The Big One: Wychwood Music Festival 2010
Who to watch, what to drink, festival tactics and more
Photographer:jon cox
Leanne Kelsall - 28 May 2010
What is it?
The festival lies in idyllic surroundings and offers an exciting mixture of the latest
music and comedy acts, a family friendly atmosphere and the promotion of a green future. The event is a bit hippy influenced
but performances from new local talents and exciting workshops gives it a trendy twist. The event is rising from the underground
in colourful marvel, receiving numerous nominations at the UK Festival Awards and giving ticket holders various themed areas
to experience. Wychwood is a great way to kick off the summer with plenty of goings on and students can get discount too.
Where and when?
You’ll need to head to Cheltenham Racecourse
next week, the festival starts on Friday (4 May) finishing on Sunday (6 May). There are
three stages of music with the third stage curated by the BBC introducing team, so watch out for up and coming talents. There’s
a headphone disco till 3am in the Big Top with comedy in the evening on third stage, as well as loads of workshops.
Five to watch
The Happy Mondays - the perfect chance to get your dancing shoes on,
the baggy boys of the 90s Madchester scene will have you dripping with sweat.
Levellers –
the prefect festival band, expect a barrage of hits from their gold and platinum selling albums.
The Arcadian Kicks - an upbeat act, the female vocals are brilliant with the drummer
from the Charlatans popped in.
Goldheart Assembly
- bearded lads folk pop bands from London, hailing from the BBC introducing stage at Reading and Leeds last year.
Lightning Seeds – they’re not
just about ‘Three Lions’, the Britpop they’ll be playing plenty of quality tracks as well as hits from recent
album ‘Four Winds’.
One to miss
The South - formerly The Beautiful South, who reformed after a two-year split. Some bands should
just remain in the past, not to belittle the band as they have a huge fan base and handful of hits but their new material
doesn’t quite hit the mark. Their voices have aged and they sound like they could easily find a home at a Butlins show
this year.
Playing a rare UK festival date
Check out the BBC’s Introducing Stage,
you can see the latest emerging bands from all over the UK. There’s bound to be some up and coming names you don’t
know now but you’ll almost certainly boast about in the future.
Be at Wychwood Festival if you like…
Making friends with strangers and colourful festivals with a lot of atmosphere. With a variety of workshops and acts this
festival is perfect for out going festival fans.
Avoid if you hate…
Children and
bumping into your dad’s best mate. The festival is a favourite for families and older age groups as well as festival
newbies.
Festival tactics
Make it a lazy weekend, Wychwood is the perfect weekend to sit
back in the sun with a local ale and watch the festival unravel around you. But don’t miss the silent disco on the Saturday
night and get involved in at least one workshop to get into the swing of things.
The only festival that...
All the workshops are free which is a rarity these days and start at around 10am every day so get involved. There’s
all sorts ranging from a Roald Dahl museum, mosaic making, bag decorating and creating hats and masks to wear at the festival,
open mic sessions and loads of art and dance performances, sculpture.
Fashionista or folky?
The bands on the bill showcase some of the latest local talents suggesting a fashionista event but this family friendly
festival definitely wavers more on the folky side with it’s hippy-styled healing gardens, craft and art sessions and
a long list of acts from the folk genre.
Alcohol of choice
Pimms! It’s the best drink
for the summer’s expected heat and you’d look right in place with the poshos of a racecourse, plus the festival
are promoting it’s Pimms Bus with all sorts of treats on board.
Take your mum score - 8/10
She’ll certainly be impressed by the environmentally friendliness of the event with recycling and locally sourced
materials and the luxury camping, who knows, she might even pay! There are plenty of things to do, plus the Healing Gardens
are perfect for her with all sorts of treatments available, buy her an Indian head massage, but book now though to avoid disappointment.
Can I still get tickets?
An adult weekend is £110 with an additional
£20 for a camping pass. Day tickets £38 for Friday night, £55
for Saturday and for £43 for Sunday. All ticket prices are a few quid more expensive if purchased at
the festival gates.??
Click
here to buy Wychwood Music Festival tickets.
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