Event Industry News
Having just missed out on what would’ve been an unprecedented triple-dip recession, The UK can now ready itself for a summer of festivities in the confidence that their money is there to be spent.
But what’s that? The price of festivals has been on a non-stop ascendancy over the years, even through the recession, and more and more are being established all over the country to support the sky-high demand for them. What gives?
The extortionate prices of festivals has been under heavy amounts of scrutiny in recent weeks due to a number of surveys b
eing released that have outlined the increased prices of festivals.
A recent study has shown that 60% of young people will not be attending a festival this year due to the hefty price tag on them, with the average price for a British festival being £423(this including all the extra costs like food, tents, drinks and other essentials such as onesies).
On top of this, the average age of the festival goer in the UK is now 36, which could come as quite a shock with all the associations that festivals in the country have with youth culture and the idea of experiencing for the first time the thrill of witnessing your favourite band in a muddy field whilst off your face and revelling in the euphoria of post-exam ecstasy.
It’s no surprise the festival experience is becoming ever more alien to young people, with the prices of festivals soaring over the past decade; Glastonbury having gone up from £105 in 2003 to £205 this year and Reading and Leeds tickets going from £95 to £202.50 over the same period.
What’s more is that the average age of the festival headliner now is 39, with Mumford and Sons being the only festival headliner with a debut album released in the past 5 years (not to mention this being a band that don’t necessarily embody all the credentials of a youthful band). This brings up the question as to whether festivals are being tendered for the older folks or if acts nowadays just aren’t cutting the mustard.
To look at the situation in the grand scheme of things, the global crash that shook the world in 2008 left most forms of businesses on their knees and in need of a shift-around to compensate for the desire to save finances by their customers. But this was somewhat absent in the case of festivals.
Sean O’Meara, of Watch My Wallet, said: “While the economy has been in decline and people struggle with their finances, festivals have been consistently raising their prices year-on-year, normally by around £10 each time. When you add extortionate “handling” or “booking” fees, travel and expensive food and drink on site, festivals are quickly becoming as expensive as an all-inclusive holiday abroad in the sunshine.
“There are more and more festivals cropping up each year, which means there is more competition to get the big acts – and that often means having to fork out big payments, which are passed on to the festival-goer.”
With punters becoming more and more disheartened with the prices being charged, alternatives to the British festival experience are becoming more frequent among them, most of which include getting their bags packed and heading abroad, whether for another festival or for a holiday in the sun.
Mr O’Meara added: “Many of the music fans we polled admitted that they now look at European festivals as a real alternative to UK events. With cheap airfares and lower prices for accommodation and food in many European countries, it’s possible to enjoy a festival experience abroad with a little sightseeing thrown in, all for less than the cost of going to Reading Festival.”
The recent backlash to British music festivals is down to their excessive prices and it is fair to say that the recession itself has had little effect in dictating this, as people have simply become fed up with the prices that they are expected to pay. This turn in the tide against British festivals was also mostly foreseeable as the attendance has been declining over recent years and, with little having been changed this past year, it was bound to follow suit.
A survey by YouGov taken at the end of last year predicted a decline in attendance and put the reasons down to the costs and other factors like over-crowding and too much queuing.
In a separate report based on the impacts of the recession, YouGov found that 56% of UK adults said that the recess
ion had had no effect on the amount of gigs they attend or the amount they spend on live music, whilst 36% said that it has had a direct effect on their gigging habits.
Commenting on the findings of the survey, YouGov research director James McCoy said: “Our study suggests there is declining interest in attending music festivals that tend to span more than one day. Part of this is due to people having less money to spend, but many of the festival-goers we surveyed were turned off by poor weather and long queues. In contrast, our research indicates that a majority of those who attend live music concerts are not put off by the recession, and will continue going to gigs in 2013. This could be down to the fact that a single gig is much less of a commitment, both in terms of time and money, than going to a festival.”
So it would appear that, whilst remaining impervious to the shattering effects the recession had on most businesses, British music festivals have shot themselves in the foot in the process by not adapting their festivals to the present time and instead increasing their prices and driving away gig-goers.
What do you think? Has the recession affected your desire to attend British festivals? Have you found an alternative or simply given up on attending them altogether?
Article written by Abby Ward
Whether you’re hitting the festival scene or just planning a ‘staycation’ for your holiday this year, here’s peppermints pitch of the top five tents currently on the market.
For the camping pro: Force 10 Helium 200
This tent is one of the lightest two-person tents on the market, great for festival-goers travelling in by public transport. For the lovers of high-tech innovations this tent’s hybrid tunnel design makes for a surprisingly spacious and comfortable inside and a sturdy and weatherproof outside perfect for festivals and wild camping alike.
