Beautiful Days 2004
Saturday 21st to Sunday 22nd August 2004Escot Park, near Fairmile, Devon, EX11 1LU, England MAP
£65 w/e with camping, day tickets (no camping) £32.50 - SOLD OUT
Now in its second year the question I was asking myself was could it match last years fantastic weekend? As it turned out I neednt have worried it was to better last years event, making it once again a highlight of the festival calendar!
We arrived just as the gates opened and despite threatening clouds and rain the weather held and we made camp a short way from the new Campsite Café. Once again, the arrival involved getting a look at the small but perfectly formed main arenas, as we walked through to the green archway and the campsite proper. My only surprise was that there was no recycling bags and there was no attempt to separate cans and plastic on site, the only festival I'd been to this year where the organisers didn't bother.
Now with nothing scheduled on the Friday night youd have thought that wed have been kicking our heals. Instead there were old acquaintances to meet, new folks to chat too, people to help make camp, including the building of a ply board dome tent with a seventies design, and directions to the growing efests camp to be given.
Not long after, the main bar opened, though most of us had brought our own, we were all itching to try the four ales and three ciders and an hour later the Campsite Café kicked into gear with Liz on the decks and loads more people to meet, it was a terrific start to the evening, outside fire jugglers practised and there was much running about and fun to be had. The four real ales including the specially brewed Beautiful Daze and choice of three ciders included a head wrecking Dry Scrumpy! Eventually we ended up back at the barbecue for late night burgers and to get some sleep for the opening day of the festival proper.
review by: Scott Williams