festivals – and so she thinks

Citadel Festival

admin — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 09:41:33 +0000

Sundays should be all about you. Sometimes you don’t want to be having to go anywhere or be anything. At Citadel you don’t have to. Taking place in Victoria park, Hackney on Sunday 16^th July, it’s like someone has plonked your living room in the middle of a park and filled it yoga, arts and creativity, delicious food and local beers. That’s before you get to the fantastic line up of music. Laura Marling, Wild Beasts, Bonobo, Foals are just some of the big names on the bill, as well as Stevie Parker, Vessels, Oscar Jerome and other artists making their way up the musical ladder of success. And of course Sundays would not be the same without the newspapers, and Sunday Papers Live will be bringing their blend of culture, comment and comedy to the event, with their stage being graced by the likes of Sofar Sounds, spoken word collective Apples & Snakes, marathon runner Amy Hughes, explorer Dave Cornthwaite, comedian Andy Zaltzman and more.

Off to the woods in 2014

admin — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 20:11:25 +0000

I’d love to tell you all about this year’s In The Woods Festival, but I’m simply not allowed. You see, part of the magic of this festival is its mystery. It really is like venturing into another world, deep into a fairy lit forest where the line up is shrouded in secrecy, the location is known only to punters, and the attention to aesthetics is mystical and awe inspiring. The theme this year is ‘Worship of the Absurd, Characters, Creatures and Deities’ – make of that what you will. Tickets always sell out immediately, despite there being no known big name headliners or huge corporate sponsors due to one thing – the strength of its reputation. Organised by the quirky The Laurel Collective, and now in its ninth year, the event is one of the circuit’s most hotly anticipated, and last year won the AIM award for the Best Small Festival. There’s music, poetry, magic, spoken word, a silent disco, delicious food, chill out arenas, art installations, immersive theatre, interactive play, a giant bonfire, and probably loads more that I can’t tell you about, and don’t even know about yet.

But, here’s a hint at what might be to come, with a little mix from performers past. Keep an eye on their facebook page for announcements.

Lodestar – and so it grows…

admin — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 18:08:51 +0000

There are few things more enjoyable than sitting in the sunshine in a beautiful sunshine listening to great music, cider in hand. Can’t guarantee the sunshine, but the other ingredients will be all there in abundance at Cambridge’s Lodestar festival. Taking place from 30^th August to 1^st September, the three days are self described as ‘The place for lovers of great music!’ (the stellar line up includes The Joy Formidable, Hatcham Social, Thumpers, Dragonette and Mausi) but is also for lovers of all things fun, and wandering around the farm that has been owned and loved by founder of Lodestar Doug and his family for four generations you will find literature, zorbing, archery, samba, workshops, dancing, circus, fringe theatre and plenty of smiling faces.
The line up is evolving on a thrillingly regular basis, and latest additions include the liltingly lovely Lady Lamb The Beekeeper, Fiery Furnaces’ Eleanor Friedberger and her intense, edgy yet elegant sounds, perfect sunshine sounds from An Escape Plan , sonic loveliness from Swedish El Perro Del Mar mistress of reinvention VV Brown.
As well as hot indie darlings ike these and global superstars capable of hanging out with Dave Grohl the festival supports local artists, and this year acoustic indie-folk four-piece Fred’s House and indie dance group The Sticks are just two of the many who will be part of the event. Buy your tickets here…and keep an eye out for a competition from myself, Cool For Cats and Lodestar very soon!
For a sneak preview head down to the Old Blue Last on August 7^th where Hatcham Social and Flowers play a preview show, and make this Spotify playlist your soundtrack now.

Festival Finder

admin — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:59:25 +0000

Stuck for which festival to go to this summer? Check out this hugely useful interactive tool to help you decide. Created by thetrainline it allows you to select your favourite artists – and reveals the perfect festival for you.

Click image to open interactive version (via thetrainline.com).