More about: NOS Alive

Sweet sounds, sea, sand, sunshine and one of the best line-ups of the summer - bringing music fans in their thousands to the beautiful Portugal coast. Festival season doesn't have to be all about trenchfoot, mud and misery. Nos Alive so simply put all of the elements in place to be one of the greatest live events of the year. Could this be the ultimate remedy for the post-Glastonbury blues?

Curiosity got the better of us, so we caught a plane and headed to be among the beautiful people of Lisbon for a week that only be described as life-affirming. As Britain crumbled in the wake Brexit and Chilcott, the spirit of European love and union bonded us to new friends as we gorged on a banquet of the best bands on the circuit right now - and took in some pretty stunning scenery along the way. As the neon signs that illuminate the fringes of site read out, 'it was all a dream' but 'the dream was real'.

As our sun tan begins to fade but the memories shall endure, these are the 15 greatest things about Nos Alive 2016.

Radiohead

As two of the biggest acts on the road in Europe this summer, booking Radiohead and Arcade Fire for NOS Alive 2016 is, without doubt, the festival coup of the year. There's one noticeable difference between the two headline sets though: the absolute silence that comes over NOS Alive moments before Radiohead take to the main stage. This anticipation and reverence, for what is rumoured to be their last world tour, is rewarded generously with a masterclass of alternative rock stagecraft.

Nina Simone's heartfelt words on freedom play over the PA as Oxford's finest emerge: “I’ll tell you what freedom is for me. No fear.”

There's no fear and no surprises (and no pun intended) as they open - as with every date on this 'A Moon Shaped Pool' tour - with the first five tracks from their latest record. The cacophonous ferocity of 'Burn The Witch' dissipates into the composed euphony of 'Daydreaming'. The thousands stand still, hushed in deferential silence, as Thom Yorke reminds us "this goes beyond me, beyond you".

Amen. What follows is no less than immersive, spiritual and sublime.. The full set, including two sizeable encores, is near perfect. A staggering 24 tracks that pull from across the catalogue; from breakthrough hit ‘Creep’ to the iconic single ‘Street Spirit (Fade Out)’ via Kid A favourites 'Everything In Its Right Place and 'Kid A', and no less than seven tracks from their latest LP A Moon Shaped Pool, you couldn't ask for much more.

Thom Yorke, in playful but uncommunicative mood, stays with his acoustic guitar to help closing song 'Karma Police' go the extra mile, accompanying the thousands of fans echoing that powerful final refrain long after the band have left the stage. For a minute there, we lost ourselves too. (CS)

- See more beautiful photos from Radiohead's set here

- Read our full Radiohead report here

Arcade Fire

The word 'Radiohead' was still echoing around the site in Lisbon on the closing evening, as the eyes of animated fans still beamed wide in disbelief. Following in their footsteps would be too daunting a task for most, but from the opening burst of first track 'Ready To Start', a similar of level of religious fervour greets the band - as symbiotic waves of joy bounce between them and the crowd. It's quite clear there's anyone capable of picking up the baton from Thom Yorke and co - be it tonight or in terms of leading the musical vanguard - it's Arcade Fire. 

"I think white men have run the world for a while, I think it's time women and people of colour tried for 100 years or so," spits frontman Will Butler in his only but perfect utterance of the set. Shrieks of approval from the like-minded and liberal masses greet him, before effortlessly sinking back into their ocean of glorious noise. While no new material is aired, tonight's set is evenly balanced between their four game-changing albums - as well as nods to Nirvana and The Sex Pistols as they weave brief snippets of covers into tonight's technicolour tapestry.

Running from the off with a smattering of favourites from The Suburbs, an early climax comes when Regine Chassagne takes control for 'Sprawl II', as she gleefully twirls across the stage as a carnival atmosphere overcomes Lisbon. Then Reflektor's title track into the soul-renewing 'Afterlife', tropical bounce of 'We Exist' and the art-rock wig-out of 'Normal Person' remind us what immaculate form they were in when they last left us.

