Category Archives: Festivals

Old van

OK, so our new old van has some issues. Mostly rust. But, we’ve done around 300 miles in the last couple of days and it ran great.

We were particularly impressed with the Sat Nav holder.

And the number of people who wave as you drive chug past.

Northern Kin

I may be slow to mention it, but last weekend’s Northern Kin festival was surprisingly good. Very well organised, a great campsite with excellent facilities, and a nice atmosphere.

It was also a truly family friendly festival.

An old favourite and a new

Exploring new music is an important part of going to a festival. For example, we came across Augustines (or, at the time, We Are Augustines) at T in the Park. While the band split up in October’ 16, they remain a firm favourite. I’ve mentioned in the past that we’ve been to Billy McCarthey’s (the former Augustines’ front man) solo gigs and his was a welcome addition to this year’s Kendal Calling festival.

And his performance was as good, if not better, than expected.

He played some solo material, but there was a really nice selection of Augustines’ songs too. It was good to hear a lot of Augustines followers singing along.

A new discovery at this festival was Felix Hagan and the Family, who were a great, unique experience.

They’ve a couple of albums, so I’m going to check out Amazon. We’ll also be watching out for any gigs in the Northeast. Interestingly, they’re playing at Bi Nuu, Berlin, where we saw William McCarthey last year.

Kendal Calling

Our third Kendal Calling was a good one. Tw\no days of burning sunshine, then another two of rain. We had three festival newbies and some veterans, but the mix was great. Our campsite was the best ever. The tents are already dried out and ready for next year. Which won’t be at Kendal (Penrith).

Some random pictures; probably too random.

Nails

I woke up this morning feeling really annoyed with my second in command. We’d been on a coach to Glastonbury with Karl and Michelle, when the bus stopped for a break at Pilton. We’d taken our bags off the coach and were sitting in the sunshine, when my second in command discocered that one of her bags was missing. The smaller one, with her iPad and hair straighteners, not her rucksack.

While I began a search for the bag, my beloved declared that she needed to have her nails done and, so, set off to seek a nail shop (is that what they’re called?). Michelle went with her.

While they were gone, the bus left. On their return, I’d still not found the missing bag, but we decided on a cab to the festival site. When one arrived, we found that we wouldn’t all fit in with our bags and camping gear. So I offered to stay behind and make my own way.

After waiting at a bus stop for a while, with no luck, I started walking. I was nearing the site when my second in command to ask where I was. I advised I was close, but that she should keep the call short since her phone backup batteries (we take several) were in the lost bag.

Within a few minutes I’d reached a point where I could view the festival site. The view was remarkably similar to my first ever sight of the festival, a long time ago. The scale was breathtaking.

I started walking to the entry gate, somehow bypassing the winding barriers which control the stream of festival goers.

And, then the alarm woke me up. I’m now on my way to work and still don’t feel quite right.