Secret Garden Party 2010: Rated!

Secret location, Cambridgeshire - 22-25 July

United Kingdom | 27 July 2010

Joe Taylor jumps into the magical kingdom of the Secret Garden Party.

Overall - 10/10

It’s rare occasion when a festival lives up to its price tag these days. With various costs such as security and policing escalating dramatically, festival organisers have been forced to put the ticket price for most festivals at a ridiculously high rate. Secret Garden Party costs £142 and considering the relatively small acts on the line-up it’s hard to see how this is justified, until you get there.

Once inside you are plunged into the ultimate party: a festival literally bursting at the seams with amazing artwork, lavish decorations and psychedelic oddballs a plenty. Stick your head round any corner and you’re guaranteed to find a tasty treat at SGP, from the Land of Soft Things to the Jungle Ball Pit. The less well-known acts are the ones that steal the show, with plenty of hidden gems to find round every corner. This year, the Secret Garden see’s one of its biggest ever crowds as the festival completely sells out, and the entire 26,000 strong population (almost entirely in fancy dress) help to make the festival into a magical menagerie of festival freaks.

Getting There and Back - 5/10

Located near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, the festival mainly attracts London’s festival-goers and it is very easy to get up from the capital in very little time at all. However, the inconvenient location could be a big factor for people travelling from the west of the country. There are many grumbles with a south-west accent about having to go through London on a majority of the public transport routes which made travelling a bit difficult for some people. Four hour-long queues in and out of the festival highlight one of SGP’s major flaws, as decent entry and exit transport routes are left severely lacking.

The Site - 9/10

The Secret Garden is one of the best sites out of all festivals. A truly magical wonderland for revellers to explore, with tons of chill-out spots, hidey-holes and awe-inspiring scenes, all topped off by the majestic lake at the centre of the grounds. The organisers really put the effort in to make the festival as interactive and exciting as possible for punters. With so much going on at the same time it can be hard to navigate the huge area. The size of the site is just big enough for the sold-out crowd and it does get a little squashed at times, but that just adds to the fun.

Atmosphere - 9/10

The crowd is what makes Secret Garden Party what it is. Everyone is clad in fancy dress for an entire weekend, with some genuinely very impressive efforts from the really dedicated members of the crowd. Despite the miserable indie-posers that stroll in from Shoreditch, complete with the latest angled fringe and undercut, the people are brilliant. A very playful festival, the Secret Garden looks more like a jungle gym for adults at times, with grown men playing in ball pits and plenty of slides, swings and fair rides to keep you entertained. The atmosphere is decidedly unified throughout the whole event and everyone seems determined to have the most fun possible, whilst looking after one another throughout. One of the most remarkable sights of the weekend is seeing the whole crowd join together to get the speakers on one side of the main stage working again. Despite the pure hedonism all around, the gardeners are surprisingly respectful, making it a fun place for all of the family.

Music – 10/10

Before heading to SGP there are few bands on the line-up that many had heard of. An eclectic mix of relatively unknown acts across dozens of small stages make for a brilliant selection of sounds. Without the pressure of running to see your favourite band, you are left free to explore and take in some fresh tunes that could be the next big thing.

Uppers

The Drop – 8/10
Smooth reggae from a young five-piece that have been taking the festival scene by storm this summer. Firm favourites on the Chai Wallah stage they perform with a beautiful, happy energy and seemed genuinely flattered by the crowd’s warm reception.

Junkyard Scientists – 9/10
The last ever gig from one of the best funk outfits on the scene at the moment and they don’t let it go to waste. The crowd is out in force for a very memorable gig. The musicianship and energy of the band keeps everyone dancing and talking about the band for hours to come, despite their small status.

Caravan Palace -10/10
Without a doubt the highlight of the festival for a majority of the punters, their unique brand of electronic swing and oodles of energy keeps people jiving through the entire set, a colossal crowd makes it seem as though the whole festival has turned up to the main stage purely for the French jazzsters.

David Rodigan-8/10
With the enthusiasm of a drunken uncle at a wedding, Rodigan storms the stage and takes the crowd on a historical journey through the roots of reggae, playing an absolute banger of a set.

Skatalites – 7/10
A huge set from the ska-reggae stalwarts after a full Sunday of roots music on the main stage. The Jamaican legends are still full of energy and charisma despite being almost as old as the Blue Mountains themselves.

Downers

Marina And the Diamonds - 3/10
Only one act from the festival makes the Downers list this year. Marina And the Diamonds resembled cheap Cubic Zircona as they dawdle and drone through a lacklustre set that was very poorly received. Perhaps it was too soon for the band to headline a festival?