Can it really be a year since the first Brit Fest?
Will it have changed with the second one?
Only one way to find out……
Friday 4th July
Off I set with as little possessions on me as possible. It could be a trek from the car park to the stage and with the heat and humidity we are having I don’t have much energy in my tank!
As I near the venue I can see masses of tall thin flags, masses of camper vans and mobile homes, all gleaming above the hedges! There was none of that last year – I can’t believe how many people are already set up camping for the weekend ahead.
It really does look like a festival, set in the beautiful Cheshire countryside.
Long queues to get through security
On arrival the parking security tells me where to go and then I join the quite long queue to get into the field where it is all taking place. As I walk along the designated area towards security and entrance, I pass so many tents on the other side of the security fences. It is like a large scale little village!
Slowly I get nearer to the front, then a man in a kilt and his partner come out of the tent village, look down the long queue and whisper to each other. Then he rushes to the woman in front of me, throws his arms around her, kisses her and shouts how good it is to see her and stands in front of them. The woman turns to those of us behind and says I don’t know them and looks embarrassed – yes I knew he was doing it to jump the queue! It’s the start of a long day and no one wants any trouble so we say nothing. No it is not a clever thing to do jumping the queue.
A wristband for the whole weekend
I get my e ticket scanned and have a wristband for the weekend.
I arrived after the start as I knew any earlier and it would be hectic getting in. Everyone has claimed their space with seats/blankets firmly in place. At the back of the field are the food vendors/wagons in a half circle. At the side are stalls and also the VIP area. The VIP area had its own posh loos and deckchairs in front of a big marquee tent. I don’t have VIP access so will not be drinking anything – I’m not using the portaloos after thousands of people have been!
Hosts again for the weekend are Mike Toolan and Jenny Powell who do a great job. Both live local and are down to earth.
Boo Radleys. (Wake Up Boo), Roachford (Cuddly Toy, Family Man), Republica (Ready To Go), Chesney Hawkes (The One and Only, I’m A Man Not A Boy), Toploader (Dancing In The Moonlight) and Razorlight (In The Morning, America, Golden Touch, Somewhere Else) are the line up for Friday. The crowd love Chesney Hawkes.
Saturday 5th July
When I arrive the car park crew tell me the place is packed and I have to park in a big field with hundreds of other cars. I walk past double decker shuttle buses that the event have put on for picking up and taking people back to Hale, Altrincham and surrounding areas – a great idea. People can have a few drinks and get home safely.
There are more people here today – I am told 10,000 people a day attended. Everyone is happy, excited. Many are dressed in 80’s fashions. So many people dancing and singing all day and night.
A man asks me why are there so many older people? I tell him that the groups performing are who we grew up with. We are reliving memories and getting to see so many groups each day – priceless.
Clear the backstage area for UB40?
As the afternoon progresses I notice the security increasing and anxious faces. Then I am told that the backstage area is to be kept clear – everyone out. Why? Is some big celebrity attending? Stevie Wonder and Justin Timberlake are in the area, are they popping in? Er no. Ali Campbell/UB40 don’t want anyone around them – really? The only group/person that has done this. Everyone else – no problem.
The Fizz ladies Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston are wearing clothes designed with the Union Jack. Mike and Bobby left the band and now they have Nikk Mager and Matthew Patemen.
Everyone is on their feet!
Midge Ure always goes down well. At the end of his set Jenny Powell thanks him for all the work he did with ‘Live Aid’. Midge tells us that it is now up to the young people – they need to start doing something to make the world a better place. Everyone cheers and claps.
Tom Bailey/Thompson Twins is my favourite today. What a slick set. Dressed in white and three female band members also dressed in white – he moves around the whole stage and interacts with the crowd. I want to sing along!
Saturday line up:
Blancmange (Living On The Ceiling, Waves, Blind Vision , Don’t Tell me) , Cutting Crew (I Just Died In Your Arms, I’ve Been In Love Before), Hue and Cry (Labour Of Love, Looking For Linda), The Fizz (Making Your Mind Up, The Land Of Make Believe, My Camera Never Lies), Midge Ure (Vienna, Hymn, No Regrets, Fade To Grey), Tom Bailey/Thompson Twins (We Are Detective, Watching, Lies, Love On Your Side), UB40 (Red Red Wine, Can’t Help Falling In Love)
Sunday 6 July
Arriving today, there is a much more laid back feeling.
Probably the crowd are knackered after three nights camping and partying every day – none of us are getting any younger! But this is an event that everyone now wants to attend and we are going to enjoy ourselves, even if it takes us weeks to recover!
Again the place is packed.
Clive Jackson of Dr And The Medics gets the crowd going. He loves festivals and the crowd love him. He tells us that festivals cost a great deal of money and time to put together and we must support them or we will lose them all. Not a chance with Brit Fes – we are booking every year in advance for this one!
Peter Cox of Go West is on stage, but no Richard Drummie. He tells us Richard is unwell but our prayers are with him. Oh dear, that does not sound good. We miss you Richard. The crowd love Peter.
Tony Christie is wearing a very smart apricot/peach suit. Everyone is in awe. Suffering from dementia, you would never know. He talks about his wife a lot and is so cheerful. Good on you Tony.
As you get older you do wonder how your health is going to be.
Sunday line up
Musical Youth (Pass the Dutchie), Doctor and the Medics (Spirit In The Sky), Go West (Call Me, Faithful, We Close Our Eyes, King Of Wishful Thinking), Incognito (Always There), Johnny Hates Jazz (Shattered Dreams, Turn Back The Clock, Heart Of Gold), Tony Christie (Is This The Way To Amarillo, I Did What I Did For Maria, Walk Like A Panther), 10CC. (I’m Not In Love, Dreadlock Holiday)
All too soon it ends. Tired but so happy that we managed to get through the three days, we make our way home and back to daily life.
All pictures by Deborah Law
Tickets are on sale for next year.
If you can’t afford the tickets then there is a chance to volunteer as a helper and you get a ticket to attend on one other day – hurry because this is an event that EVERYONE wants to attend.
Thank you Ed and Ant for bringing us Brit Fest – an incredible achievement and bringing happiness to 30,000 people this weekend.