There's never a moment where we aren't arm in arm in stunned silence ('My Body Is A Cage'), jumping as high as gravity will allow us ('No Cars Go'), dancing past oblivion ('Here Comes The Night Time') or feel close to bursting in joyful chorus ('Rebellion (Lies)'). The overwhelming closer of 'Wake Up' leaves all present overwhelmed, and not in the slightest bit cheated at the lack of encore. 

With an effervescent spirit, Arcade Fire honour their past, play like a band celebrating every second of the present, and leave us desperate to behold their future. It's just feels so damn good to have them back. (AT)

- See more awesome Arcade Fire photos here

Tame Impala

 "Oh, I see what you're doing Lisbon," smiles Tame Impala frontman Kevin Parker with a devilish grin, "taking your clothes off in front of the camera. Do what you want, this is a festival."

Amen, and never as the track 'Let It Happen' seemed more fitting as droves of sun-kissed beautiful youths, both male and female, take to the skies on their friends shoulders to lose their minds and a few items of clothing. From Primavera to Glastonbury, Tame Impala's mesmeric psych has proven to be the sound of summer 2016. With a full-bodied world of sound, an angelic voice and a genuine, warming heartfelt sentiment that runs through all they do, they simply couldn't do more to make you fall in love so absolutely - then they throw in cannons full of ticker tape. Future headliners for certain, but for now: pure, audio, visual bliss. (AT)

- Read our full Tame Impala report here

- See more amazing Tame Impala photos here

The City of Lisbon + the Nos Alive site itself

One of the oldest cities in the world, Lisbon unfurls across a series of hills (seven, to be precise) and is stitched together by a web of sloping backstreets, vintage tram lines and imposing highways. You'll find the wide streets and squares of Downtown Lisbon, in all their ornate baroque style, buzzing with shoppers and tourists during the day, whilst revellers throng the old cobbled streets and the many bars of Bairro Alto late at night.

The city’s laid-back attitude, its carefree style and sophistication, has taken root over centuries, back from when this port and its links with South America, Africa and Asia made it the most prosperous trading centre in Europe.

As legend has it, Lisbon was founded by the Greek hero Ulysses, and its original name, Ulissipo or Olissipo, meant “enchanted port”.

NOS Alive sits on that enchanted port and you can see fishing boats rock gently in the distance as you enter the festival site, glimpsing the intense afternoon sun beating off the Tagus. It's the priceless commodity of good music that is arriving into the port of Lisbon this weekend, though we think Jonny Greenwood has likely left his motorboat moored up somewhere closer to home. (CS)

Foals

Drummer Jack Bevan leads the charge from the back, donning a pretty special 'I Wanna Be Inside EU' t-shirt. As the kraut-rock beat to 'Snake Oil' welcomes the band to the stage before all tension is dissipated with an almighty, howling release, it's clear that Foals are in the mood to celebrate being united with Europe, if only for tonight at least. 

It seems somewhat perverse that the band are on so early on the bill, especially given their headline-worthy set at Glastonbury a few weeks ago, and what awaits them at Reading + Leeds next month. However as the early evening sun bakes down and all revellers quickly lose their minds, time doesn't seem to ever really matter - Foals always play like each gig is their last. 

Frontman Yannis Philippakis jerks, shrieks and flies across the stage as if he's either at battle with himself, or itching to get out of his own skin. But that's not to say it's all pure punk abandon. The full, considered and artful scope of a sound that can only be theirs is explored - be it the shameless pop bounce of 'My Number', the feral insanity of 'Providence', the post-rock odyssey of 'Spanish Sahara' of the devastating elegiac grace of 'Late Night'. 

