Great Friday - Part One

Wild Paths: Day Four Part 1

Vanity Fairy Goes to Church

It's been a tremendous few days so far. Manageable, fun. Peopled by a wonderful variety of musical performances. I couldn't get to everything I wanted to on Thursday, so it was on Friday, hungry for more. I had to make choices without FOMO. C'est la vie, as Vanity Fairy would say, before undoubtedly turning it into a disco smash hit. 

Vanity Fairy sets a high bar for Friday fun.

In an act that just gets sillier, funnier and so very enjoyable, watching her explore every nook, cranny and architectural feature of St Lawrence's church to a disco beat, set the Five PM audience dancing, swaying and definitely smiling. Vanity, singing with a backing track, with day still lighting the windows high in the celerestory, brought all the glamour of a Friday night out in Mykonos, then some, to the first gig of the fourth day of Wild Paths, 2025.

In her set of old and new tracks, Vanity Fair twirled and whirled around the magnificent old building to the obvious pleasure of a not yet drunk, standing (swaying?) congregation. Up the seven steps to the high altar, peeking through the curtain by the altar rail, spinning round the piers of the arcades, she was a rainbow-spangled, sparking whorl of joy. She even had a cheeky game of peek-a-boo with Adam Williams, festival photographer, which she definitely won.

If you are feeling a little blue on a Friday evening, prescribe yourself a shot of Vanity Fairy. She won't fail to give you a lift, a waggle, a dance floor workout with a beaming smile. 

Top tip: whatever you choose to wear to one of the disco Queen of Queens shows, make sure you pop on your gold dancing pumps, she does. What a sensible lady. 

All that glitters turns to disco gold, even the pumps

Spencer Ide

18/10/2025