Price £250; stockist info: Cotswold Outdoor
For the camping family: Gelert Horizon Supreme 6
This spacious tent is great for families or groups of campers. Built-to-last, this tent has won several awards for the flexibility to tailor the insides however suits you. This tent has several levels of protection from the rain, so even if the Great British weather doesn’t fail to disappoint at least your tent won’t let you down.
Price: £449.99; stockist info: Gelert
For the Luxury camper: Vaude Badawi Long Tent
If you’re not a fan of getting down and dirty in the mud at a festival then bring a bit of luxury to bed-down on of an evening with this lavish Vaude Badawi design. Save sleeping under the stars exposed to the elements for Bear Grylls and the boy scouts, instead, be safe in the knowledge that your tent is fending off the rain with its 3,000mm water column. Comfortably sleeping six, it also has a spacious communal area but unfortunately the price-tag is every bit as luxurious as the tent!
Price: £750; Stockist info: Vaude
The novice camper: Vango AirBeam Infinity 600
Setting up a tent for the first time can be a daunting task, so here’s a six-person tent that takes away all the stress. The infinity 600 has a pitching time of just four minutes, the inflatable side’s means there’s no messing about with poles or pegs leaving more time to find out when your favourite band is playing.
Price: £650; Stockist info: Vango
For the festival-goer: EUROHIKE Tepee Meadow Floral 10 Person Tent
Stand out from the crowd at festivals in this stylish and practical floral tepee. Large enough for you and nine of your friends with standing room and takes just ten minutes to pitch. If that’s not enough the marvellous tepee design is sure to induce tent envy from all your camping neighbours.
Price: £300; stockist info: Millets
Happy camping!
This year Rob da Bank are celebrating 10 years of Bestival; 10 fields of wonderment and 20 stages filled with amazing music, insane sideshows and magical happenings – It already reaches an EPIC status. But year after year Bestival’s stage is blessed with some pretty awesome acts and artists, and this year is no different. With headline appearances from Elton John, Snoop Dogg and now Fatboy Slim, sets from M.I.A, Franz Ferdinand, The Flaming Lips, The Knife, Wu-Tang Clan, Richie Hawtin, Carl Cox, Annie Mac Presents, and so many more, Bestival seems to outshine other UK festivals.
“It was at Glastonbury 2003 where I closed the Sunday Best stage for Rob da Bank that I first saw the glint in his eye to create his own festival. 12 months later I was headlining Bestival and TEN years on, here I am again, throwing them the biggest birthday bash possible and sharing the main stage alongside Elton John and Snoop Dogg. It’s an absolute honour to return for this momentous occasion – staying creative and independent in these times. You’ve come a long way, baby!” – Fatboy Slim
It’s an exciting line-up already and there are still more acts to be announced, so this year is bound to be crazy as ever! If you want more information on festivals in London or ways to get into festivals for free (including Bestival) check out our previous articles.
For more of the Bestivals line-up click here!
Who are you most looking forward to see this year?
More live acts and DJs announced for Camp Bestival, the family friendly festi-holiday which takes place at Lulworth Castle, Dorset in August – Very special guest Take That’s Mark Owen joins the Saturday line-up, plus Valerie June, Cherishport, Red River Hogs, The Nextmen, Venum Sound, MC Wrec and many more added to the line up.
Camp Bestival announces even more amazing music….
VERY SPECIAL GUEST
MARK OWEN
LIVE ACTS:
VALERIE JUNE / CHERISHPORT / RED RIVER HOGS /
SKIMMITY HITCHERS / PHIL & TILLEY
DJS:
THE NEXTMEN / VENUM SOUND / MC WREC /
RUSS CUBAN / JSTAR / DICK KURTAINE / REV MILO /
ROWAN CHERNIN (CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD SURF) /
IN LIGHT OF AQUARIUS / SHEPDOG
With summer holidays around the corner we can’t wait to get back to Lulworth Castle for a festi-holiday weekend of fun and frolics for all the family from August 1st– 4th. And the Camp Bestival crew are leaving no stone unturned to make sure this year’s Camp Bestival is another absolute corker. 
There really is something for everyone in this year’s line-up, so we’re very excited indeed to unveil a host of brilliant new acts that cover all bases, from huge popstars like our very special guest Mark Owen to brilliant local faves and beyond who will all be joining the likes of Labrinth, Richard Hawley, Levellers, Ash, The Proclaimers, Horrible Histories, Mr Tumble, Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo, Alan Davies, Dick n Dom, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures The Brit School and many more!
