Field Day: PJ Harvey, Mystery Jets, John Grant and Beach House chase away the gloom for festival's 10th anniversary

Resolutely cheerful festival-goers stomp through the churned up ground and head to the nearest beer stall

(Rex)

Weather warnings have been predicting storms a week before Field Day, and for once it seems they may actually have been accurate.

On the Sunday morning a fine mist is falling from sleet-grey clouds, and it continues to do so by the time you reach the chaos that is Victoria Park.

Rather than the solid ground and clear azure skies from last year, revellers are faced with a grit-your-teeth-and-bear-it trudge through mud to get from a stage on one end of the field to the next.

Not that that’s going to stop anyone. Resolutely cheerful festival-goers stomp through the churned up ground and head to the nearest beer stall.

There are some infuriating clashes as per - Mystery Jets, InHeaven, Fat White Family and Thurston Moore’s band are all on around 4pm - which is frustrating as it’s harder to run to another stage when the ground is trying to steal your shoes.

Considering it’s the 10-year anniversary of one of the best UK city festivals, this year’s line-up feels a little tame compared to the last.

Sure, you have the outrageous stage presence of Fat White Family - you'd be surprised if frontman Lias Saoudi didn't strip down to his pants by the end of a performance - and the excitement of PJ Harvey and The Avalanches (although there have been mixed reports about the latter’s live shows and those who attended Field Day's gig complain of a messy DJ set).

But there seems to be far less range than 2015: last year the father-son act of Toumani and Sidiki Diabaté blew unsuspecting crowds away; as did acts such as Run the Jewels, FKA twigs and, of course, the incomparable Patti Smith.

That said, there are plenty of fantastic artists to be seen. Mystery Jets, who we interviewed in a Facebook live video on the day, are striking to watch live at the Return of the Rural Stage; performing from their 2016 release Curve of the Earth which is arguably their greatest record to date.

Frontman Blaine Harrison recalls Thom Yorke’s high, keening notes on gorgeous opener ‘Telomere’, where extra points are awarded for getting the word “petrichor’ into the lyrics. Bombay Blue, the video of which was released last week, is an affecting piece that speaks of new beginnings and self-discovery; the audience are captivated from the very start.

Stockport band Blossoms, who have done a ridiculous three festivals in three days, are carving a pretty solid path to mainstream consciousness - they play a short sweet set that includes the infectious 'Charlemagne' and 'Blown Rose'. As they perform there’s a sudden spurt of torrential rain and everyone looks up to see if the tent will start leaking, then, somewhat miraculously, it ends as the band close their set and the sun finally comes out.

On the Eat Your Own Ears stage while this rare bit of sunlight is blazing, John Grant is all sass in sunglasses, expanding on a song like ‘Black Belt’ with additional bells and whistles, not to mention his rich, sonorous voice that never wavers.

Beach House play a strangely invigorating set at the Shacklewell Arms stage, , and, as ominous clouds begin gathering over Victoria Park, it’s suddenly time for PJ Harvey.

Brought on by a small marching band, she appears resembling some kind of valkyrie queen, resplendent in a jacket of black feathers and a headband of the same.

Onstage she’s a riveting presence - pale arms moving around expressively - and much of the material from her recent release The Hope Six Demolition Project - captures the audience's attention despite the distraction of an approaching thunderstorm.

It's not quite on the same level as last year, but Harvey makes for a fittingly stormy closer to 2016's event.