The hugely anticipated BURYFields Summer Festival opened this year with a Friday night adage, whetting our appetites for the main Saturday event. The sun was shining, weather was sweet and the warm evening air was filled with the mouth watering smells of delicious food…. Ripe ground for a superb night, set within the idyllic grounds of The Bury, home of IBB solicitors. Like last year, the Big Top housed the main stage, with the Woodland stage tucked among the trees, which for Friday night, became the DJ tent.
Chesham Tales checked in backstage with the CC Smugglers and Goldie Lookin Chain as they settled in and prepared for their sets. The Smugglers were there with two new members, having lost a couple to sensible lifestyles and married life. GLC were living it up, well looked after by the backstage VIP team.
Introduced by the big top’s host, magician Dee Riley, The Smugglers took over the main stage for their set, playing some familiar songs along with some new tunes from their recently released EP, ‘Write What You Know’. Local Chesham based band, Lux, supported and we were treated to a spectacular finale from the unexpectedly brilliant and unique Peatbog Faeries, a contemporary folk band, all the way from the Isle of Skye. Hard to imagine what Scottish folk/dance fusion sounds like, but this is it.
Meanwhile, over in the DJ tent, local Dj’s were warming up the crowd ready for the headliners. Although only an 8th of Goldie Looking Chain came to represent, they rocked the tent playing seriously guilty pleasures reminiscent of a 1990’s school disco (think Deelite and Prodigy…). The duo were briefly interrupted by a local man’s request to use the stage for his mercifully accepted public proposal of marriage. By this time, the crowd was primed and ready for the headline DJ, legendary Specials front man Terry Hall. Moody as a Warhol rock star, he wordlessly turned his tunes to a packed, hot, sweating tent full of happy revellers. He came, he spun, he delivered.
Gallery one: Friday night, 19th June 2015
The Friday nighters were joined on the Saturday by friends and families. Ready for an all-dayer, many came prepared for the changeable weather, popping up tents and umbrellas to brave the rain. Thankfully warm, the rain was a mere blip, and simply brought more people into the tents, creating a fantastic crowd atmosphere. There was something for everyone, and folks could relax knowing their children were safely occupied, perhaps in the cinema, or the story telling tent, having their face painted, nail art, henna tattoo, pottery painting, or just racing around with their mates with always a watchful parents eye nearby.
The musicians continued to thrill, with local acts Big Sixes, and Atlantic Shore supporting alongside Chris Helme. With major players such as the continually rising and talented To Kill A King and the infamous Blockheads headlining, it really was the best warm up to Glastonbury. You could hear the development of To Kill A King following their last local performances, as their sound was more uplifting and you could dance to it, which is never a bad thing. The big band guys down by the cake tent drew in the dancers and fun seekers, playing a medley of swing, rock’n’roll, and even a superb rendition of Pharell Williams’ ‘Happy’. Late into the night they played, while people whirled and grooved, with all earlier English inhibitions gone. The Blockheads status as performance veterans was clear, with a tight show that was professional whilst free.
Lets not forget the comedy, with the likes of Arthur Smith and Ardal O’Hanlan packing the comedy tent to bursting – so much so, CT simply couldn’t get through the crowd to take any photos…
Ultimately, hats off to the crew of BURYFields workers who made the day run smoothly, made it all happen, and kept everyone happy. Perhaps part of the atmosphere of BURYFields is down to the fact that it is organised and run by local people, with friends volunteering to help the organisers Martin, Collette and Peter, and the wider ‘crewmunity’. Many hands make light work, and all the more fun if you like each other!
All in all then, another resounding success, set to be upstaged by itself again next year….. Something to look forward to.
For a ‘best of’ collection of the events photos, see local photographer Stuart Lloyds selection on the BURYFields site, along with official video shot by Ben Brotherton.
Gallery two: Saturday June 20th 2015
Chesham Tales 