If you assemble enough hoary old festival veterans in one place, add enough beer, and chances are the conversation will steer itself to talk of the festivals of yesteryear, where the beer was cheap, the atmosphere relaxed, the music eclectic, and good, you could camp next to your car and all this was fields. Thimbleberry, is exactly that kind of festival!
We arrived around eight on Friday night after some interesting diversions and jumped out of the van into a Baltic biting wind, and after putting on every piece of clothing we owned, took the five minute walk up to the main site.
My first impression wa that the organisers were going for the world record for most stages in a small festival area. Clustered around some old farm buildings were a large Reggae/Dub tent, a dance tent, a Jazz and Blues Tent, plus a main stage (tent). There was also a section of the farm buildings given over to Psy-Trance, and a couple of tea tents also hosting their own sound systems.
This should never have worked, but somehow the Thimbleberry organisers have figured out a way to break the laws of physics. While outside, all the stages running are pretty clearly audible, but once inside one of the music areas, there's virtually no bleed, and you were perfectly able to watch bands without being drowned out by the sound of deep house coming from the dance tent about a 100 yards away.
Those wanting Dance music were excellently served over the weekend. The dance tent had been put together by Darlington outfit DisFUNKion. This is their second year at Thimbleberry, and I'm frankly amazed that this is the only festival they appear at. Featuring DJs Marv Hollywood and Rob Brown, they played set after set of blinding deep house, hip hop, as well as some brilliant scratching, that kept the dance tent full almost the whole weekend. If Disfunkion don't break into the circuit for next year, then there really is no justice in the world... yes, they really are that good.
For those that wanted Psy-Trance, a big room had been put aside inside the farm buildings, with much UV decoration and projection. This was pretty much an all night affair, and ran for the very hardest of hardcore till around 10am. Friday night in here was great, though on Saturday with the driving wind outside, it became a bit of an indoor haven for the drunk and the drunker, though there was no real trouble or even attitude to speak of.
The bands playing the event seemed mainly to be drawn from the surrounding area, and as someone from 150 miles away, I'd heard of only two of them before. If you're used to bigger events with bigger named bands, it's surprising how liberating this can be, as you spend your time wandering between trad jazz outfits like the Teesdale Jazz quartet, to young lads doing very creditable rock covers (Vanilla Moon) and culminating with the Balkan Ska dance lunacy of the Baghdaddies. Stage timings seemed a little hit and miss anyway, so in the end, you had little choice but to wander where the mood, or sound, took you.
Overall Thimbleberry is a great little festival. The atmosphere was friendly and very laid back, with everyone it seemed having time to talk and share a smoke. Beer was available 24 hours a day at pub prices, and there was a much better choice of food here than at festivals twice the size. I'd have no hesitation at all in reccomending it, but I would suggest a couple of things to ensure your survival. Firstly, bring as many jumpers and coats as you can find. This is County Durham in September, and it can get ridiculously cold. Secondly, bring a torch, as the site is incredibly dark at night, and the ground is very uneven. It is very difficult to see anything outside at night, and going to one of the completely unlit toilets in absoloute darkness made the experience... memorable. Finally, remember to ask Security for a copy of the Stage listings, as these are not posted anywhere in the festival, and weren't offered out at all.
The good old days of festivals are back, and we will be too next year. I strongly suggest you join us.
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Thimbleberry Music Festival 
