Singer Tom Walker said it best when he stepped out on stage at The Big Feastival in his infamous yellow beanie and shouted to the sell out crowd: “This is for all the people who thought Covid would never end. It’s bloody lovely to be back,” before kicking off a rousing set, the crowd singing his famous lyrics back to him in the dark, their voices rising above the summery haze of Alex James’ Kingham farm.
“It’s bloody lovely to be back”
And with 2022’s The Big Feastival tickets just released, now’s your chance to join in next year’s fun.
The king of funk, headliner Nile Rodgers, couldn’t have agreed more. He relished performing this year too, chatting away to the crowd during his headline act: “We haven’t performed for a year, and used to be able to do this at the drop of a hat, but it’s so good to be back,” as we danced along to his disco beats.
“The next three days passed in a joyous kaleidoscope of music, colour, flavour, oh and cider…….”
And so it continued – Zara Larsson almost as emotional as her fans who packed in to the front of the enormous crowd to see her, or Sunday night’s headliner Rag N Bone Man bringing his son on stage for his birthday, Tom Grennan resplendent in gold pyjamas, Sophie Ellis Bextor rocking it. The music line-up as always was exceptional.
And for three wonderful days, performers and festival-goers alike celebrated not only the wonderful music, food and entertainment at Big Feastival, but the intoxicating solidarity of being back together and the freedom, fun and hedonism involved.
We camped for the whole weekend, there by 10am on the Friday morning to pitch our tent in the sold out camping, rushing to get a spot before the main festival arena gates opened and we were in.
The next three days passed in a joyous kaleidoscope of music, colour, flavour, oh and cider…….
From noon until way past midnight we danced and sang and ate and walked and tasted and wondered, we learnt and watched and chatted and caught up and laughed. The teenagers went off every morning loaded down with our hard earned cash and didn’t reappear until dark or had run out of money.
We spent hours in the silent disco tent together until we couldn’t physically dance anymore, we joined in with the headliners singing along, we attended lunch in the new Feasting Tent where Cornish produce was served on trestle tables in a glorious tasting/sharing style menu which stretched on into the afternoon.
We ate breakfast at The Freedom Brewery although I’m still not sure a pint at 10am is advisable on Day 3 of a festival. The Cheese Hub DJs were on fire, playing late into the night, Alex James was grinning like a Chesire cat throughout, and comperes Jo Wiley and Dick and Dom as compelling as ever.
Costumes, outfits, hats and coats, body paint, wigs – us festival-goers went all out
Alex James’ new, refreshing, dry Britpop cider was outstanding. As for the frozen tequila cocktails I’m not so sure….
Food-wise we were spoilt for choice – the likes of Mark Hix and Nathan Outlaw gracing the kitchen stages, famous chefs discussing food and cooking, signing books and demonstrating their prowess, little ones encouraged to have a go, while the choice of street food and drink stalls was off the scale.
As for families, Big Feastival manages to combine it all, and while we personally don’t need to spend our whole weekend at the story-telling/craft tent any more, the children’s arena, fairground attractions and on stage entrainment is really geared up to little ones. Mr Tumble anyone?
A mention must also go to the Kent Cider’s Yowler which we drunk in such great quantities that by Day 3 it had sold out, before reverting to Alex James’ new, refreshing, dry Britpop cider which was similarly outstanding. As for the frozen tequila cocktails I’m not so sure.
Admittedly, a year without fun helped get the party started, but The Big Feastival did it in style. My only advice. Bring earplugs – the man in the tent next-door took snoring to a whole new level. Just like everything at Big Feastival.
The Big Feastival Weekend and camping tickets are now on sale for The Big Feastival 2022, on 26-28 August. To book go to https://thebigfeastival.com/tickets
