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We're at the height of the festival season and many pop fans are already exhausted after paying homage to their idols in soggy fields far from home.

Enticingly, and with the weather set fair, Sundae on the Common promised a mud-free urban shindig and the chance to see some stunning acts, including The Feeling who've won widespread acclaim along with a critical backlash.

But it was clear there were other much fancied performers on this first day of Clapham Common's weekend party replete with its pick 'n' mix crowd of south London trendies and noisy indie kids.

The Isle of Wight's finest, The Bees, warmed up the stage for the main act with their sunny sound - a mix of rock, reggae, country and jazz.听

One of the best things about the six-piece and their brass section was their ability to swap instruments and their roles in the band, keeping the audience enthralled.

The dubby, sing-along Listening Man was a case in point. As bass player Aaron Fletcher turn lead vocalist, the front row bobbed their heads in a show of bonhomie.

limelight-grabbing

Earlier in the day, Devonshire migrants to London, The Rumble Strips, had wowed the crowd, particularly the wannabee indie girls, with their bouncy blend of acoustic guitar, piano, sax, trumpet, handclapping and Charlie Waller's limelight-grabbing, well-pitched vocals.

Another London-based act, Harrow-born Kate Nash, also delighted the crowd in the afternoon sunshine with her set of striking, heartfelt lyrics and simple musical arrangements.听

Sadly, the much-anticipated show of headliners The Feeling didn't begin on such a strong note - they were plagued by a power cut during their first song.

But it worked in their favour as frontman Dan Gillespie bantered cheerfully with the crowd until the technical gremlins disappeared.

And when they made a speedy recovery to belt out a confident set, all the while jumping around the stage with unashamed jubilance, the performance was all the more impressive.

"music for the masses"

Highlights included a cover of The Buggles' Video Killed the Radio Star, showing off their abilities as musicians and singers, and the upbeat anthem Love it When You Call, both of which won loud applause and left the audience warm and fuzzy.

The rest of the set, though easy on the ears and clearly appealing to the many die-hard fans in the audience, was formulaic, uninspiring stuff - full of catchy choruses and loud drums.听

But then they're not too concerned about being cutting-edge, as Dan Gillespie has indicated: "We make music for the masses, from plumbers to professors".

Certainly, the mixed crowd of Londoners around me seemed pretty pleased with what they'd heard and the Common's ersatz festival vibe.

It was that kind of a day: sunshine 'n' icecream 6 binliners 'n' muddy feet 0.

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