Preview: Redfest, St George Park

Proudly local and determinedly DIY, Redfest is the kind of community festival you can hardly believe exists in 2016. Funded entirely by donations, it’s one of Bristol summertime’s grandest days out. 

“It’s always been a festival for people of all ages,” says Simon Webb, the festival’s co-founder and creative director. “I had a young family at the time it started, so I wanted something parents could bring their kids to but wasn’t crap. I think the vibe reflects the people who live nearby, and we do make an effort to make it a great experience with markets and lovely food too. It’s not just a few white tents with a bar in a gazebo….and East Bristol is one of the most unpretentious, creative areas in the city.”

Dom Ljubic, the festival’s chair, puts Redfest’s success down to the quality of the programming and the fact that it’s free to get in. “With St Paul’s Carnival on hold, there are fewer free events than there used to be in Bristol’s calendar”, says Dom. “Even the Harbour Festival charged for its opening night this year. I also think there’s a real yearning for the good old days of Ashton Court, so maybe we’re helping to fill that gap a little bit in people’s minds.” 

There’s an increased focus on rug-cutting at this year’s Redfest, with a new dance area joining the established stages at the festival. “I know Anna Davis from South West Dance Theatre and we’ve considered having a dance performance area before, but the site map and budgets were always against us. I bumped into her one lunch time last autumn, and after mulling it over we decided to make it happen. We’re really looking forward to it, and it will add a whole new dimension to the festival.”

Simon – who has personally tried everything from capoeira to hip-hop dance – sounds particularly excited: “I really see dancing as a communal experience that brings us closer together, and that’s totally what this festival is about. If you’ve wondered about krumping or Afro dance, or fancied a tango, this will scratch that itch.”

Performance in general is a big part of the festival. Simon’s top tip at this year’s event is “Bramble FM…it’s like an anarchic kids TV show for grown-ups crossed with The Goodies, and performed outside a caravan stuck in the 1980s…”

It’s the music that most people come for though, and Dom’s picked a couple of highlights. “Our headliners are RSVP, a band we’ve been trying to book for years… If you’ve not seen them they’re a bhangra band with an indie twist, and they start every gig with an audience dancing lesson.

“Another band I’m looking forward to on the main stage is Stereo Kela. They did a fundraising gig for us at The Old Stillage last month and were fantastic. If I had to describe them in one word, it would be ‘electro-disco-trumpets’. Does that count as one word?”

To see the full lineup you’ll need a copy of official festival programme, which is available to buy from places like The Old Stillage, Grounded, Southville Deli and Faraway Tree. 

Redfest 2016 takes place in St George Park on Saturday, August 6. For more information, visit www.redfestbristol.co.uk

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