The Camp Bestival Crew says: “There’s so much great music at Camp Bestival with something for everyone and we know how much fun a ladies night out is, so we’re very pleased to announce Mark Owen is coming to Lulworth Castle this year, especially for the girls!”
With his first solo album in eight years, ‘The Art of Doing Nothing’ due out in June, we very pleased to announce that Take That’s very own Mark Owen will be joining us at Lulworth Castle. With a hit-packed career spanning 20 years, Mark is one of the UKs biggest pop stars and along with his brilliant four-piece band he will be the soundtrack to a mega ladies night out on Saturday at Camp Bestival, playing not only his new and much loved solo material but also a tantalising selection of Take That anthems too!
Mark Owen Says: “Just about everybody I know with a family has told me how wonderful Camp Bestival is and said ‘you’ve got to go!’ I’ve got my Winnebago on order. See you there”.
But that’s not all, as we have plenty more top live music for your delectation, including Memphis chanteuse Valerie June who has been blowing away crowds with her mixture of folk, blues, gospel, soul, Appalachian and bluegrass music and her utterly magical vocals. If you haven’t caught her live yet, we guarantee this is one not to miss. There will also be live appearances from unique solo acoustic artist Cherishport, Dorset blues behemoth Red River Hogs, scrumpy & western phenomenon Skimmity Hitchers and New Forest duo Phil & Tilley.
Joining an already legendary line-up of amazing DJs that includes Grandmaster Flash, Sasha and Andrew Weatherall (in his A Love From Outer Space guide with Sean Johnston), we are very pleased to announce that deck-wrecking duo The Nextman are joining David Rodigan MBE’s Ram Jam line-up alongside Venum Sound and MC Wrec. Plus there will be high octane party flavours from the inimitable Russ Cuban, reggae and hip-hop mash-up madness from Jstar, divine turntable manoeuvres from Dick Kurtaine, eclectic treasures from Rev Milo Speedwagon, tubular sounds from Rowan Chernin (Chairman Of The Board Surf) , rockin roots and psych love from In Light Of Aquarius and certified dancefloor devastation from Camp Bestival favourite Shepdog.
With a whole world of discovery for kids, plus the best in music, arts and culture it’s no wonder that weekend tickets are flying out of the door, so you’re going to have to get a move on if you want to guarantee a whole weekend enjoying our fest-holiday treats. But, due to popular local demand from the brilliantly supportive people of Dorset, we are once again putting a very limited number of day tickets on sale on Friday May 17th.
Adult day tickets will cost £60 per day, Age 15-17 day tickets are £35 per day, Age 11-14 day tickets are £30 per day and Age 10 and under day tickets are free (but you must obtain a ticket) and will be available in person from Lulworth Castle and Lulworth Heritage centre, as well as through the usual Camp Bestival ticket agents.
If you can’t afford a ticket to this fun fuelled family festy in Dorset, why not volunteer? You can volunteer with Peppermint’s sister company Festival Volunteer, pick your shifts, get a free meal and 2 free drinks per shift and if you are a fan of Camp Bestival’s older sister Bestival – if you volunteer at Camp B then you get priority to pick your shifts for Bestival! Check out Festival Volunteer website or Facebook to find out some more information!
