REVIEW: SUNSHINE FESTIVAL

August bank holiday and Sunshine Festival tends to signify the end of the summer for me and boy didn’t it go fast this year.

Sunshine Festival is hosted on Fish Meadow, a massive riverside field about 2 minute walk from our house so I love this festival particularly because I can enjoy the comfort of my own bed, I am not one for camping!

In its seventh year Sunshine Festival dubs itself the festival “for every generation” hosting a range of performers. As ever it boasted an enviable line up to suit all ages across a number of stages including several tribute bands, I had a great time rocking out to Counterfeit Quo with my dad.

Weather on the Friday was fantastic and really lived up to festival name, everyone had their “tiger feet” out for the headline act, MUD, who of course played their Christmas song, “it’ll be lonely this Christmas” which after a glorious august Friday afternoon in the sun did feel slightly weird.

The weather on Saturday and Sunday was less sunny, with showers throughout, luckily I missed them on the Saturday, as I decided to stay at home till they passed, making it over to the festival in time for T’Pau. I’ll be honest before the festival I didn’t have a clue who T’Pau were but it turned out to be one of the highlights of the festival, a superb performance fronted by fellow redhead, Carol Decker.

We were less fortunate weather-wise on the Sunday afternoon, Leo Sayer’s performance began and the biggest black clouds ever started to form and it wasn’t long before the rain started, so we packed up our chairs, leaving them with my other half to head to the front for a boogie to “you make me feel like dancing” in the rain which was great fun. The evening came to a close with the usual fantastic firework display followed by The Bay City Rollers and I danced the night away with my mum at the front of the stage.

In addition to the fantastic performances all other facilities have been well thought out. In addition to the usual greasy burger vans there is the “International Food Village’ offering a great variety of alternative food choices. This year the area did not disappoint and included to name a few: freshly made pizzas, pasta, Fish & Chips all the way from Jersey, Viva Churros, corn on the cob and Funky Falafel, which was a particular favourite of ours offering falafel wraps and salads.

If you are looking for a fantastic, fun and friendly festival give Sunshine Festival a go next year. Ticket prices are reasonable, it is close to the town of Upton Upon Severn, I am of course a bit biased but if you fancy a break from the festival or more supplies then there is plenty in the town.