Strawberries & Creem will host its fifth edition on June 16 in Cambridge, with sets from T-Pain, David Rodigan, Kojo Funds, Ghetts, Shy FX, Madam X, Heidi and more. Insights spoke with Preye Crooks, co-founder of Strawberries & Cream, about the challenges faced by the festival, the factors that set it apart from the competition, and how the brand aims to expand beyond 2018. Festival Insights: Strawberries & Creem claims to have the youngest organisational team out of any UK festival. Was that the result of a conscious hiring practice or just a natural thing? How do you think it…
Author: Festival Insights
SPAIN: Poble Espanyol – Barcelona’s open-air architectural museum – has revealed its OFFSónar programme for 2018, comprising nine events during the week of Sónar festival. Poble Espanyol will welcome 75 of the international dance community’s most renowned artists to perform across its three event spaces from June 14 – 17, including Carl Craig, Moodymann, Omar-S, Octave One, Marco Carola, Hot Since 82, Nina Kraviz, Shadowax, Adam Beyer, Joseph Capriati, Joy Orbison, Henrik Schwarz, Floating Points, Damien Lazarus, BLOND:ISH, Ben UFO, and Jamie xx. Offering cutting-edge music programming in an intimate and unique environment, Poble Espanyol promises an from the heat…
USA: Outside Lands has released a study outlining the economic impact the annual event has on San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area. The report estimated that the festival generated $66.8 million in economic activity for the city of San Francisco, and $75 million for the entire Bay Area in 2017. The festival also increased incomes by $32.6 million, created the equivalent of 700.4 full time year-long jobs, and paid $9,465,668 in state and local taxes. “San Francisco has been on the leading edge of live music for decades and Outside Lands keeps us securely on the map in the…
UK: SpaSeekers has conducted research into the sleeping and cleaning habits of UK festival attendees. The study claims to demonstrate which festivals’ attendees shower the least, brush their teeth the least and even change their underwear the least. The nationwide survey of 500 festivalgoers also ranks events by the amount of sleep enjoyed by their average visitor. The research names Download Festival as the dirtiest festival in the UK, being the festival were people clean themselves the least. The data revealed that 40% of Download festivalgoers do not shower at all across the whole weekend. Forty eight percent say they…
ICELAND: Secret Solstice – set to host its fifth edition in Reykjavik from June 21 – 24 – will once again power its proceedings entirely on geothermal energy by tapping into Iceland’s national grid. In a further development of its environmental policies, the festival will also ban plastic straws onsite this year. For the second year running, Secret Solstice will also team up with Be-At.TV as its official streaming partner. What’s more, the festival will debut the Red Bull silent disco and a special FIFA World Cup live viewing party as Iceland takes on Nigeria. The introduction of RFID bands…
UK: The British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) has appealed to festival organisers to take a robust stance against gas abuse. The national trade body is calling on festival organisers to prevent Nitrous Oxide getting onto their sites and help block its use, which can be fatal in some cases. Supplying the gas for inhalation (without appropriate medical licence and qualified supervision) is now an offence under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, and the BCGA is keen to see offences punished by the courts. Doug Thornton, Chief Executive of the BCGA, said: “The recreational use of Nitrous Oxide has always been…
Katie Torrance is the E-commerce Manager at First Fence, a frontrunner in the UK fencing and security supplies industry. Every year over 7,000 major outdoor events are held in the UK, with over 85 million collective visitors. However, with an increase in attacks over recent years it is crucial that there are security measures in place to keep all attendees, workers and acts safe. Here, First Fence, a leading supplier of security measures, discuss what security steps you can take to minimise any risks. Metal Detectors & Bag Searches Following last year’s devastating atrocities in Manchester and London, festivals have…
Nozstock: The Hidden Valley will celebrate its 20th anniversary from July 20 – 22, with a line-up featuring Chase & Status (DJ), Goldfrapp, Dillinja, The Blockheads, Grandmaster Flash, The Selecter, Dub Pistols and We Are Scientists, to name a few. Insights recently spoke with Ella Nosworthy, the festival’s Creative Director, about its theme for 2018, approach to sustainability, family friendly atmosphere and more. Festival Insights: Nozstock will celebrate its 20th anniversary later this year. To what do you attribute the festival’s continued success, and what advice would you give to fledgling festivals looking to achieve longevity? Ella Nosworthy: There is…
USA: This year’s Coachella commissioned the UK based studio Newsubstance to produce an art installation entitled ‘Spectra’ – a seven-storey pavilion that allowed festivalgoers to climb through spirals of colour and gain unprecedented views of the site. The structure was one of six artworks commissioned for this year’s festival. Unlike the other works, however, Spectra is a permanent piece that will remain in place for at least the next three years. A site-specific response to Coachella’s location in California’s Colorado Desert, Spectra both connects and contrasts with the landscape and sky, providing a relief to the flatness of the former…
UK: ID&C, the provider of security wristbands for festivals and live events, has revealed Lancashire’s Head for the Hills Festival as the winner of its 2018 Grass Roots Festival Bursary, amounting to a £2500 grant. Head for the Hills Festival was founded in 2011 and is held annually in the market town of Ramsbottom, featuring an eclectic mix of music as well as arts and family shows. Edwina McEachran, Development Officer at Head for the Hills Festival, said: “We are so delighted to have won the Grass Roots Bursary from ID&C and we are looking forward to elevating the festival…