LINE UP SO FAR:
LIVE:
RICHARD HAWLEY / LEVELLERS / LABRINTH / VERY SPECIAL GUEST MARK OWEN / DJ FRESH LIVE / ASH / HEAVEN 17 / TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS / THE POLYPHONIC SPREE / GABRIELLE APLIN / KID CREOLE & THE COCONUTS / I AM KLOOT / BILLY BRAGG / NIK KERSHAW / DAN LE SAC VS SCROOBIUS PIP / THE CUBAN BROTHERS / DJ YODA (LIVE AV SHOW ( FEAT THE TOOTSIE ROLLERS) / JOHN COOPER CLARKE / VALERIE JUNE / LISSIE / THE FARM / MUSICAL YOUTH / BEARDYMAN / SAM LEE & FRIENDS / THE CORRESPONDENTS / THE WURZELS / MAD PROFESSOR / SKINNY LISTER / CLEAN BANDIT / LONDON GRAMMAR / MIKILL PANE / THE 1975 / FLEETWOOD BAC / INTRODUCING RECREATE ‘DISCOVERY’ LIVE – A DAFT UNDERTAKING / HOWARD MARKS / LUCKY ELEPHANT / ADY SULEIMAN / LLOYD YATES / FOLK IDOL / MOLOTOV JUKEBOX / SEXY SUSHI / BEN WATERS / MOULETTES / FILTHY BOY / FAKE BUSH / HUDSON TAYLOR / ISAIAH DREADS / MR B THE GENTLEMAN RHYMER / LEWIS WATSON / JAWS / JAIPUR BRASS BAND / J-CATS / RED RIVER HOGS / CHERISHPORT / THE OHMZ / PUSH PEDAL / SKIMMITY HITCHERS / PHIL & TILLEY / SCOTT ANDERSON (BANDSTAND COMPERE)
DJs – ROB DA BANK AND FRIENDS: GRANDMASTER FLASH / SASHA / DAVID RODIGAN MBE PRESENTS RAM JAM FEAT. THE NEXTMEN, VENUM SOUND, MC WREC / A LOVE FROM OUTER SPACE (ANDREW WEATHERALL AND SEAN JOHNSTON) / FABIO + GROOVERIDER / CRAIG CHARLES (DJ SET) / JON MORE (COLDCUT) / DICK N DOM RIP IT UP (DJ SET) / BARRY ASHWORTH / JOHN KENNEDY / RUSS CUBAN / SUNDAY BEST FORUM ALL STARS / BALEARIC BROTHERS / FEELING GLOOMY / TYTHE / COLEY FROM LUV*JAM / SOMBRERO SOUND SYSTEM / JSTAR / DICK KURTAINE / REV MILO SPEEDWAGON / ROWAN CHERNIN (CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD SURF) / IN LIGHT OF AQUARIUS / SHEPDOG / MIX IT UP KRU / DJ DAPPER DAN
ENTERTAINMENT: HORRIBLE HISTORIES: BARMY BRITAIN (FESTIVAL PREMIERE AND EXCLUSIVE) / ALAN DAVIES / MR TUMBLE / ERTH’S DINOSAUR ZOO / DICK N DOM / LET IT BE / BRIT SCHOOL / BLACK EAGLES CIRCUS / ROYAL ALBERT HALL GINORMOUS PERCUSSION ORCHESTRA / SHLOMO’S BEAT BOX ADVENTURE FOR KIDS / CANDO2 / GLORIA AND THE EXPLORERS / LITTLE SUNSHINE, LITTLE RAINFALL / ALICE IN WONDERLAND PANTO / LONDON LUCUMI CHOIR / INSECT CIRCUS / MATTHEW BOURNE’S NEW ADVENTURES / TRINITY LABAN / CANDOCO / MECHANICAL MENAGERIE / GIDEON REELING / SHADOW PUPPETRY & STORYTELLING / CRAFT AND NATURE WORKSHOPS / YOUNG BRITISH FOODIES / TATE WORKSHOPS / BFI FILM CLUB / THE FOUR CORNERS TREASURE TRAIL / LOST & FOUND / MORRIS DANCING / JOUSTING / FREESTYLE SPORTS PARK / KIDS BIG ART VILLAGE / MAYPOLE DANCING / BIGTOPMANIA KIDS THEATRE AND CIRCUS
‘HOW TO’ INTERVIEWS: HOW TO FLY WITH EDDIE ‘THE EAGLE’ EDWARDS / HOW TO BE A PRESENTER WITH JO WHILEY / HOW TO HANDLE A RIOT WITH TREVOR PHILLIPS / HOW TO PLAY A BADDIE WITH CHARLIE BROOKS / HOW PHILOSOPHY CAN IMPROVE YOUR LIFE WITH JULES EVANS / HOW TO INTERVIEW WITH SIMON HATTENSTONE / HOW TO COLLECT SONGS WITH SAM LEE / HOW TO STARGAZE WITH MAREK KUKULA / HOW TO BE WILD WITH ROB AND LEO
SPOKEN WORD: SCROOBIUS PIP / KATE TEMPEST / POLARBEAR / MR GEE / JOSH IDEHEN / RAYMOND ANTROBUS / ADAM KAMMERLING / DEANNA RODGER / SIMON MOLE / PAUL CREE / JAMES MASSIAH / CHIMENE SULEYMAN / BRIDGET MINAMORE / ROUNDHOUSE POETRY COLLECTIVE / EARLY DOORS COLLECTIVE / ELEPHANT COLLECTIVE
WELL-READ: HOWARD MARKS IS: SCHOLOAR, SMUGGLER, PRISONER SCRIBE / BESTSELLING WOMEN’S HOUR WITH ADELE PARKS, LISA JEWELL, EMILY BARR, ANNA MAXTED / GRANTA BEST OF YOUNG BRITISH NOVELISTS WITH JOANNA KAVENNA, BEN MARKOVITS, ROSS RAISEN / KIDS BOOK SURGERY WITH JULIA ECCLESHARE
DEEP INSIGHTS FROM RSA SPEAKERS: EXPLORATION! WITH KEVIN FONG / REVOLUTION! WITH BIDISHA
THOUGHT-PROVOKING:
CANCEL THE APOCALYPSE WITH ANDREW SIMMS / WONDERLAND AND JUSTICE WITH AMBER MARKS /
BARELY IMAGINED BEINGS WITH CASPAR HENDERSON
FOODIES AND FASHION: CAMP BESTIVAL BAKE-OFF JUDGED BY LILY VANILLI / HOW TO OPEN A RESTAURANT WITH MARTIN MORALES / CONFESSIONS OF A FASHIONISTA WITH ANGELA CLARKE /
