Festibelly - Summer Festival Guide

Festibelly 2014 Review

November 8, 2018July 14, 2014 by Mickey Cole

The New Forest was brought to life by Festibelly. Located in one of the most beautiful areas of the South, the breath taking scenery dotted with wildlife makes for a pleasant journey to Lymington. Taking place from the 11th to the 12th of July, this small-scale festival really does cater for all.

On arrival, the short queuing time and onsite camping made for a quick and easy start to the weekend. Once the tent was pitched, I explored the array of stalls. Festibelly offers something for everyone, with children’s entertainment including games and crafts. While the kids were occupied, adults could enjoy the music only a few meters away. However, this festival isn’t just for families, it caters for all ages.

The vibe was chilled on Friday, with musical highlights from Laurel, Amber Run and Lewis Floyd Henry. The atmosphere picked up as Skinny Lister took to the stage, with upbeat sing along songs that got the whole crowd involved. The Cuban Brothers headlined Friday night and had the whole crowd captivated with their dancing and humor. I didn’t know what to expect when watching them, but they defiantly entertained!

Saturday welcomed in more festival goers, with the crowds drawing in to watch Jus Now and DJ David Rodigan. Entertainment was also on offer at the Massive In China and Terrapin Station tents through out the day, with a variety of comedy, music and dance workshops to participate in. Although slightly limited in choice, the food on offer was delicious with produce being sourced or grown locally. Delicious Orange Rooms cocktails were also available to buy from their teepee.

The main stage showcased FEMME and Mausi, who brought the pop vibes to the festival with dance beats blasting out in the sun. Hudson Taylor was the perfect end to such a family friendly festival in a beautiful location. I’d highly recommended this festival to anyone!

Photos by Mickey Cole

Cuban Brothers to headline Friday at Festibelly 2014

November 18, 2018May 29, 2014 by Summer Festival Guide

Topping the bill on Friday are The Cuban Brothers. Born of the loins of seventies Havana, nurtured on a diet of soulful, sexy tunes and inspired by Cuban historical fact and mythology their fresh approach to live entertainment whips up a frenzy at every gig. Their legendary performance combines music, riotous comedy, and sensational dancing.

Reggae DJ icon David Rodigan is joined on the dub themed Saturday afternoon by Bristol collective Jus Now and ‘Belly favourites Reggae Roast.

The weekend will see performances by the hotly tipped Femme and Mighty Oaks and welcomes back raucous folk troubadours Skinny Lister, electronic-soul trio Dems and beatbox champion Reeps One. Other names to watch out for include Amber Run,Mausi, Wild Smiles, Ginger & The Ghost, Laurel, The Death Of Pop and Lexy & The Kill. The crème de la crème of untapped south coast talent, who featured over Festibelly’s series of ‘Local’ shows during April and May, include The Plastic Dots,The Golden Age, Luke Ferre, Damn Beats and Princess Slayer.

Closing the festival main stage on Saturday night, Hudson Taylor follow in the steps of Festibelly’s previous breakthrough acts including Bastille, Willie Moon, Ghostpoet, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs to name but a few. This promises to be one of the last chances to catch this band in an intimate festival setting.

Following the main stage both nights, the Silent Disco will see Kengo (The Cuban Brothers), Late Night Tales DJs, Cat Lovers DJs and winners of Amazing Radio’sDJ competition playing ‘til early morning.

Now in its sixth year, Festibelly has established itself as one of the UK’s most charming, intimate and grassroots festivals. A handful of lovingly crafted venues will play host to new and emerging musical talent alongside a kaleidoscope of theatre, comedy, fine food and interactive nonsense galore.

2014 sees the addition of a brand new bar stocked with fine festival tipples, from craft ales to decadent cocktails. A new dining experience will be offered for those wanting to get off their feet and indulge in an extravagant three course feast, prepared and hosted by some of our favourite New Forest foodie institutions, alongside culinary masterclasses and belly-rumbling bake offs. The Owlery, a space dedicated to wee Festi-critters, returns bigger and better in 2014 ensuring the future festi-goers are well looked after throughout the weekend.

