Hip and happening

After a three-year hiatus, the 1-2-3-4 Festival is back, boasting The Jesus & Mary Chain as well as Crows, a band that seriously impressed at Dials Festival in Portsmouth last year. If I didn't already have plans for 3rd September, I'd be considering going.

I went to the festival's previous incarnation twice, in 2010 and 2012, and was fortunate enough to see a number of brilliant performances (Fucked Up, Invasion, Bo Ningen, The Pre New and Rolo Tomassi in 2010; Buzzcocks, The Pre New and Bo Ningen in 2012). In 2010 there were a few problems (poor sound and disorganised stage management, for instance), though these were improved for the 2012 event.

Both years the site was crawling with bizarrely dressed hipsters - inevitable, I guess, given that it took place in Shoreditch. This year's bash has a new setting, Three Mills Island, but as that it's still within East London, the crowd the festival attracts is likely to be much the same.

I was a bit uncomfortable with the level of corporate branding everywhere, but this no doubt helped to keep ticket prices ludicrously cheap (a mere £20 in 2010). This year, though, it looks as though a ticket will set you back the best part of £50, so presumably the organisers haven't got the same level of sponsorship this time around.