Cornwall rocks to the multi-coloured flavours of Leopallooza

LeoX is held within an amazing site for a party in a field, and invites exceptional musicians and DJs along to entertain. The site is enclosed with much of it covered in small trees which with colourful bunting and canopies provides shade among the colourful butterflies of the site art. It attracts a happy predominantly youthful crowd and really comes vibrantly alive once night begins to fall.

Leopallooza is ten (or eleven if you count last year's year off) and it's the first time I've been despite living just over an hour away from Holsworthy. LeoX is a Cornish festival and one held on the last weekend in July. Getting there is easy using SatNav but coming from across the Tamar in Devon we see none of the usual festival signage and wonder if we're going the right way. The simple no fuss container and normal looking stewards on arrival continue the no bells and whistles theme as we park up.

It's been raining most of the day before and despite the car park, camping and campervan fields being on the top of a hill it's still gloopy underfoot and our wheels spin. Whilst it's dry when we get there most resort to wearing wellies, but decent arena drainage channels dug out and filled with large chippings would suggest rubber sweaty footwear is unnecessary even if it didn't turn out nice again over the weekend. Though the heavy China clay in the soil creates a white moonscape in places. By Sunday the flip flops, sandals and bare feet are out in force. The floor is kept clean by the plastic cup scheme, and the fact most food is eaten in the village. Any rogue containers or cans get swiftly cleared up by the roving rubbish collecting crews. They also sweep for dropped plastic Leo cups, but as the handles of these can be stacked or saved in a belt loop there's few of these to walk on at the end of the night. Even so as a barefoot girl points out to me on Sunday there's a lot of smoking filter plastic dropped on the floor. I'm more impressed by the teens' leave no trace attitude.

The site is amazing, this is only the second bespoke festival site I've been to (the other being SGP). It's been designed for festivals lines of trees provide shade in front of the purpose built main and second stage - original designs out of wood. Other stages include a saddlespan and a shipwrecked pirate ship. The bars too are hewn from wood and it gives the arena a special feeling.

The hulking wooden hand made main stage has a tiny brother next to it, Stage 2 that sparks to life between the main stage acts. A good idea no need to worry about noise bleed and just a turn to reposition yourself. A wander through the Treeline takes you eventually to the Saddlespan housed Treeline Stage where DJs drop beats, and a tiny DJ box replicates the set up of 2 stages and constant music through set ups.

Arriving here means crossing a crossroads with The Temple Boom or The Mono Stage at each of the other points. Both housed in Marquees with more bars, and a Shisha place also nearby. In fact there's loads of bars here so no need to queue for a beer just look for one less in use in the arena.

I say arena because this is a festival split in two. The car park sits at the top, beside that the campervan field, through bag search and wristband exchange lies the slopes of the campers looking down on the Pallooza Village, and kids area, beside the inclined walk lies a massive water slide and a kicking sound system.

Entry to the village and the arena is through an arch where those taking in their booze are halted. There's no drinks allowed into the village or arena, and on day two there's no more booze restocking allowed in the camping fields making the campervan field and car park the party venue of choice for those with their own supplies. I'm not convinced this policy helps, and it appears to be relaxed by the last day. Whilst the upside is a better bar take, the downside is the arena is empty with a lot of damn decent bands playing to a handful of people. No-one arrives until sunset.

Prices in the bar are damn reasonable too, okay you have to pay a £1 over the odds for a reusable cup (or have your own with you) but after that decent beer, cider and lager is available at £3.50 a pint. Food too is sensibly marked meaning you get change out of a tenner for a main meal and a pint. Coffee provision is good and the food choices themselves all amazing! There's delicious burgers, being Cornwall lots of fish options including paella and kedgeree, tasty sweet things, but not a lot of pasties surprisingly. Again the policy on booze means those getting in the party mood at their tents tend not to be spend so much time in the village.

Okay so the festival is a little quiet during the day. I'm rather unused to these festivals where nearly everyone sits at the campsite until dusk, as it feels like there’s a party going on that you’re not privy too, although in reality many are sleeping it off. Sunday's good weather forecast means a good number of day tickets and an even better daytime atmosphere. I feel a bit sorry for the bands that play early, many exceptionally well to virtually empty spaces, on the other hand those of us watching are treated to intimate performances

Those with kids love it, as they laze amongst the trees the children can play in view not lost amongst a crowd. Although they also have their own Big Top at the end of the Village which hosts Swamp Circus, fun and games and even Mr Bloom (very exciting if you're little I'm told). There's also swing boats, a carousel, and bouncy trampolines. Plus circus toys, roller skating, face painting and all the usual things you'd expect.