WOODLAND STORY DEN: GIRAFFES CAN’T DANCE – GUY PARKER-REES / CALM DOWN BORIS! – SAM LLOYD / THE PIRATE CRUNCHER – JONNY DUDDLE / DARCY BURDOCK – LAURA DOCKRILL / GUY BASS / KATE O’HEARN / ERICA JANE WATERS / SIMON BARTRAM / CRAIG GREEN
QUIZZES: SAM WOLLASTON’S FAMOUS TV QUIZ / HAIL! HAIL! ROCK ‘N’ ROLL QUIZ WITH JOHN HARRIS / FILM QUIZ WITH CATHERINE SHOARD
WAKE UP WITH THE GUARDIAN: JOHN HARRIS, SIMON HATTENSTONE AND CATHERINE SHOARD
BOOKSIGNINGS: HORRIBLE HISTORIES ILLUSTRATOR MARTIN BROWN / ALL ADULT AND KIDS AUTHORS AT THE FESTIVAL
If your looking for a family friendly festival check out our article on top UK family festival or give our article on ways to get into a festival for free if you can’t quite afford a ticket this summer!
Hype for the main contending festivals is everywhere. It’s hard to go anywhere without seeing advertisement, beckoning you to buy tickets to go to the ‘best’ festival with the ‘best’ acts this summer.
Recently, original rock festivals have branched out with their selection of acts, creating many more mainstream and popular festivals than ever before.
But what if pop and rock music isn’t your thing? Creamfields Festival caters to the dance genre, with acts such as David Guetta and The Prodigy set to headline this year but what if you want to avoid big crowds and fancy somewhere a little cheaper? How many festivals cater for blues or classical music?
Feeling a little jazzy? What about Southport Jazz Festival? Love Supreme Jazz festival? Or fancy going back to 80s for the weekend? How about the Retro Trax Festival, an ‘old skool’ dance festival with dance classics from back in the day?
This year the family friendly 80’s festival, Let’s Rock the Moor located in Berkshire has sold out with a great demand for tickets. The festival will host names such as Bananarama and Five Star but will also have children’s events and has in previous years boasted the best children entertainers from ITV and the BBC.
For all the heavy rockers out there, Download Festival is the place to go. The festival promises to maintain the rock atmosphere that most of today’s festivals lack and with headliners such as Iron Maiden and Slipknot, the festival guarantees not to disappoint.
Did you know there is a tribute festival called Galstonbudget? If you couldn’t afford to pay for a ticket to Glastonbury or any other mainstream festival then Glastonbudget is the next best thing with all the best tribute bands. This year the biggest tribute festival in the whole of Europe will host headliners such as the Antartic Monkeys, Green Date, Oasish and many more tribute bands.
So why not try something different this year? If you’re looking for festival that’s both new and exciting, it’s amazing what you can find when you explore the less commercial festivals. Niche festivals have the potential to be something you’ll never forget, an experience that you’re glad you discovered.
What’s your favourite festival?
There’s something about festivals that, on the face of it, embody everything that make it great to work behind a bar.
There are a number of perks to working behind the counter in a pub or bar. These tend to be the people you work with, the extravagant characters you get to serve, the free drinks and, if you’re lucky enough to work in a venue, the free live music.
So surely serving alcohol alongside some fellow music lovers at a top class outdoor festival to a bunch of people that are attending the event for the sole purpose of enjoying themselves would be heaven for any bar worker?
With festival season upon us and tickets for some of the summer’s biggest live music events rapidly selling out, it’s no wonder people will turn to the likes of Peppermint and Festivalvolunteer to try and get themselves a weekend working for the chance to see some of the most sought after acts in the country for free.
And with that comes the experience of working alongside some fellow music enthusiasts and making some decent brass along the way.
