A splurge of Doctor Martens, Converses and Vans decorated the grounds of Victoria Park in anticipation of this year’s Underage festival. With a plethora of performances from the likes of Chiddy Bang, Darwin Deez, M.I.A and Ellie Goulding it was no surprise adolescent music enthusiasts were omnipresent.

Now in its fourth year, the festival which is exclusively for fourteen to eighteen year olds gives young people the chance to experience unadulterated music without the restrictions of adults and age. An array of acts including, You and What Army who performed on the Red Bull Bedroom Jam Stage managed to induce spontaneous outbursts of moshing and madness through impressive stage positioning and serious bass and electric guitar sections. Don Broco, who also took to the stage last year, acted caused hysteria by hurling t-shirts into the appropriately named whirlwind mosh pit, the ‘Hall of Death’.

"Underage Festival seamlessly brought together some of the best in homegrown, international and modern music."

Over at the Tango stage, a swarm of arms garnished the skyline during headline act, Tinie Tempah who preformed Channel U classic, ‘Wifey Riddim ’ and his hit singles ‘Pass out’ and ‘Frisky’. After his commendable performance, a simultaneous stampede started, with over four hundred revelers marching, dancing, running (and occasionally moon-walking) over to the Topman Ctrl stage in anticipation for the ‘man of the moment’, Professor Green. Despite the wait, Green’s rendition of ‘Just Be Good To Green’ and ‘Jungle’ featuring Maverick Sabre made amends with the audience after the half an hour wait.

Vocal goddess, Rox preformed a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Dreams’ as well as her reggae influenced track ‘Rock Steady’, ‘My Baby Left Me’ and ‘Breakfast in Bed’ amongst others in anticipation of her new album ‘Memoirs’ due to be released in September.

"it would seem biologically impossible not to have experienced an endorphin rush."

Grime favourites Ghetts and Scorcher preformed on the Community stage whilst Dagenham boy Devlin did his thing over at the Converse stage alongside the super talented DJ/producer/presenter and superwoman Annie Mac, who’s set had everyone in awe.

Closing the festival whilst looking as extravagant as ever in multi-coloured lycra leggings, the one and only M.I.A drove the crowd wild with her performance of ‘Paper Planes’ and ‘Born Free’. Following M.I.A’s performance it would seem biologically impossible not to have experienced an endorphin rush, but high on adrenaline (and questionably other substances) the young festival goers left Underage feeling ecstatic and grateful of their festival experience.

This year’s Underage Festival seamlessly brought together some of the best in homegrown, international and modern music so who knows what’s in store for the future? A three-day festival perhaps? Fingers crossed!