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The first thing that hits are the colours. From the first frames in the outdoor swimming pool, through town life to the festival, it’s dazzling. Which complements the rhythms of the film, which on the whole, is lively and vibrant.

The basic story is four friends who are at various stages of their teenage cycle be it drugs, alcohol, sex, crap jobs etc. This is, or affects, their home life with Mia (Ella Purnell) boozing, getting the attention of the police and living with her angry dad Mack (Nigel Lindsay), her mother having passed away. Bored, a frustrated musician and in a rubbish job Heath (Edward Bluemel) lives with his bohemian mother Libby (Jo Hartley).

The relationships between parents and children couldn’t be further apart with Mia at constant loggerheads with Mack, and Heath having a closer more understanding relationship. Into this is Leon (Jordan Stephens) who is generally happy-go-lucky and Natalie (Georgie Henley) Mia’s best friend.

Several incidents come together and the group decide to defy all and go to the Isle of Sounds music festival. For Heath there is the added intrigue that a major rock star – Kurtz - who has been a recluse for years is rumoured to be appearing. Mum and angry dad – the classic polar opposites – join up to give chase.

On board the boat the girls meet one of the bands and get on well enough that the ticketless foursome get complementary tickets, though VIP is for the girls only. Once at the festival the friends embark on their self-discoveries which generally consists of sex, drugs (here’s where the VIP passes come in), rock ‘n’ roll, and acrobats. Nodding to the geriatricifaction of some festivals there’s a comical scene casting a view on ‘mature’ festival goers, from the youth perspective when Mia and Natalie stumble into a tent of dad dancers, and get hit on.

Mum and angry dad get to the island and after being stopped from breaking into the festival, don’t give up but meet others who live an alternative lifestyle. Libby is totally at home with this and sadly - for the film anyway - angry Mack starts to simmer down, only to then get baked!

Bryn Higgins direction is fluid and there’s a natural pace to the action and sequences, which nicely complements Oliver Veysey’s actor friendly snappy script. The actors take to this and are all very good. Though no one is particularly outstanding, (an unfettered Phil Daniels, chews and steals the scenes he’s in.) they make a natural ensemble.

The trouble is that as the film progresses you sort of know how it’s all going to pan out, which pieces are going to fall in to which place, and who are going to learn their lessons. There is a problem too with the rock soundtrack in that in the early non- festival scenes it’s intrusive and sounds wedged in with little thought. For the festival sequences that’s absolutely fine, and good to hear The Who in amongst the likes of Royal Blood.