Nelly Whaley, who works for Peppermint, said: “Working behind the bar at a festival is a pretty awesome way to make some extra cash. I have been working on festival bars for the last 3 years whilst studying at university so I’ve spent my summers in random fields across the UK working at various festivals.
“The main difference to working at a bar at a festival rather than a pub is the environment, being outside in a random location with live music playing in the background, serving a variety of people and generally being around people with similar interests.”
She added: “Just because you’re working at a festival it doesn’t mean you’re excluded from the festival atmosphere, it actually means you get to experience a whole new festival atmosphere not many people do. Not only do you get to enjoy your free time like any other festival goer, when you are working you get to enjoy the buzz of the festival; people in high spirits, hearing some of your favourite artists play in the background, actually being sober and being able to enjoy the festival.”
Free music, good vibes and better living conditions to that of the other festival-goers; you’d think that working behind the bar would be a walk in the park (literally). But there’s also a lot of hard graft involved.
Elliot Friskin, 22, who’s been working at festivals for three years now, would go some way to stressing this point, as he assured me that there’s a lot more to it than having a blast with the punters.
He said: “Festivals are fantastic and everything but it’s tough working behind the bar. You’ve got to be made out of steel to deal with that number of people. I would say that there’s definitely that ‘all-in-this-together-now’ feel of it though and that’s definitely one of the benefits. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as getting off a hectic shift to go and see Bruce Springsteen or whoever with the other guys you’re working with.”
As with every bar job, the people that you’re serving and dealing with is a key aspect to how enjoyable it is. For this reason you’d probably assume that working at a festival would be perfect for this. But, according to Elliott, it varies quite dramatically.
He said: “Sometimes it’s great. You get the sort of people that are letting loose and just there to have a good time and are care-free. That’s the sort of people you want to serve and it can make it a lot easier. Alternatively you get people who are already completely wasted and that bad side to them comes out when they see the prices being charged.”
So it would seem that festivals bring up a range of experiences that are both just like working behind a standard bar yet nothing at all like it. But there was one common factor more than any that seemed to crop up as a key point: the free entry.
Nelly added: “I think the biggest appeal to young people applying to work at festivals is no doubt the free entry into a festival. In fact – I have only ever worked at a festival in the UK, never actual went as a punter! This is due to the costs of tickets, travel, food etc. The attraction of bar work itself is the ability to be able to soak up the festival atmosphere whilst working. Bar work is an opportunity to engage with the festival goers and your colleagues. It is far from boring.”
Nelly concluded with:
“So if you’re looking for a summer job, which isn’t a 9 – 5 that gets you to some of the best festivals in the UK for free, then I can’t see why you wouldn’t give it a go. Most people who I have worked with go back and work at festivals year after year which must show its appeal.”
Bar work at festivals is a working experience like no other. With the contrasting incredible highs that you get out of the live music and vibrant people and the hard work that comes with it, it’s something you can only describe by doing it, and with festival season bearing down on us, it’s the perfect time to get your place booked.
Fancy working at a festival bar this summer? Check out our article on ways to get into a festival for free, or to work at Peppermint’s Festival bars, register at Peppermint Staffing or volunteer with our sister company Festival Volunteer.
Have you got any stories about working behind a bar at a festival?
Standon Calling today adds a mix of dance music gems to their line-up, crowned by Audio Doughnuts stage headliners Nina Kraviz and Simian Mobile Disco. For night owls, electronic and DJ talent will also feature Gilles Peterson, DJ Format and Greg Wilson.
Standon Calling 2013, held on the 2nd – 4th August set in the spacious grounds of a 16th century manor house in Hertfordshire with tunes pumping until 5am. It’s headlined by De La Soul, Band of Skulls and Digitalism, and also features Bastille, AlunaGeorge, The D.O.T. featuring Mike Skinner plus many more. Much more than music, Standon Calling will be laying on an array of arts and immersive entertainment around this year’s theme ‘Running away from the Circus’. Festival-goers can even soar through the air at the festival courtesy of Gorilla Flying Circus trapeze school or become part of the show themselves in Standon Calling People’s Circus. As ever the much-loved swimming pool will be open and canine pals will not be left out of the fun with the annual Standon Calling dog show.
Nina Kraviz has had the attention of tech and deep-house aficionados for the best part of a decade. The young Russian star’s profile is ever increasing since the release of her debut album, awarded 4/5 by top dance music community, Resident Advisor. Kraviz makes for a bold headliner for the Audio Doughnuts stage at Standon Calling. Similarly, Simian Mobile Disco, another heavyweight of the electronic world now tops the bill at the Hertfordshire festival.