Talking of things to expect there's also a good provision of loos kept stocked and clean all weekend. In fact the campervan field is awesome - next to the late night sound system truck are more loos than I've ever seen in a campervan field - lovely. They're even cleaned on Monday (and there are stewards on traffic duty too - keeping snarl ups to a minimum) something that often gets forgotten at the end of an event.

There's also a place selling unicorn horns and ears and capes and sequins and stuff, and soon the crowd are littered with unicorn horns which makes me smile. I've already got horns else I may have bought one myself for those moments when I put on my tutu and dance. There's also places to buy vintage clothing and a merch tent. The programme is free which is handy as a lot of the acts are new to me.

Having just a few stages all in close proximity is pretty handy, and soon I've got to grips with the programme and worked out where to be with the options of a recharge at one of the dance tents and something usually a bit punky or rocky in Mono or the wonderful Way Out West Stage where you can sit on hay bales in the sun and enjoy a bit to eat or a boogie.

A few pints of Orchard Cider and I'm happy to not worry about the lack of people and just enjoy the programming, and wow this festival kicks above it's weight. There's no filler here, it's all killer acts. Whilst Friday was more rock, which I'm quite happy with I may add. Saturday and Sunday branched out into widening my musical knowledge.

The live music on the first day got off to a cracking start a little late, I think they were waiting for us, with King Colobus, Auction for the Promise Club, Backbeat Soundsystem, and Moriaty all fantastic live performers. The quality of acts continues right up to the amazing voice of Rag n Bone Man, Pretty Vicious, a slick performance from both Public Service Broadcasting, and Seasick Steve, before them the lure of first the Way Out West Stage and the crunching riffs of King Creature and then the DJ action from The Treeline and Temple Of Boom take over our legs for the night, as we escape the mizzle.

Saturday's line-up continues to appeal with decent main stage acts TripToTori, Polly Money, and The Scribes all outshone by San Felu, Wolf Note, and The Lounge Kittens. Though again the ship stage takes our attention for Dusk at Dawns and Nirvana cover band Nuvana. Max Raptor are great despite technical difficulties. Duos The Graveltones, and Wolf Note are amazing, De Staat a surprise, and Izzy Bizu already looks the finished article having come so far in a year. Crystal Fighters are a revelation - euphoric, sweaty punch the air anthems create a great atmosphere that's only added to by giant beach balls and an inflatable shark bouncing above us. Tremendous stuff, and the party continues to the 2am curfew with DJ Yoda, Mylo, Man Like Me (DJ set), and more.

Top marks LeoX one of the best Saturday nights at a festival, your Saturday night headliners were a revelation and an amazing atmosphere by the thousands who turned up to see them really created a party atmosphere, which continued until the nightly curfew although all the venues had a great selection of aural treats. The traditional car burning also takes place and the large flames attract a crowd.

Returning to our camp we'd been invaded by a sea of youth all up for a party. Who created a carpet of trash as they continued to go for it, there was no anti-social behaviour though and the bizarre convoluted conversations kept us entertained. Some were clearly rattled by recent high profile deaths at festivals. At one point a girl lamented, "If I die, then it's been worth it I've had the best time of my life with my friends!" What's she taken someone asks, "cider!" a concerned glittered face replies. The tribal day glo painted girl disappears off to be sick, I suspect she'll be fine in a day or two.

The rubbish and broken chairs continues to grow as they continue their binge into the next day.

Sunday has a mellower vibe with Flats & Sharps, Hollie Cook, Kezia, Rukhsana Merrise, and the terrific Treetop Flyers providing the soundtrack. Franko Fraize, Scott Matthews, and NZCA Lines all impress too. Before headliners Kodaline are slightly outshone by Eliza and The Bear who again have the crowd bouncing. Once again the Dance tents attract us with FK Panda, Crazy P, Andy Butler, and Titan Sound all contributing to the Sunday night soundtrack.

I think the place is gonna look like a tip on Monday after many of our new friends have left, but no, a few of them clean their area and leave it spotless, really really spotless. I'm greatly impressed, these are festival goers who respect the land their on and it's great to see. The smile on my face grows, LeoX really has been a wonderful party in a perfect field! What a weekend.

The programme notes speculate it's future and leave it open. I hope it continues it's been one of the best weekends I've had in years!

There's not a single niggle I have about it! And for me that's rare. A huge thank you to everyone who made it work so well, you have a wonderful location and have set out the site marvellously, and assembled some great people to put it all together. The crowds who attended were great I saw no trouble and felt really at home (maybe it's my Cornish blood). Clearly I feel I have friends and family here, in the words of Eliza & The Bear. Well done Leo I will have to make you a regular on my calendar, if you return. Keeping my horns crossed.

 

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