Three words. Magical, carnival-esque & charming, this annual independent festival for music and arts has been on The Sherp’s radar for quite awhile now. And every year’s edition exceeds expectations, to say the least.
For those of you who don’t know, SGP takes place in Abbots Ripton, near Huntingdon, England. The venue of which is its USP– a Georgian farm house accompanied by its own lake, river and gorgeous landscape. The organizers concentrate on making the festival a visual experience with floating boats, crazy entertainment and a yearly theme – last year’s was “Beyond the Yellow Brick Road”.
This year, you can expect nothing less than “a 100-acre toy box of a party, complete with jelly, ice cream and sprinkles” at the festival scheduled for July 23-26, 2015
This is the kind of party that most grown-ups would die to be part of. In one swish of a magic wand, the organisers of UK’s Secret Garden Party 2015 have managed to crack the code to ensuring that the attendees not only have a blast, but have with the gay abandon that is typical of kids. The theme for this year’s edition is Childish Things, and hence, all the festival-goers are encouraged to kid around all they want.
The official website says,
“So now our childhood has become romanticised by memorabilia and tat (hands up who owns a Thundercats t-shirt or a Bagpuss plushie?) and it seems present childhoods are now being rated, reposted and liked (or unliked) as all the best ‘toys’ are experienced, virtually through screens… As well as its innate qualities being confounded; childlike wonder is something we yearn for yet rarely see. Yet we are all ashamed when accused of childlike behaviour.”
Piqued your interest? Scroll through last year’s festivities and find out what it’s like to be at this glorious summer festival.
A dreamy utopia wonderland of love, bliss, sequins and glitter….
The famed Son Cameleon Peddle Powered Stage
Everything is so easy-going and carefree
Sunshine, skipping and smiles – A field of new found friends
A festival with a message of peace, love and unity
With nostalgic homage to the late greats of the psychedelic 60s & 70s, the 2014’s festival’s soundtrack that played across the festival featured Velvet Underground’s “Take a Walk on the Wild Side’, Beatles’ ‘All You Need Is Love’ and Beach Boys…giving sweet appreciation to where it all began…
Dressing to impress festival fashion style excess! Multi-colour and metallic for the girls AND for the boys!
Highlights of SGP 2014 : Catching the classic lounge/chillout act Morcheeba performing on the Great Stage on a sunny Saturday afternoon:
Stepping through a mis-shaped portaloo portal into a field of sunflowers.
Watching the spectacular out-of-this-world firework display over the lake on Saturday night (including projections onto a mist-spray-screen and low-flying drones-wow!)
Enjoying such great dance venues such as the Collisillyium, The Great Stage Temple of Boom & Dance Off :
Dancing to Old school Drum n Bass/original Trance legends Ozric Tenticles playing their floaty psychedelic set on Saturday night in the Artful Badger hideaway hidden in the forest
Getting involved in the Holi-inspired paint fight on Sunday afternoon following on from the ever impressive electro swing outfit ‘The Correspondents’ at The Great Stage:
Watching the burning of the Emerald City on the lake during Sunday evening followed by a impressive air display of loop-the-loop airplanes spurting behind sparkling fireworks.
A garden party too amazing to keep secret!
(Pictures courtesy Sophie Starchild & The Secret Garden Party)