From London to Chicago via Leeds, taking in live Afro dub, soul electrica, African-inspired electronica and bass sounds, the Audio Doughnuts stage brings a global sounds to this year’s Standon Calling. Their vibrant offering inside The Big Top also includes Benin City (live), Roy Davis Jnr + special guest TBA, Tuesday Born (live), Two Inch Punch, Mêle, SOPHIE, Debian Black, Shox and Pusherman.
Full the full line-up click here.
Tickets are currently on sale at the tier one price of £99 for weekend ticket. All tickets can be purchased via the Standon Calling website.
Winter 2012 saw a rise in pop-up events across the UK. Even though it’s the winter and the weather is cold and miserable, it’s the festive season which means spirits are high and everyone is in the mood to get jolly with friends and family. There have always been a few pop-up events such as Ice Rinks and Christmas markets around but this year it has certainly grown and expanded.
The main event which has grown in popularity in the last few years is Winter Wonderland. Winter Wonderland is a spectacular annual London event held each winter at Hyde Park. The event normally takes place during the Christmas season, normally beginning at the end of November and concluding in early January. It has been running for a few years but every year it brings something new to the magical ice kingdom. It has an ice rink, rollercoasters, markets, circus and an area where you are able to boogie with a live performer. Another aspect which draws in the thousands of visitors each year is the fact it is free entry to get into the area however you will need to purchase tickets for all the main attractions and tokens for the rides.
Pop-up ice rinks are always popular in the run up to Christmas, but there has certainly been an increase to the amount of pop-up ice rinks in London and around the UK. Last year we saw local landmarks and shopping centres being taken over by ice rinks; National History Museum, Winchester Cathedral, Hampton Court Palace, Royal Pavilion in Brighton, Tower of London and Somerset House all had pop-up ice rinks.
Other pop-up events which ran last winter were Forzo Win(ter) which was a rooftop Fonduta supperclub for the Winter. With a covered a rooftop, full of beautiful rugs, hot cocktails, and heaters to ensure warmth; this unique winter event cost £30 which included a three course meal, a (hot) drink on arrival and some great entertainment. A pop -up Hunting Cabin in Regents Park which was open for a 6 week period offering seasonal specialities and soothing surroundings to relax, retreat and retire during the cold winter evenings. Rekorderlig Forest 
Bar offered a similar vibe but a more immersive Swedish winter cider experience. This pop up bar was situated in Brick Lane and this usual urban setting was transformed into a beautiful Swedish Forest. This is just handful of the winter pop-up events which went on in 2012, we can’t forget the Christmas Markets dotted around the UK including the legendary South Bank Christmas Market, The Elk Winter wonderland and The Great Christmas Pudding race.
One pop up event which took place last winter which was not quite in tune with the festivities and was new to London was The Forever Crazy Horse cabaret show. Forever Crazy is an extravagant and opulent production which took place in a purpose-built luxurious venue on London’s Southbank. Featuring a cast of ten dazzlingly beautiful classically trained dancers, this lavish spectacle takes place against the backdrop of stunning lighting and visual effects which serve to make this show an artistic masterpiece. Peppermint’s Bars had the pleasure of running the bars and offering a waitress service at this event!
There has certainly been a rise in winter pop up events and were sure 2013 will be no different, so keep your eyes peeled for some great events this winter. But as it’s approaching the summer and festival season why not check out Peppermint’s articles on the top festivals in London this summer!
With the growth of music, film and arts festivals expanding to cover all sorts of interests, more and more people are attending festivals than ever before. Earlier this year, a record was set with tickets for Glastonbury Festival selling out after only one hour and forty minutes. The curiosity of the general public is growing, with people eager to find out what the festival hype is all about. Festivals are also starting to see rising numbers of unexpected celebrities, popping up at even the most random festivals. Why should they miss out on the fun?
High-end festivals such as the California based music and arts festival Coachella, is renowned for its numerous appearances from well-known celebrities from Danny DeVito to Paris Hilton. This year celebrities such as Alessandra Ambrosio, Jack Osbourne and Katy Perry were spotted at the festival, having fun in the California valley. Check out our previous article on Coachella Vs Glastonbury.
But how many celebrities attend festivals that are closer to home?
In 2011, Jay-Z made an appearance at Glastonbury to support his wife Beyonce, who was the first ever female act to headline the main pyramid stage. Other celebrity appearances included the unexpected appearances of comedian John Bishop and footballer Wayne Rooney. Models Alexa Chung and Kate Moss were also spotted enjoying the festival atmosphere amongst regular festival goers. Even main man and lead singer of the Arctic Monkeys, Alex Turner was seen attending the festival and will be returning this year to experience the festival from a much different perspective. The Sheffield born band will be headlining the festival alongside rock and roll legends Mick Jagger in The Rolling Stones.
