Each year, the South West is inundated with festivals that appeals to even the most fussy of tastes and this year is no different. Whether you’re one for peace or for thrashing hits, you won’t be disappointed this year as there is a great selection to choose from.
Sunrise: 29th May – 1st June
If family-friendly fun is what you’re looking for, the Sunrise Celebration will make a good choice. A three-day festival starting on 29th May at Chepstow Estate, the event will be full of emerging artists and interactive workshops. This year, the event is taking place at Chepstow Estate, which Sunrise describes as the “perfect festival site” due to the view and the peaceful nature of the area, holding true to Sunrise’s aim.
There are three brand new arenas for this year where a whole host of different events will take place, including the psychedelic Sundance Arena, the All Good Things Arena hosted by the Chai Wallahs, and the sustainable paradise of Eden Village.
Speaking of this years event, Sunbird, the festival’s visionary organiser, said: “I am honoured to be asked to bring together lots of the original elements that we all know and love and help make Sunrise our home from home where we can meet our wider family and have a great time”.
To find out more about Sunrise, its music line-up, and ticket prices for 2014, please visit the website: www.sunrisecelebration.com
NASS: 11th – 13th July
Looking for some adrenaline-pumping, action-packed fun this year? Try NASS, which is hailed as the number one music and action sports festival out there. The 11th July 2014 sees NASS return for yet another weekend of mind-blowing music and the very best in action sports at Royal Bath and West Showground at Shepton Mallet, its home area.
With something for everyone, there is a wealth of artists ready to bring the house down. Rock-lovers won’t be disappointed with Funeral For a Friend arriving to give the NASS crowd a mix of hardcore and energetic punk songs to be remembered. Hailed for thinking outside the box, Borgore continues to push the boundaries of dubstep, electronic music, metal and everything in between. A worldwide headliner, Borgore’s bass-in-your-face frenzy performance complete with crowd surfing, mosh pits and crazy stage presence ticks all the boxes for NASS.
If BMXing is your thing, NASS will once again present the cream of action sports competitions with international skate and BMX athletes going head to head on the industry’s biggest and best course. BMXers confirmed so far include Logan Martin (NASS ’13 BMX champ), Greg Illingworth, Matt Priest, Tom Justice, Luke Padgett and Todd Meyn to mention just a few of the biggest names on the International BMX circuit that have signed up to take on the UKs biggest comp – the NASS Pro.
Join the 15,000 lovers of music, skate and BMX and get your ticket now from www.nassfestival.com
Chagstock Festival: 18th – 19th July
Wanting a stunning location for all to enjoy but with a theme? Set in 70 acres of farmland on the edge of Dartmoor, Chagstock is renowned for its stunning location, diverse line-up of artists and non-corporate, family friendly atmosphere. Chagstock showcases the very best music, food and entertainment that the Westcountry and the UK have to offer.
Chagstock takes place from 18-19th July and promises great acts, such as the Lightning Seeds, a Liverpudlian band formed by Ian Broudie, who have had 12 top-20 UK hits including Pure, Change, and 1996 football anthem Three Lions. They will headline the main stage on Friday night.
Also on the bill are million-selling alt-rock legends, The Waterboys, who will headline the main stage on Saturday night. Formed 30 years ago by Mike Scott, The Waterboys became famous for their powerful live performances and majestic albums such as A Pagan Place and This Is The Sea, which included their biggest hit The Whole Of The Moon.
As with each year, there is a fancy dress theme and this year’s is ‘The Wild West!’. Great fun for adults and children alike, this event is not to be missed!
Tickets are available from http://www.chagstock.info/buy-tickets
http://www.chagstock.info
Quest Festival: Thursday 24th – Sunday 27th July
Wanting to connect mind, body, spirit with music and dance? Go on a quest for Quest Festival! Taking place at Newton Abbot Racecourse, Quest returns this July with a whole host of brand new attractions for families, campers, and regulars alike.
Never one to disappoint, there will be inspirational talks this year from pioneers in the field of mind-body-spirit work, including Jonathan Cainer, Peter Owen Jones, Colin Tipping, William Bloom, Sarah Rozenthuler, The Barefoot Doctor, Jamie Catto, and many more speakers.
New for 2014 is the Spirit of Sunrise Camping Village. A haven of unique love-filled family vibes, the camping village will bring an ambient 24 hour element and some exclusive and unique experiences for campers, as well as the joy of being under the stars, around a fire, with beautiful people sipping Chai!
The magical content available to those staying overnight includes night time soirées with astrologer Jonathan Cainer, fire-side talks with Tim ‘Mac’ McCartney of Embercombe and the inspiration of Jamie Catto.
Also new for 2014 is Kids Quest, which includes a treasure hunt and family activities for toddlers to teens so everyone is involved in this year’s festivities. Quest boasts a safe, enclosed, undercover and welcoming family environment with free kids activities ranging from drumming, hula-hooping and spoon carving to circus skills, theatre and storytelling – your little ones will be safe and entertained all weekend and can share in the magical adventure that is Quest.
Quest’s huge range of workshops give you the chance experience, some amazing teachings and the ability to connect with like-minded people.
Workshops include yoga, dance, meditation, shamanism, personal development, singing, alternative health and therapies, confidence building, psychic awareness, laughter workouts, tai chi, myth-telling, herbal medicine, regression hypnosis and feng shui, among many others.
Quest’s festival director, Julia Wright, said of the event: “Quest is a journey of self-discovery. It’s a break from daily life into true reality. It’s a place where everyone shows up in their best colours shining bright with potential – a celebration of all that we are and can be.”
Go on your Quest to be the best here