Features / festivals 2019
Preview: Farmfest 2019
Returning for 2019 after a fallow year, Farmfest is one of our favourite small festivals. Less than an hour’s drive from Bristol, the site is compact enough to allow you to focus your energies on the important stuff, rather than epic walks between stages and camping areas.
With adult tickets still priced under £100 it’s also more affordable than most of its competitors.
Farmfest, taking place at Gilcombe Farm near Bruton in Somerset from July 25 to 27, has built a loyal following on smart programming and a distinct lack of filler.
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Despite a limited capacity of around 5,000, this year’s festival boasts more than 100 acts ranging from indie rock to house, hip-hop, jazz, world music and leftfield electronica.
There are seasoned favourites among this year’s live performers, including 90s trip hoppers Morcheeba and jazzy experimentalists Portico Quartet.
Other live highlights include She Drew The Gun’s scuzzy guitar pop, the irresistible house ‘n’ brass grooves of NYC’s Moon Hooch and the acid-fried folktronica of James Holden and the Animal Spirits. Meanwhile, Tonina – an extraordinary bass player and vocalist from St Louis, Missouri – is guaranteed to make a load of new fans at this year’s festival.
As in previous years, Farmfest 2019 is particularly strong on clubby sounds. The bigger names include globetrotting house veteran Maurice Fulton, Coldcut beat-wrangler Jon Moore and techno auteur Call Super, whose Essential Mix was one of the best things on the radio in 2018.
Then there’s Shanti Celeste, one of Bristol’s most successful exports of recent years. Far from being the only local talent on the bill, she leads the charge for a Bristol expeditionary force that features DJs from Shapes, Alfresco Disco and Noods as well as much loved live acts Lice, Soeur, She Makes War, Heavy Lungs and thrilling techno-punks SCALPING.
Away from the music there’ll be plenty to keep children busy with theatre workshops, kung fu, circus, puppetry and magic among the junior highlights. Grownups are catered for with everything from comedy to yoga, meditation and the self-explanatory Drag Queen Bingo.
Easily navigated and lovingly curated, it’s hard not to fall for Farmfest’s charms.
Farmfest 2019 is at Gilcombe Farm, Bruton, Somerset from July 25-27. For more information visit www.farmfestival.co.uk
Read more: Farmfest to take break in 2018
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