Sealed with a kiss and a kick in the face from the snarling beasts of closers 'Inhaler' and 'What Went Down', Yannis takes to the crowd to eyeball the masses making the moshpit swell - and then it's over, all too soon. Just think of the damage they could do with a headline slot. The future is theirs. (AT)

- See more beautiful Foals photos here

Hot Chip

You might not have given it much thought but there's really very few things in this world more welcome at 3am than a greatest hits set from Hot Chip; we find the whole festival under the one tent raving during this final rapturous act of Friday night.

From the soaring nostalgia of opener 'And I Was A Boy From School' until their euphoric cover of Springsteen's 'Dancing In The Dark' - which transforms effortlessly into Prince's 'Purple Rain' (to the tune of LCD Soundsystem's 'All My Friends') to close - the band are at a new peak in their career. Breakthrough hit ‘Over and Over’ complements the new generation Hot Chip, like moving house ballad ‘Need You Now’ and the Chicago house inspired ‘Flutes’, giving us something to move our head, our heart and our heels. (CS)

Soulwax & 2ManyDJs

Still hungry and itching for more after The Chemical Brothers whet our apetites, their decadent dancefloor spirit was matched across the site with a closing set from 2ManyDJs, whose genre-defying smattering of classics by everyone from Supergrass and New Order via Tame Impala, Hot Chip, Lil' Wayne and obscurities blended with pop bangers created that extended ecstatic rush that can only come from the greatest hits of the very greatest hits, given the Dewaele brothers' treatment.

It's an honour to be in their presence, especially given as their appearance earlier that evening as Soulwax was nothing short of a masterclass in ageless dance rock done right. Soulwax is happiness. (AT)

Wolf Alice

Their worldwide victory lap continues with an emotional set on the Heineken Stage. Opening with a volatile instrumental, the band roared into album highlight and arguably the best song of last summer, 'Your Love's Whore' - still resplendent in its full-bodied grunge majesty. Billy Corgan wishes he could still write a song half as good as this.

"This is our first time in Lisbon," beamed singer Ellie Rowsell, visibly moved by the swelling and screaming crowd that gathered to lose themselves to Wolf Alice rather than Pixies - who, to be honest, they wipe the floor with. Naturally, the warmest response was saved for the track inspired by this very city, as Theo emotionally recalls his first holiday alone here when he was 19. Youthful exuberance inspired, the tent goes mental. Wolf Alice are the sound of a perfect summer, and long may it last. (AT)

- See more amazing Wolf Alice photos here

Biffy Clyro

Biffy Clyro don't do second billing in 2016. Which makes it all the more strange to see the trio striding out on stage just after 7pm, the sun still beating down, playing third string to Pixies and The Chemical Brothers.

Days before the release of Ellipsis, a record recently described by Simon Neil as their 'Now That's What I Call Biffy Clyro' album, their NOS Alive set is certainly stuffed full with hits. ‘Wolves of Winter’ into ‘Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies’ sets the general unrelenting tone: Mon the Beast. Biffy aren’t taking prisoners here, even in the soaring Mediterranean heat, and with new electro-rock effort ‘Friends and Enemies’ then the strongly worded aggro of 'On A Bang' it becomes clear this new chapter could be their most definitive yet. Reading & Leeds won't know what's hit it. (CS)

- Read our full Biffy Clyro report here

- See more incredible Biffy Clyro photos here

Grimes

The Heineken tent is packed to bursting for what for many is the final set they'll witness at Nos 2016, and we're honoured that this remains burned into our retinas and memory as we look back on an incredible weekend.

