Festival lover Gina Francey, gives us an insight festival life for those who still haven’t experienced them. As a typical student who enjoys getting in at three in the morning from a loud, raucous night out, when I think of a music festival the words ‘family friendly’ don’t really come to mind. However, don’t ask me how, but Skipton and the great Yorkshire dales manage to make a festival fit for everyone, Beacons Festival.
After watching the festival grow over the past few years from the tiny, formally named moor festival to holding a capacity of 9,000 people, this year was the biggest and best so far! From ravers, DJ’s, folk fanatics and rockers, Beacons Festival seemed to have it all. With not only music to keep the punters happy but also arts, crafts, and friday even had fancy dress on the cards. Not only this but the festival made itself unique maintaining its identity by providing only local food and drink distributors at great prices.
So after being well fed and kept fairly shy of the typical Yorkshire weather the weekend started on a high and only improved as the music began. The band Daughter on the Friday evening seemed an odd closing act for the day, being fragile and mellow however the set seemed to just work! There seemed to be something magical across the stage bringing everyone into fascination. When the band played their biggest hit ‘Youth’ (featured on the third series of the TV show Skins) the tent was illuminated and the audience became some kind of choir accompanying the band.
After a delicate evening on the Friday the festival pulled out all the stops over the next few days featuring more rock and DJ sets. Some of my favourite acts throughout the weekend included Sheffield’s very own electronic gods 65DaysofStatic as well as the psychedelic rock of Hookworms.
After enjoying so many artists over the three days it is hard to pick out just one or two but an act who surprised me was Jon Hopkins. I am no fan of DJ sets usually but this was something else! I’d never been in a crowd so caring of one another whilst enjoying the great beats coming from the main stage. Not just this but the sound lifted the tent and sounded incredible and when his set peaked large light up balls were released through the ceiling helping add to this fast paced crazy feel within the tent.
The festival overall I could not fault. With the music and tents surviving through the back of a hurricane on the Sunday and spirits staying high even due to the high force gales and showers. I would recommend anyone to go to Beacons festival due to its friendly relaxed atmosphere as well as being price friendly. Hopefully next years line-up will be as top quality as this years bringing alive the local spirit of Yorkshire. See you next you guys!
Words by Gina Francey
