Farmfestival
| Location(s) | Bruton, Somerset, England |
|---|---|
| Years active | 2006-present |
| Date(s) | traditionally, the last weekend in July, 2011 Date: 29/30 July |
| Website | farmfestival.co.uk |
Farmfestival is an annual two-day music festival held near Bruton, Somerset, England. The festival has no corporate sponsorship.It has increased in popularity since its inaugural event in 2006. It was included in The Sunday Times "Top 100 Music Festivals" in 2009.[1]
The festival organisers make a donation to Practical Action and local causes each year from the event's proceeds.[2]
Festival history
Farmfestival (née Farmfest) began in 2006.[3] The first Farmfestival was held on the land of one of the team members, near Pilton, Somerset, with 400 attending.[4] It wasn't advertised widely and mainly relied on social networking websites (mainly MySpace) to draw potential attendees.[citation needed]
During the event, a local farmer (who was attending the event, serving his own organic food), offered the use of his own land. The original 2006 site posed many difficulties for organisers and visitors alike with its extremely rural location and its lack of suitable access. The event has been held at Gilcombe Farm each year since.
Music, art and food at the festival
The festival does not favour one specific genre of music and tends to promote all types of signed as well as unsigned bands and artists including DJ's. Several acts that have appeared at the festival have gone on to greater fame, notably Friendly Fires and SixNationState.[5] There are usually two stages (a main stage and an acoustic tent), in 2008 another tent was added playing dub music which has become a regular, and popular feature since.[6]
During the festival there are generally displays of performing or visual arts as well as features such as miniature golf courses, tea-parties, wrestling and stalls selling a range of alternative arts and unusual items.[citation needed] The festival also adopts a "Hats Compulsory" policy.[7] During the weekend, there is organic food (including vegetarian and vegan) from Glicombe Farm on sale as well as local cider.[2] The Sunday Times referred to Farmfestival as "The Bargain of the Festival Season",[1] referring to the low ticket and refreshment prices.
The festival has a capacity of 4,500.[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Top 100 Music Festivals". The Sunday Times.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Farmfestival 2013". eFestivals. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ↑ "Newspaper office to sell Farmfestival tickets". Western Daily Press. 24 February 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Win tickets to this year's Farmfestival in Bruton". Bath Chronicle. 18 July 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ↑ "Farmfest returns". Western Daily Press. 19 July 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ↑ "Farmfestival 2010 at Gilcombe Farm". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ↑ "Farmfestival UK 2013". Invasion mag. Retrieved 12 January 2014.