Miscellaneous - Limetree Festival

  by Spencer Robertshaw

published: 6 / 9 / 2010

Article

The Limetree Festival in the village of Grewelthorpe in North Yorkshire purports to be different from other festivals in that it goes back to basics or what its organisers consider to be basics. I attended the Limetree which took place this year during the Bank Holiday weekend between the 27th and 29th August. This article is not about the bands that played or the acts that performed. They were all, however, excellent and the most succinct comment I can make about them is that everyone at the festival clearly enjoyed all the performances. Here instead is how it worked. Upon first arriving at the site and going through the main gate I had to pop in to a portacabin to collect my press pass to enter the festival and its associated enclosures. I was met with a smile from both the organiser and the security personnel. I collected my wristband and went further down the first field to park my car amongst others and near to where some of the early birds had put up their tents. Afterwards I walked along to the main gate which opened out onto the main or largest stage area (the others areas are accessed from this area and the set up is very well planned including ample toilet facilities and water stations). You could see the other tents and stages from this central point and I was surprised at how the organisers were able to get everything close but with no real leakage of volume from one stage to another -the acoustics were excellent. Around the edges of the main area were places to chill out, get food, hats , T-shirts and general festival bric-a-brac. All the people were smiling and there was a good vibe growing. I caught the eye of one of the professional security personnel and he beamed a large smile – the organisers and staff had certainly set an ethos with this which works well. I travelled from one tent and stage to another and enjoyed the acts which were all different but good with a tendency towards a funky sound. The organisers have got the formula bang on. They have managed to fight off the corporate monster that overtakes festivals and turns those associated into bloodhounds. There is a real homegrown feeling here and add to that there was a slight mysticism confirmed by a circle of stones very similar to those at Stonehenge uplit in changing colours – a really nice touch but hard to get a good photograph of as it looked best in the dark. I had another walk round later on and saw the campers in their own little communities having a drink and getting ready for the evening. There was no sense of urgency whatsoever and it was that which confirmed for me that this place is special - all the hard work in putting this event together had paid off in spades. All the festival goers were as enthused at the end of the weekend as they were at the start. Will they be back next year? Yes? Will I be bringing my tent and a large flask of coffee next year? Definitely. The Limetree formula makes for the perfect festival.