Radar Day 3: The Final Chapter

The last day of the festival was like a whirlwind adventure. It felt like all the bands we wanted to see were lined up back-to-back, leaving us no time to catch our breath. But we were totally up for it, ready to soak in every bit of festival magic before it was time to say goodbye.

The morning kicked off with I Built the Sky and Long Distance Calling – a bit slower, which was actually a relief for my tired legs after two action-packed days. I decided to watch their sets from the balcony to save my energy. Even though their music wasn't exactly my go-to, I found myself having a good time. And Andy Cizek even joined I Built the Sky on stage for a surprise performance of "The Fire Inside" – a cool moment that set a positive tone for the day.

Then, we headed over to the second stage to catch The Callous Daoboys, and wow, did they bring the energy. It was exactly what we needed to fully wake up and dive into the rest of the day. Then Caligula’s Horse took the main stage, and even though I hadn't heard their music before, I discovered a new favorite song during their set – "The Tempest."

ten56.

ten56.

Now, let me tell you about ten56. We checked their Instagram story and found out that their van had broken down, leaving them stuck 2 hours away from the venue. I knew they already had their fair share of issues leading up to the festival, with stolen passports and all. So, when we saw this, our hearts sank. We were really rooting for them. But they pulled through like champs. Their scheduled time came, and the stage was still empty. We could see the Radar crew waiting patiently at the side. And then, like magic, they made it! In just 17 minutes, they went from arriving to the venue to rocking the stage. They gave an amazing performance, and if you didn't know about their misadventures, you would never have guessed. The crowd was loving it, and honestly, I couldn't have been happier for them.

I did have to miss the end of their set, though, because I wanted a prime spot for Resolve. I've seen ten56 a bunch of times this year already, so I convinced myself it was okay to miss a bit to catch Resolve's final show of the Between Me And The Machine cycle.

Resolve

And that was a good call. Resolve absolutely killed it. I've seen them quite a few times since they're from the same country as me, but this time was extra special. It was the wrap-up for their BMATM cycle, and they gave it their all. The small stage didn't hold them back – they brought the heat, and the crowd was totally into it. It's always awesome to see bands like Resolve and ten56. outside of France; it just adds that extra layer of excitement.

Resolve

Resolve

Next up was Volumes, and even though we hung a bit far from the stage, we had a blast. Their performance was on point, and it was hard not to have a good time. Loathe was up next, and their set was off-the-charts energetic. The second stage was getting pretty hot and tight, but everyone was ready for Loathe. The energy was through the roof right from the first song. The low ceiling even had people hanging from it – not exactly security's favorite thing, but there was no stopping the vibe. It felt like the set ended way too quickly, and soon enough, we were on our way to catch the final act of the festival, Periphery.

Volumes

Loathe

Periphery's set was a masterpiece in quality, and they gave us an immersive experience that everyone was loving. To be honest, I hadn't really listened to their music before, but that didn't matter – their performance drew me right in. As the festival's grand finale, they totally nailed it. We even had the chance to chat with a few members from other bands who were also soaking in the last show.

Highlights of the day: ten56., Resolve, Loathe
Vlog on TikTok and Instagram

Festival Reflections

Radar Festival 2023 was hands down the best festival I've been to. The fact that it was indoors at Victoria Warehouse was a game-changer – no worrying about weather, whether it's rain or blazing sun. The way they alternated bands between the two stages was brilliant, giving us the chance to catch as many acts as possible. The layout was easy to navigate, so exploring didn't mean missing out. While there were a few technical hiccups along the way, the organisation was impressively smooth. Every band sounded awesome, no matter where you were in the venue. The lighting was mesmerising, making every performance shine. If I had to nitpick, I'd say that if you were a bit far from the stage, like me, and on the shorter side, you couldn't really see much on the second stage. But that was probably because the low ceiling made it tough to raise the stage, so I get it. Also, the ticket-checking when entering and exiting the venue was a bit redundant – I thought that wristbands should have been enough. But honestly, those are just minor things in the grand scheme.

What really made Radar Festival shine for me was the sense of community. Meeting people, whether it was fellow festival-goers, the awesome Radar team, or the bands themselves, was a highlight. The smaller size of the festival made it easy to bump into the same friendly faces, and initiatives like the Discord server and Facebook group made connecting a breeze. Meeting band members and getting to chat with them gave us this feeling that we were all part of something bigger – a tight-knit community brought together by our love for music. The atmosphere was incredibly respectful and caring, whether you were in the pit or chilling outside. People showed up early every day to make the most of it, and that packed each set with energy. We all shared a similar experience, and it bonded us like a family.

My own journey at Radar Festival was mind-blowing, which is why I felt the need to share these posts. I started as a solo goer, but along the way, I made an amazing friend and connected with so many incredible people. Every moment was a treasure, from discovering new bands to capturing memories through photos and videos. In fact, I put together a gallery of my festival snapshots, and I've been sharing pictures and videos on my social media – you'll find all the links at the end of this post.

And guess what? I've already got my ticket for next year. If you're even slightly thinking about it, trust me, you won't regret joining the Radar Festival family. Hope to see you there!