As a self proclaimed lover of alcohol, the idea of an alcohol free festival filled me with dread. I didn't know how such a thing was possible, music and beer seem to go hand in hand for me...or music and whisky if it's cold outside. Okay, who am I kidding? I don't need an excuse for whiskey!
I have to admit it does work though, it was refreshingly different and refreshingly pleasant. This is because sometimes I find festivals to be filled with expectations and pressure: you must be wasted the entire time, hug total strangers, go without sleep and wear ridiculous clothing or for some people none at all.Then you come home muddy, exhausted and broke and on top of that you can't remember two thirds of what happened but you are sure it was awesome.
I had the revelation that drink free festivals are a great idea whilst sat on top of a hill watching
Arcane Roots play their track '
Resolve'. Looking across the
Butserfest arena I couldn't see the usual sea of litter, the embarrassing stumbling and staggering before lunchtime or the mile long queues to the 'toilets'. (Which were actually clean and included soap and toilet roll!) For once I was able to look around at the surrounding countryside and not feel guilty about what we were doing to the area in the name of entertainment, it felt more like music and nature were co-existing. Maybe it's just me that thinks this way, I usually am the only one who brings bin bags and clears up after the rest of my camp! I'm not bothered if I am alone in this though because in my opinion it all made for a better festival atmosphere and made the experience more easy going, like a day out should be.
Despite the lack of alcohol, nothing else about the festival was secondary to any other. The bands were great, there were fun activities for all ages (which were included in the ticket price!), face painting and neon paint a plenty, acoustic sets and chances to win prizes as well as enthusiastic crowds.
We Start Parties got everyone dancing and jumping up and down early on and in the rain no less. Major props to the guy in the wheelchair who was getting his mosh on with everyone else despite the eagle eyes of security staring down (that being said one very nice security man gave my tiny person ear plugs when he was down the front for
Hildamay) and to the many artists who jumped down from the
Death and Glory stage to play amongst the audience.
Personal highlights for me were
The Valiant, not just because every member was covered in tattoos, and
Set Your Sails because they both had limitless energy and enthusiasm even though they were playing early sets. My tiny partner in crime took a liking to the bands on the main stage, which did seem to be aimed at a younger audience than the second stage, particularly
Attention Thieves and
Max Raptor who had him dancing non-stop and attempting to windmill round and round without falling over, much to the delight of the surrounding people.This was his very first festival and I'm glad it was, before we entered the arena he said he was scared but within five minutes he was having a great time and didn't have a care in the world. Well, he might have cared that everyone kept pointing at him and saying he was 'adorable' and 'so cute' but he was the youngest one there and is darn cute even if I do say so myself.
The only thing that was less than perfect is the transport there. It's fine if you drive or can get a lift there but not so great if you are relying on public transport, I'll be sure to round up a whole gang to bring down the taxi costs next time.
All in all it was a great day out and I will most definitely be attending next year. £20 for a whole day of music and fun and games (including bungee runs, which sent me flying backwards and landing on my butt more than once) is not badly priced at all.