Which comes as some relief, after reports that Grimes can be somewhat 'touch and go' as a live performer, especially at festivals. But flanked by dancers, she takes us to a whole other planet as 'REALiTi' ignites Nos Alive in one last rave. Be it on 'Go', 'Scream' her twisted cover of 'Ave Maria', the pop menace of 'Oblivion' or the apocalyptic outro of 'Kill v. Maim', you can't help but be totally taken aback by this 'being'. Grimes destroys all notions of genre, and obliterates any possible points of comparison. The way she sounds, the way she moves, the way she makes you feel, the things she does to a crowd - Grimes is like nothing else on this Earth. (AT)

Portuguese Cuisine

Not everything at NOS Alive is Heineken flavoured. Independent food stands abound and whilst the traditional festival fare is in generous supply you'll also find stalls selling Portuguese-style chicken (that’s a cheeky Nando’s to you and me) plus local seafood dishes, pastries and the mighty Bifana. The festival have even erected a 150 metre long EDP Street, lovingly recreating the city streets of Lisbon and their magnificent Pombaline architecture, its shops and bars keep the crowds entertained late into the evening. (CS)

The 1975

The 1975 kicked off the opening day with a set that at first seemed bizarrely early at 6pm on the main stage - but as the baking sun seemed all the brighter by the Prince meets Peter Gabriel pure pop abandon of 'Love Me', we realise there's no better way to begin what could well go on to be the greatest weekend of summer 2016. 

The set is short but sweet, and nigh on perfect. The true and unsung scope of their sound is explored, to inspire every kind of extreme from the beautiful masses who gathered so early. The stop-start funk of 'UGH!' sitting alongside the M83-tinged bittersweet heartache of 'Somebody Else', the Boyz II Men gospel soul of 'If I Believe You', the bubblegum cheek of 'Girls' and the Euro-pop anthem of 'The Sound' showcases that just two albums into the career, The 1975 have proven that there's no avenue they can't explore to its fullest and totally make their own.

Matt Healy is every bit the rock prince that The 1975's star-reaching ambition set them up to be. With just a twirl of his mic and a shake of his luscious locks, he could probably make the dead dance. It feels like he's flirting with all of Lisbon at once, and it's impossible not to be totally smitten. Also, applause for his incredible Cannibal Corpse t-shirt. We fall in love with The 1975 a little more each and every time. (AT)

- See more beautiful The 1975 photos here

John Grant

For the uninitiated, John Grant’s somewhat crude sound and enigmatic style can be difficult to penetrate, and with three excellent studio albums to his name it would be difficult to suggest where to start. Thankfully, Grant commands a cult-like level of devotion among his fans and they easily out-sing the unenlightened on bullish anthems ‘GMF’ and ‘Snug Slacks’ - two stand out highlights from one of the most arresting sets of the weekend. (CS)

- Read our full John Grant report here

- See more wonderful John Grant photos here

The Chemical Brothers

 With a fully immersive visual spectacular driven by lasers, giant robots and projections of a carnival of freaks and others, The Chemical Brothers led Lisbon into the early hours of the morning with a rave packed with dancefloor classics alongside cuts from their exquisite 2015 effort, Born In The Echoes. 

Coming out to the blissed out sounds of a psych wash-out rendition of The Beatles' 'Tomorrow Never Knows', the dreamy haze was soon punctured by the seismic opening beats of 'Hey Boy Hey Girl' - kicking off with an early peak to set the bar high for the duration. If anyone knows the true magic of tension and release, it's The Chemical Brothers. Said magic was always just around the corner, as drops were forever teased but used sparingly. The reaction saved for Born In The Echoes' 'Go' and 'Sometimes I Feel So Deserted' proved that Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons can keep kids dancing throughout the ages, but proceedings reached an almighty climax with the closing tracks of 'Galvanise' and 'Block Rockin' Beats' - sealing their set with a lingering kiss. (AT)

- Read our full Chemical Brothers report here

- See more amazing photos of Chemical Brothers here

Everyone is wonderful

Maybe it's the weather, maybe it's the music, maybe it's the fact that the Portuguese football team have just defeated Wales and are on the brink of European victory, but there's a loving spirit and electric atmosphere that fills the air at Nos Alive - and it's mighty intoxicating. The level of respect shown to all artists on stage is unparalleled, and the peace and brotherhood among punters feels like an embrace. It's the amazing line-up that brought us this year, but it's the people pulling us back to Nos Alive 2017. (AT)

More about: NOS Alive