Amongst sun glistened corn fields, just 50 minutes away from the hustle and bustle of London, the majestic Farr Festival is set. In its 9th year, this boutique festival boasts a pumping line up with beautiful surroundings and a like-minded, hedonistic crowd.
With a small scale yet fresh, inventive program featuring artists from across the electronic music spectrum, its capacity of just 3000 allows for high-profile acts to perform in unique, intimate settings. Comprising of just 6 stages, crowds can flock via dusty paths from one to another in no time at all, with no worries of missing one set over another.
A new addition to the grounds, The Factory, resonated industrial rave vibes with it’s stacked shipping container walls and was home to the headline acts of the weekend. Filled with 2500 ravers, highlights of the weekend saw Jacques Greene, George FitzGerald, Mount Kimbie and Hertfordshire’s own Maribou State smash the stage with their precise, imaginative and heart racing performances. Shy Fx, turned it up a notch playing tune after tune – regressing onlookers to a moment in time of utter elation, resulting in a crowd of uninhibited, ecstatic dancers.
The woods, which boasted hot tubs, hammocks and artisan touches scattered among it’s charming aesthetic, was the go-to place no matter the time of day for and glitter engulfed good times. Mr G delivered a faultless, energised set, while techno masters such as DVS1 allure the crowd into a mesmerising trance that is hard to escape. Where noise limitations in previous years have occasionally let some incredible artists down, this year, the sound system did not hold back, blasting through until 6 am leaving no eardrum disappointed.
It would be fair to say that delivering talented artists and producers is this festivals priority, and oh how we danced, revelled amongst the copious amounts of dust and became a patron of the relentless heat to thoroughly engulf the amply versatile lineup. A highlight for many, the World Cup Sweden vs England semi-final refreshed the festivals main stage on the Saturday into a viewing area for fans and meant that spirits were high throughout the whole festival.
A refuel at one of the many independent food stalls, and another scorching day saw hunee revitalising goers with his woven house, disco and funk selections. As the sun set, a live reel to reel tape set form the unsung electric pioneer Ramjac Corporation regressed the festival back to the heady days of the Summer of Love in 1988, with his own sampled beats from Atari, Emulator and dual records. An idyllic, closing choice for the last day.
“It’s like being at Glastonbury’ is heard bellowed over the fields as one attendee leaves the merch tent, and there are elements of truth within this excitable statement. Very little phones in sight, a consistent energy transpiring through the crowds and a sea of utterly beaming faces recycled the buzz of a festival built on real heart and soul. A rare find in 2018.
Summer 2019, sees the festival move into its 10th anniversary and the dates will be revealed soon, keep checking www.farrfestival.co.uk for more info.
Photo credit @jamesnorthphoto and @hirobjones