» Preview: Meadowlands
Sussex’s only music festival is ready to blossom
Set in the idyllic grounds of Glynde Place, Meadowlands is looking like a much a bigger and better proposition this year, with an eclectic array of music, DJs, comedy and spoken word acts over the Bank Holiday weekend.
“This is really a music lovers festival, run by music lovers, and we hope there is something for everyone, not least families,” says Lee Bennett, one of the founders of the Festival, which is sponsored by the Cotswold Brewing Company for 2011.
“We have some cracking headliners but also we’ve gone for an eclectic mix of the established, the respected, the up and coming and the creative artists amongst the 80 odd acts appearing.
We believe each act has a certain quality to what they do and, apart from out and out heavy rock, perhaps, most genres of music are represented, which is intentional!
“Moreover, there is a comedy and spoken word tent and, all in all, we want this to be an open, warm, inclusive, friendly, festival reflecting the values and ethos of the people in the location it serves – notably Brighton, Lewes and the Sussex/Kent countryside villages whose people, by and large, are also warm, open, friendly and inclusive.”
Licensed to hold 5,000 people, and with excellent and spacious camping facilities, this is the second year as a festival (first a gig on a farm!) and looks set to become a permanent fixture on the ever-growing festival circuit.
Turin Brakes (who will be playing their classic Optimist album from start to finish) and Penguin Café will be headlining the main stages on Saturday and Sunday respectively, along with high quality acts such as Mirrors, Peggy Sue, Tom McRae, Electric Soft Parade, Hot Club de Paris, Foy Vance, Goldheart Assembly, Kate Walsh, Three Trapped Tigers, Mamas Gun and Jo Harman.
The comedy stage features the brilliant John Hegley, Luke Wright and Karen Hayley, while the Hutchins Reverb stage will host some of the finest local talent around including Clowns, Mojo Fins, Morning Orchestra, Mean Poppa Lean and Two Spot Gobi.
Later at night Meadowlands will be hosting specially commissioned club nights with Tru Thoughts on Friday, Atic Records on Saturday and the incredibly popular electro swing night White Mink finishing off the festival on the Sunday, with DJs and live performances from The Correspondents, Manouche and Mr. B The Gentleman Rhymer.
Not only that but there will be a specially constructed cinema, swimming in the nearby outdoor pool (it’s been there since 1904 and has recently been revamped!), walkabouts, art installations and a casino courtesy of Bob’s Up The Ante Social Club.
There are plenty of activities for children including pizza making classes, children’s poetry and story-telling, clowns and magic, animal costume parade, music workshops, mask making, professional face painting, plus football and volleyball courts and the ever-popular bouncy castle.
Meadowlands, 27–29 May, Glynde, various ticket prices.
www.meadowlandsfestival.com
