Hop Farm Festival: No Sponsors, No VIPs, No Shit!

I'm leaving for London tomorrow for the big Blur show. Obviously, it's a major deal for me, but I do have two other nights were Blur does not factor into my activities.

Thanks to the Howling Bells crew, they pointed me to the Hop Farm Festival happening this upcoming weekend in Kent. The site is located 55 miles to the east of London. The idea behind the festival is simple: No Sponsorships. No Branding. That's something I can support. The festival capacity is 20,000 and according to this report, they've got some creative ways to sell tickets.

I got a look-see at the Saturday line-up and it's not some no-names bands, they got some big names.

• The Fratellis
• Echo and the Bunnymen
• The Pigeon Detectives
• The View
• Florence and the Machine
• Noah and the Whale
• Howling Bells
• The Joy Formidable
• The Sunshine Underground
• Datarock
• The Twilight Sad
• The Good The Bad
• Bell X1
• White Denim
• Let's Wrestle

I consider this opportunity full of WIN! I'll get to see Florence two days in a row, hang with the Bells and get my first look at The Joy Formidable in live form. Plus, the Sunshine Underground is on the bill. I saw three years ago at KOKOand they blew my friggin mind. Unfortunately, they had a chance to have a go at in the U.S. At the same time, I saw the Pigeon Detectives, who give me a head ache.

As for the headliner, the Fratellis, they went out of flavor with me after that second album. It was a big fat dud. I haven't seen them since their NYC debut at Mercury Lounge. Since then, they are big deal in the UK and a little bit over here. Consider my curiosity peaked with them being the main draw.

Echo and the Bunnyman should be fantastic. I'm hoping the go on around sunset.

The festival is from UK promoter Vince Power, founder of Mean Fiddler and a driving force behind the Reading Festival. Now, he organizes this festival, Benicassim Festival in Spain and will be opening new venues in London.,

I'm excited about covering the day. Too bad I won't make Sunday's lineup with Editors, Doves, Paul Weller, Ladyhawke, Mystery Jets, Kissy Sell Out, British Sea Power and Rumble Strips.

My other option was to stay in town and cover Wireless Festival with Basement Jaxx, The Streets, Dizzee Rascal, Does It Offend You Yeah?, St. Etienne, Jack Penate, Phenomenal Handclap Band, Frankmusik, Japanese Popstars and Fanfarlo to name a few. I figure an easy trip to country would be a good way to celebrate the fourth of July with the people we broke free from. Go figure.

The forecast -- Friday: 78, 60% Rain/Thunderstorms. Saturday: 74, 20% rain. Bloody hell! 60% chance of rain. No fair.

Comments

[catshoe]

I do hope you enjoy the Joy Formidable - say hello to them for me

[Jethro]

Can I just say, I went to this, and there was a massive VIP area right behind the stage, and a VIP bar with free drinks all night long. Not quite sure what they were going on about the No VIPs thing. They were running a celebrity football tournament with everyone from Big Brother and Shipwrecked!

[MusicSnobbery]

I know what you mean. I think what they meant by No VIPs is that there were no VIP packages sold, where you pay double/triple the ammount of the ticket to get special treatment, ammenties and access. That backstage with all the free drinks is typical at any large concert. There wasn't much going on back there.