Review: ValleyFest 2015

It’s always a thrill when you rise up to the top of the Chew Valley and look down on the lakes below. But, when you’re watching the sun set there, on Luke Hassell’s beautiful farmland, on a gently sloping hill, cider in hand, the crackle of the just-lit bonfire competing with the muted beats from various tents, it’s perfect. 

Being there felt like you were part of the best kept secret party, the kind that usually happens spontaneously when you least expect it. 

ValleyFest has been held for a few years now, but 2015 saw it rise up and hit a real high. The footprint of the site was expanded, making use of the Eat Drink Bristol Fashion tipis we’ve all got to know and love at Bristol outdoor events. Each stage had equal footing, but the New Dawn Traders stage was something else – a huge timber constructed outpost of cool, with a viewing gallery and open sides. 

It was here that we got our first insane burst of love for ValleyFest. When you hear that a ‘celebrity’ is curating something, one imagines their researchers presenting them with a track list and a script. Not so Huey Morgan of the Fun Lovin’ Criminals. He danced to the bands he’d chosen, he introduced them with belly-laugh humour, and in the case of the delicious Tom Williams, he played with them too. Huey is officially the coolest Frome-dwelling West-Country dude we have. He was clearly so made up to be there and nobody could avoid his infectious enthusiasm. 

The Tutti Frutti Valley Stage was a senses clash of ass-wavingly good DJ and MC talent, rum, rave paraphernalia and undiluted happiness. A large part of this was due to the standard set by the Freestylers, who absolutely chewed a hole in the Chew Valley with their set. 4pm is not the time you expect to be body bouncing your husband in excitement because the tunes are so good. 

We wandered back there later, to witness a festival moment I won’t forget in a hurry. Riding the aftermath of talented sampling from DJP, Profit and Natty Speaks wove a rave spell on the tent with their MCing and their obvious delight at the amount of kids dancing up front. By inviting two children onto the stage, giving them a microphone and letting them enjoy what it feels like to be that guy rapping, they had everybody grinning and maybe, like me, a bit misty eyed. 

This kind of typified ValleyFest for me. We were child free that day, but went back on Sunday with a toddler and felt just as relaxed. The size and shape that it is, ValleyFest is paradise for kids. Gaggles of slightly grubby, glittery girls, their hair whipping in the wind as they laughed. Babies in slings sleeping as their parents danced. 

There was nothing to nourish yourself with that wasn’t made in the South West, truly outstanding festival food and drink, and the lack of urgency and crowd mentality that bigger festivals engender meant you could enjoy it at your own pace. 

We finished the night listening to the insanely frenetic Full Attack Band, fronted by a sax player, pulsing out Balkan inspired dance. As we walked towards our car, we really wished we’d camped, despite living 15 minutes away. 

One to book for next year, definitely.

(Photo by Jon Craig)