Well, I've just got back. It was a very small show, put on by youngsters who decided rave music untill 11pm each night was the way to go. They learned it wasn't very popular with many people! Very few stalls as some pulled out at last minute, including the tea and coffee provider, no effort was made to provide refreshments other than the bar, which wasn't what you want in the morning. wacky baccy was in evidence, to an extent that I've never known, even at the big Glastonbury festival.
The entrance not easy to find, in fact we drove past it twice before we spotted it, even tho we were looking hard.
So, for a first try, it was a reasonable effort, but left much to be desired.
You could easily get round the field in half an hour, and if it wasn't for the few talks and workshops, it could have been very boring. Luckily, I knew quite a few people, and met and enjoyed time with new ones, so I wasn't bored.
The site was easy to get around, nice and flat, and the woodland was good for hammocking. Free nicely chopped firewood with plenty of small stuff aswell as bigger pieces, making a fire to cook on very easy and simple.
I think these guys have a steep learning curve, as it was to my mind much more a music festival to please the younger crowd, with a bit of bushcraft added in to make it a bit different. I don't call two nights of 1000000 decibal rave catering for all tastes, and families. There was a lot of moaning about it! Take note organiseres! Lots of dogs running about loose, and tho most were responsible and kept them on leads, and cleaned up after them, a few were running about scavenging food , and pooping everywhere! Not nice.
So all in all, I had a goodish time, but it wasn't excellent. I for the first time ever, happy to come home a day early to be totaly honest. I could not have stood a third rave night with hours of banging and shouting afterwards untill the early hours!!!! Headaches and tinnitus are not good for trying to sleep!
I shall go next year, if they put it on again, but if they make as many silly mistakes as they did this year, that will be it for me.
The organisers had good ideas, and most worked quite well.
But no tea and coffee! C'mon guys! It's not that hard to arrange, and rope in a bit of mates to help out making teas for thirsty customers!
Lost a money making opportunity there, and I didn't want to have to keep running back to the hammock and lighting a fire to boil a kettle and get a drink. So I drank water all weekend. Not very 'appy bout that!
Still, I'd say it has potential, if they listen to the punters criticism, for failures, and praise for what went well.
I did enjoy myself most of the time, and it was good for the price.
Now im home, showered and icecream has been administeted to sooth my sore throat from having to shout so much. !
Like I said, I didn't expect perfect, but I didn't expect two nights of loud rave music, and no tea!
Turned on my right grumpy old lady mode.
I'm fine now, and grumpy old lady is back in the box at the back of the cupboard.
I did enjoy the majority of it.
Potential for another good weekend if they up the bushcraft content, and drop the rave.