This was my second time at Nozstock: The Hidden Valley, a perfect little family-friendly music festival down in Bromyard, Herefordshire. Recently recommended in my Best Small Festivals article, I had butterflies in my stomach as I turned off the M5 and started the short, winding journey to the event.
Last year's festival had been really good fun, so I was keen to see if anything had changed and whether Nozstock had stuck to the same capacity and decent atmosphere. As I dragged my tent to the camping field to find my friends, I wasn't disappointed. Within half an hour, I'd smiled and stopped to chat to at least five different strangers... The Glastonbury vibe of old days past was certainly still alive (just not at Glastonbury anymore). It really was becoming the most friendly festival I'd been to in years. And there were so many families along with a real mix of different people, ages and cultures.
And it didn't stop there. Whilst setting up my tent, I realised all my poles were broken! Very disappointing as it was supposed to be brand new. Not to worry though, a friendly camping neighbour came to my rescue and gave me some tape to 'make do'. Tent up, camping chair unfolded and settled in to, I enjoyed my traditional first glass of red wine and got to know some of my fellow campers, including Ben in one tent and Alan with seven-year-old son Sam in the other. They were fantastic company and it turned out Alan was a huge ex-Glastonbury-goer as well, so we both agreed Nozstock was a good close match to the 'golden days' of festivals (i.e. before they got too big and commercial).
All settled and ready for some music, I wandered into the main arena with my friends and sat down to watch The Correspondents - a great start to my Friday lineup. Dub Mafia were next at the Garden Stage where they got the whole crowd dancing, including myself.
I then had a good old wander and enjoyed some Psytrance in the Coppice, a dance area amongst some trees on the other side of the festival site before finishing off the night watching The Jim Jones Revue on the main Orchard stage, who were absolutely rocking the crowd. Described as sounding like a car crash between the speaker-ripping grasp of Little Richard and The MC5., they played supercharged rock’n'roll and certainly knew how to entertain. That's a memory that will stay with me forever.
On the Saturday, I woke surprisingly early to my equally chirpy next-door neighbour Alan who offered a refreshingly, cold can of lager. Another Glastonbury tradition, pre-2000. And we spent a happy hour, chatting about festivals and eating breakfast before venturing back into the main arena to watch Raf and O and Prisoner Cinema on the BandStand stage. Whilst sipping refreshing cider from the festival bars (and it wasn't too expensive either) we enjoyed the music and watching all the performance art that was taking place, including people dressed as... erm... well I think they were birds of some kind. But it was very funny, whatever they were.
The craft and healing fields were really good this year and, for a change, I actually got involved. I watched 'sock wrestling', painted something for a live art installation and had a gorgeous back massage by a kind lady called Tuk - only cost a fiver! The food stalls were great too, particularly the burgers. Yum.
Back in the camping fields, I had some fun with my friends Andy, Davina, Jimmy, Ellie and Maisie. We mainly played frisbee around the main walkway and were encouraging people to join in. We had a good laugh and met lots of great people. Everyone loves frisbee.
After some more food and drink at our tents, we wandered back into the main arena to sample some dance music in the Cubicles and Bullpen. Caught a little of Amoss and Natalie Coleman before heading to the Orchard stage to see Alabama3 - a pop band, a punk rock, blues and country techno situationist crypto-Marxist-Leninist electro band. They were brilliant - a real highlight to the weekend and a great way to end two days of fun in the Herefordshire countryside.
Sadly, I had to leave early on the Sunday to head home but when my camping neighbour Alan said 'Same place, same time next year?' I smiled. Here was a festival that had reignited the spark that festivals like Glastonbury used to have. That magical thing you can't quite put your finger on. Nozstock isn't the new Glastonbury, no. Those days are gone. But Nozstock has well and truly mapped out its own, growing reputation. Next year, you won't hear me banging on about 'the good old days of Glastonbury'. Oh no! You'll just hear me talk of former Nozstocks and their highlights. If you love festivals for the same reasons I do, then Nozstock is certainly one to check out. See you in 2012!
Special thanks to Alex Thomson and Karen Johnson for welcoming me along - I'll definitely come meet you next year! Big thanks to Nozstock's Site Manager for rescuing my tent. Big love to 'Jeff' who shared some rum and was great company on the Saturday. Shout out to Alan and Sam for making the weekend that extra special. And thanks to my good friends Andy, Jimmy, Davina, Ellie and Maisie - you're the best! And last but not least, thanks to farmer Noz!
