ set before Friday’s headliners. The Chiefs are replacements for Michael Kiwanuka who has unfortunately had to pull out due to ongoing illness. I’ve never really been a fan of the Kaiser Chiefs personally, but they roll out all the hits you’d expect in quick succession and there’s even a mosh pit during Angry Mob. Careful now.
So, we’ve made it to the end of day one, and it’s up to Queens of the Stone Age to end things on a high note. The band immediately launch into the mind-melting You Think I Ain’t Worth A Dollar, But I Feel Like A Millionaire, followed by No One Knows, which the crowd transform into a mass sing-along akin to how the main riff from Seven Nation Army has become a staple at sports events. There’s plenty of banter in between songs, with frontman Josh Homme at one point asking the crowd, ‘Are we gonna give each other a night we’ll never remember?’ I hope not, as the set is packed with bangers including Paper Machete, I Sat By The Ocean, Little Sister (a request from the crowd) and Sick, Sick, Sick. With the set drawing to a close, the band end with two heavy hitters Go With The Flow and the always awesome Song For The Dead. Here, drummer Jon Theodore hammers out all the parts Dave Grohl originally played beat for beat, but somehow better! It’s heavy, it’s groovy and as the band are building towards the end of the song, it’s time for the obligatory headline act fireworks, which signify the end of day one and I leave site with plenty to think about.
Queens of the Stone Age © Hannah Mesquitta
Saturday’s schedule has been moved around a bit due to several bands pulling out after the events that took place yesterday, but the line-up still includes sets from long serving Brit Poppers Shed Seven and Travis, with Vampire Weekend (Common Stage) and Nelly Furtado (Castle Stage) as our headliners for this evening. Despite the last-minute changes, I’m able to catch Circa Waves who are playing over on Castle Stage, whilst The Manatees are doing their best to keep the 90’s revival alive on the Under The Trees stage. Public Service Broadcasting are due on the Castle Stage next, and once they hit their stride, things really start to pick up. Tracks like Blue Heaven, Spitfire and Go! get the crowd really going. The energy starts to build, and the last three songs take the band’s Kraftwerk leaning tunes into Chic territory. People Let’s Dance, Gargarin and set closer Everest feature guest appearances from a trumpet and sax player, with some added background dancing from an astronaut thrown in for good measure. Public Service Broadcasting might look like geography teachers on a sabbatical, but boy are they fun to watch.
Top: The Manatees, Bottom: Public Service Broadcasting © Hannah Mesquitta
Sunday’s lineup includes the usual mix of older indie bands including The Zutons, Reverend & The Makers, Bloc Party and festival closers Kings of Leon, alongside pop staples such as Craig David and his TS5, Gabrielle and Melanie C.
Top: Reverend & the Makers, Bottom: Bloc Party © Hannah Mesquitta
Upon reflection, the weather was better than last year, and it’s fair to say that the majority of people attending the festival enjoyed themselves. It’s just a shame that the incident on Friday was handled the way it was, as I came away from the experience feeling disappointed. Victorious Festival bills itself as a festival with something for everyone. Just be sure to leave your political views at the entrance.
Left: Caity Baser, Top Right: Craig David
Bottom Right: Bradley Simpson © Dave Sloan
Top: She’s Got Brass, Bottom: Kojaks Revenge © Hannah Mesquitta
Left: Lani Jordan, Top Right: The Showhawk Duo
Bottom Right: Circa Waves © Hannah Mesquitta
Top: Crystal Tides, Bottom: Massaoke © Dave Sloan
Left: Andy Foster, Top Right: Florence Noon
Bottom Right: Starsailor © Hannah Mesquitta
Top: The Monkey Butlars, Bottom: Silent Movie Star © Hannah Mesquitta
Left: Joel Dommett, Top Right: The Pill
Bottom Right: Scouting for Girls © Dave Sloan
Top: Greenness, Bottom: She’s in Parties © Hannah Mesquitta
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Photos by: Hannah Mesquitta – Instagram | Dave Sloan – Instagram
Review by Ryan Howarth
Published 30th August 2025
Breaking Glass Magazine 