Beat-Herder Festival

So Glastonbury is still mega but, in many people’s minds, it was a whole lot better when there were fewer people around. And the vogue for intimate sonic gatherings is beginning to assert a real influence on the festival world as they spring up all over the place.

One of the latest is Beat-Herder, a gathering of 5000 likeminded souls in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. The onus is on the likeminded aspect – everyone is friendly, fact.
Born from a string of Northern scene parties that were utterly gratuit, Beat-Herder remains fully independent and self funded. It’s the DIY aesthetic that ensures returning visitors, year after year. With four main areas including Lazy Way, Toil Trees and the Lazy Meadow there’s always a range of entertainment on offer. Rumours have it there’s secret rooms in the woods, accessed by long tunnels, a vodka bar that won’t serve you unless you’re lying on your belly and a trick or treat booth.

Collaborations with renowned promoters lend a auteurial sheen to proceedings too.

London party gang Trailer Trash head up their own space, hosting Underground Roots featuring Bongo chilli and Danman, Dead Silence and The Real DS and DJ Baliuk + RMKO amongst others. Headliners on the main stage include The Whip, Beardyman and Dub Pistols. In short, it’s so bloody good that early bird tickets sold out in 3 hours and 20 minutes.

And still the excellence continues, because the Beat-Herder clan is spearheaded by a team of handy people – they count builders, gardeners, electricians, plumbers and joiners among their number – which is particularly handy when you want to build the entire infrastructure of the site from reclaimed timber, junk from skips, donations and house clearances. The VJ booth, an underground bar, even the showers are put together by hand.

Ticket price: Adult tickets £60, kids tickets (under 12's) £5, Campervans £10 + booking fee.
Site opens: midday on Friday 3rd July.