Victorious Festival 2025 - Day 1 - Friyay!

Victorious 2025: A Friday Fueled by Riffs, Anthems, and the Unexpected

The first day of Victorious 2025 has come and gone in a glorious blur of sun-drenched anthems and sonic surprises. From the front lines of Southsea Common, we embarked on a meticulously curated journey, a testament to the fact that the best festival experiences are often found in a well-planned schedule. Here’s how our Friday unfolded, deep-diving into a day that proved rock and indie are not only thriving, but also wonderfully weird.

We kicked off our day with the unapologetically chaotic art-punk of Man/Woman/Chainsaw. The band, a whirlwind of frenetic energy, delivered a sound that felt both primitive and intellectually sharp. Their performance was a glorious cacophony of screeching guitars and primal rhythms, a perfect palate cleanser to start the day. It was raw, urgent, and a wonderful reminder that sometimes, music is meant to be a controlled explosion. A proper racket, and we loved every minute of it.

Stepping onto the Main Stage, we were greeted by the effortless cool of The Charlatans. Tim Burgess, a figure etched into the indie landscape, floated across the stage, a beacon of timeless swagger. Their set was a masterclass in feel-good grooves and swirling psychedelic keyboards, each track from "The Only One I Know" to "North Country Boy" a nostalgic, celebratory moment for a crowd that has grown up with them. It wasn't just a gig; it was a communal rite of passage, proving that some bands simply get better with age.

We then plunged into the aural assault of Ash, who came armed not only with their legendary punk-pop hits but also a sense of renewed purpose. Tim Wheeler was in blistering form, tearing through classics with the vigour of a band a fraction of their age. Crucially, they gave us a thrilling preview of their new album, a fresh, fiery sound that proves their creative engines are firing on all cylinders. Their set was the perfect marriage of nostalgia and new beginnings, a reminder of their enduring relevance.

In a moment of pure festival eccentricity, we found ourselves singing along to Daniel Bedingfield. Yes, that Daniel Bedingfield. A true wildcard on the bill, his performance was a surprisingly joyous blast of early noughties pop. His powerful, soulful vocals and undeniable stage presence had us all dancing ironically, then un-ironically, to "Gotta Get Thru This" and "If You're Not The One." It was a moment that only a festival can create, where genre boundaries dissolve and we’re all just there for the good times.

As the evening drew in, we headed to the Main Stage for the unbridled energy of Kaiser Chiefs. Ricky Wilson, a perpetual motion machine, commanded the massive crowd with boundless enthusiasm. Their set was a nonstop party, a glorious hit parade of festival anthems from "I Predict a Riot" to "Ruby." They are a band built for big crowds, with singalongs, jumping, and witty banter all part of the package. It was a high-energy, feel-good performance that warmed the soul and prepped us for the headliners.

Victorious Festival/Strong Island: Russ leggatt

And then came the main event. Queens of the Stone Age didn't just play; they exerted a heavy, hypnotic force over the entire festival. Josh Homme, a true rock god, oozed charisma and cool as the band’s colossal, swaggering riffs filled the night sky. The sheer weight of their sound was magnificent, each track a masterclass in sonic texture and groove. We were completely swept up in the monumental sound of "No One Knows" and "Go With The Flow," a perfect, powerful end to a day that delivered on every front.

From chaos to cool, nostalgia to new, Friday at Victorious was a perfect testament to the festival's fantastic programming. What a day. And that’s just the beginning.