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The promise of sunshine, good vibes and quality entertainment is too much for most of us to resist, which is why festivals are just so damn popular nowadays. That's why we've dug out the details of the most delectable from across the globe and Claire Sawers explores the history of
the festival from druids to Download
ur love of a good festival is by no means
new. The desire to recharge — or more
often. decharge our batteries — goes back to prehistoric times when people felt confused and scared by the forces of nature. so tried to keep on their good side by placating them with celebrations and rituals.
From the ancient druids. Greeks and Romans. right up to hippies. ravers. liull Mooners or Burning Man ‘burners‘. people have always felt a need to break the monotony of daily life and get a little buckwild. Be it a religious. political or musical event. a festival is a time for getting
together with like-minded sorts and letting off
steam — whether that means calling for global change. celebrating the seasons. giving thanks to the gods. or just letting people unleash the beast and get out of their nuts on drugs.
The ancient Egyptians enjoyed a good knees- up. and filled their calendar with feast days and processions revolving around tides and harvests. or the gods they worshipped. The Romans were also legendary party-lovers; putting on elaborate feasts to remember the dead. praise the goddess of flowers. or honour their god of wine. Bacchus. Bacchanalia began as secret cult
meetings with a strictly women-only door policy. but soon spread in popularity and men
joined in the action too. \Vine. rich food and se\
were all on the menu at the orgy nights. and things generally descended into a drunken. debauched free-for-all.
Life in the Middle .-\ges seems like a picnic compared to the modern day. and medieval peoples got almost eight weeks per year off work to celebrate holidays and festiyals. .-\ftcr a hard day ploughing the fields. Middle :\gers let their hair down at giant banquets. ()ther fans of a good old-fashioned hinge blow-out were the Tudors. When they weren't indulging in extravagant. multi-course feasts. the 'l'udors liked a bit of festive dancing. May Day had long been celebrated as the beginning of summer by (‘elts and Romans. but in modern times. villagers adopted the fcstiyal as a day for ensuring fertility in the crops. The modern equivalent is a local festiyal like l.eith or Pittenweein festivals. where all the facets of the local culture are drawn together in one uniliy ing celebration. Similarly. events like the festival of History in Lanark seeks to recreate the craft and culture of eyeryone from the Vikings to
MIDDLESBROUGH SELLINDGE MUSIC FESTIVAL BONNAROO MUSIC AND , MUSIC LIVE 5—7 Jun, Hope Farm near Ashford. Kent. ARTS FESTIVAL . 4-7Jun. Centre Square. . . - www.sellindgemusicfestival.co.uk 1—1 4 Jun. Manchester. « Middlesbrough. _ ' i :1...i i' z“ " ' " -~ Tennessee. www.bonnaroo.com _ a. a www.middles - :1 it. ’ . . . is ~ 1~ -- ‘ ' : ,‘1 broughmusiclive.co.uk .. ‘ ‘v my .-- .s in ' 4 Ash. The Fratellis. Estelle . ‘ ' 63' :. . . r :f' -- ‘ . 1, and Zutons rock it up , v " ::'~ aw .- - ' ' l '
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LONDON INTERNATIONAL MUSIC 6 Jun. Midsummer SHOW
HAMPTON count PALACE FESTIVAL STRAWBERRY FAIR 2-13 Jun. Hampton Court Palace. Surrey. 0844 811 0050. www.hamptoncourtparty.com
A host of acts get the party started in this picturesque palace. including Russell Watson. Level 42. The FOur Seasons. Beverley Knight and Lemar.
COASTLINE BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL
5—7 Jun. Llanudno. Wales. www.coastlinebluegrass.co.uk
11-14 Jun. ExCeL Exhibition Centre. London Docklands. Greater London.
Common. Cambridge. www.5trawberry-Iair.org.uk 4 \‘.'i‘.ee‘ Drive. 7"»;- T". w «. " .: '-' : ~ ’ ' Until Blue. JaV-fiaikers. F21". 7 is”. '1" .' .. " '-I .: ." ,.' " and Wicked Scies {:"";1 ‘."~.-' " .. :4. ' -' iaioback sounds fi‘ {VOC-‘t’? I" is
18 THE LIST 28 May—11 Jun 2ooo
www.|ondoninternationalmUSicshow.com