Actor and comedian Ronnie Corbett was seen at Cheltenham Festival in 2011, a horse racing event which has taken place every year since 1860. In previous years, the event has seen a-list celebrities attend the festival to test their luck by seeing if they can bet on the right horse. Zara Philips, TV personalities Ant and Dec, actress Elizabeth Hurley and singer Lily Allen have all been spotted at the racecourse.
Kate Moss, Glastonbury 2011
So if you’ve got tickets to a festival this summer, make sure you’re looking your very best because you never know what celebrities you may bump in to.
Coachella festival was described by Grazia this week as the “Festival for beautiful people”. This headline really in-captures the uniqueness of Coachella. Coachella is about being glam, looking stylish and if you attend Coachella then you are classed as pretty damn cool. Coachella is LA’s version of Glastonbury, minus the mud, rain and packed with celebrity A- listers.
Let’s face it – Going to a festival when it doesn’t rain can make it that much better; with the sun beating down, tunes playing in the background and a cider in your hand, it does reach near perfection. Not having to worry about wearing wet and muddy clothes for the rest of the festival or getting soaked when your queuing at a festival bar is a rarity at UK festivals. Coachella is Hollywood’s answer to Glastonbury but does it really beat Glastonbury? There’s no denying that Coachella is an uber-cool and beautiful festival; situated in a spectacular desert surrounded by palm trees and mountains with temperatures soaring high, LA chicks supporting the finest bikini’s, showing off their tans and generally looking fabulous. However, it seems that British festivals, especially Glastonbury, generally have the edge. Coachella saw a range of famous funky Brits including Rita Ora, Alexa Chung, Jaime Winstone, Pixie Geldof, Agyness Deyn, Henry Holland and Nick Grimshaw and even though they looked the part, enjoyed the non-camping aspect (some even VIP’d it up in super-style staying at Frank Sinatra’s former home) these young Brit’s partying was not quite as reserved, but we wouldn’t expect anything less.
This could be a reason why Coachella doesn’t quite meet the same standard as Glastonbury; drinking alcohol is only permitted in designated areas, which offer a distant view of the two main stages. Unlike British festivals where there is a range of bars for festival goers, and generally a main stage bar so you can get your drinks and be meters away from the stage. As well as having many bars at festivals, if you are camping for a few days at some festivals you are allowed to bring a certain amount of alcohol into the campsite, so you can enjoy a few drinks by your tent and then get more drinks at the festival bars if you wish. This just does not happen at festivals like Coachella. However, be careful when drinking at festivals and know your limits. For information about how many units are consumed by regular festival goers check out our previous article.
Another aspect which, for many, would not set British festivals above but the whole camping experience and being grotty for a few days is something deep down we love. Not getting muddy whilst attending a festival just seems wrong doesn’t it? Even though it may be a norm for Coachella festival-goers to stay in luxury camping sites, hotels or Frank Sinatra’s former home, it is just not the whole festival experience. The stories which arise from a truly wet, muddy Glastonbury weekend are not only entertaining but an experience you would not get anywhere else.
One thing that Coachella stands out for is its unbeatable fashionable vibe. It really does kick start the festival fashion and trends for the coming summer, with such hot A lists floating around the festival there is bound to be some style icons.
Alexa Chung, Britain’s style icon rocked Coachella in a laid back but uber stylish outfit. Converses, denim shorts, a floral printed shirt, completed with cats-eye tortoiseshell sunglasses – showing that simplicity definitely works.
Katy Perry stayed true to her 1950’s style, wearing a pin-up style bra top and mini skirt by Dolce & Gabbana.
Pixie Geldof wore a cherry-print swimsuit and House of Holland sunglasses to attend the Nylon and BOSS Orange pool party in California. This is a fresh and summery choice, perfect for Coachella.
Rita Ora wore a Jeremy Scott top stating ‘Adults suck then you are one’, a baby pink skirt and Carrera by Safilo sunglasses at the Lacoste Live Party. If you want to stay on trend this festival season, check out Peppermint’s article on Festival fashion 2013!
So what do you think? Glastonbury VS Coachella. Does this super cool festy have the edge? Or do us Brit’s know how to put on a pretty decent festival?
Unfortunately following the resale of cancelled tickets on Sunday, April 21st, tickets for Glastonbury 2013 are now sold out. If you want to volunteer at some UK festivals this year Peppermint have some job opportunities either paid or volunteer, or check the article on ways of getting into a festival for free.
*Photographs from Vogue
