overview

At first light on Friday morning, the fullness of the campsite so early showed that this was going to be a very busy Guilfest – it’s reputation is obviously growing!

With the music as usual not starting till 5pm on the Friday, it gave time to checkout the changes on site – with a new LiveClub stage, and a few things moved – before thoroughly examining the real ale products. By the end of the weekend, this was yet another festival that was to be drunk dry of the ale – more please, and less of that yellow stuff!

Musical treats included a sing-along set from the Proclaimers on Friday, while opinion seems divided on The Pogues. Saturday had Echo & the Bunnymen followed by a superb show from Paul Weller, including a couple of Jam numbers and the Style Council’s “Shout to the Top”. Obviously enjoying the closest he gets to a hometown show, Weller threatened to stay on stage after the curfew, blaming the locals voting choice for what he considered a too early finish.

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain were back again to open the main stage on Sunday, but with perhaps 40 times as many people there to see them than last year. Starting early, and over-running by quite a while, they were a definite highlight. Later on, after the crowd set a new air guitar world record, Status Quo got to wrap things up for this year.

Elsewhere on site saw great music on the Uncut Stage from Hothouse Flowers, Martha Tilston, Space Ritual, Hayseed Dixie and others, the LiveClub stages proved their worth, and the new Rocksound Cave was an immediate success. The eFestivals Comedy Tent was again hugely popular, and despite being nearly doubled in size still proved too small – we’ll be aiming to make improvements here for next year.

With scorching hot weather over all three days, an often heard complaint was the lack of shade in the arena (can you grow some trees before next year please? ;-). A more serious cause of complaint was the Kids Zone, with an access policy designed for both children’s safety and making the most of limited space, but which succeeded in keeping some of both children and accompanying adults outside its borders. For a festival that plays up its family credentials this needs to be seriously addressed.

All in all, this was another great Guilfest, and we suspect that next year will see it sell-out in advance for the first time – make sure you get your tickets early!

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