On top of the festival’s two days and nights, Sunday morning will see the festival spring back to life for a final few hours before the journey home. A welcome distraction from that sore head will come in the form of a Great British Brunch, a New Forest farmers market, kids fancy dress finale, and most importantly the chance to put your feet up with a paper.

“One of the summer’s more intimate festivals and also one of the more luxurious” The Guardian
"The vibe is cheery, chilled and you should rarely lose your mates/tent/marbles – unless you want to” Clash
“Chilled day, party night time – another wonderful weekend” The Independent
“Fantastic fun in the forest” Time Out
“Wondrously eclectic; but all curated with a certain youthful coolness” Breaking More Waves

Hudson Taylor to headline Festibelly

November 18, 2018May 15, 2014 by Summer Festival Guide

Festibelly is proud to announce rising Dublin band Hudson Taylor will headline the Saturday night at this year’s festival in The New Forest on 11-12 July.

Festibelly announce headliner Hudson Taylor

November 18, 2018May 6, 2014 by Summer Festival Guide

Festibelly is proud to announce rising Dublin band Hudson Taylor will headline the Saturday night at this year’s festival in The New Forest on 11-12 July.

Hudson Taylor, brothers Harry and Alfie, have been honing their stirring folk-pop sound over a series of rapturously-received singles and are on the verge of a big breakthrough, amassing a huge underground following. They’ve toured with Jake Bugg and Kodaline and supported the Rolling Stones at Hyde Park. They are currently finishing their debut album, which will be released in the autumn. Hudson Taylor follow in the steps of Festibelly’s previous breakthrough acts including Bastille, Willie Moon, Ghostpoet, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs to name but a few. This promises to be one of the last chances to catch this band in an intimate festival setting. Harry and Alfie said "We're really looking forward to playing Festibelly and particularly excited for it to be our first festival headline show."Reggae DJ icon David Rodigan is joined on the dub themed Saturday afternoon by Bristol collective Jus Now and ‘Belly favourites Reggae Roast. The line-up also contains hotly tipped Femme and Mighty Oaks and welcomes back raucous folk troubadours Skinny Lister and electronic-soul trio Dems. Festibelly tip Mausi, Wild Smiles, Ginger & The Ghost and Lexy & The Kill as names you will soon hear a lot more from.

First lineup announcement for Festibelly 2014

November 18, 2018April 13, 2014 by Summer Festival Guide

Reggae DJ icon David Rodigan is amongst the first names to be confirmed. For over 30 years David Rodigan has been the top dog in Britain’s reggae dance-halls. The key to his success has been an unsinkable passion for reggae music, which first took a hold of him as a schoolboy when he heard ska music in the early ’60s. His esteemed career has heard him broadcast from BBC Radio London, Capital Radio, Kiss 100 and most recently BBC Radio 2 and his weekly BBC 1Xtra show – with accolades including an MBE for his services to broadcasting, a Sony Radio Academy Gold Award and induction into the Sony Radio Academy Hall Of Fame.

Joining David Rodigan on the dub themed Saturday afternoon will be Bristol collective Jus Now and ‘Belly favourites Reggae Roast.Festibelly’s first announcement also includes hotly tipped Femme and Mighty Oaks and welcomes back raucous folk troubadours Skinny Lister and electronic-soul trio Dems.

Keen to feature artists before they break big (Bastille, Ghostpoet and Willie Moon have all graced the ‘Belly main stage in previous years), Festibelly tip Mausi, Wild Smiles, Ginger & The Ghost and Lexy & The Kill as names you will soon hear a lot more from.Now in its sixth year, Festibelly has established itself as one of the UK’s most charming, intimate and grassroots festivals. A handful of lovingly crafted venues will play host to new and emerging musical talent alongside a kaleidoscope of theatre, comedy, fine food and interactive nonsense galore.

2014 sees the addition of a brand new bar stocked with fine festival tipples, from craft ales to decadent cocktails. A new dining experience will be offered for those wanting to get off their feet and indulge in an extravagant three course feast, prepared and hosted by some of our favourite New Forest foodie institutions, alongside culinary masterclasses and belly-rumbling bake offs. The Owlery, a space dedicated to wee Festi-critters, returns bigger and better in 2014 ensuring the future festi-goers are well looked after throughout the weekend.

On top of the festival’s two days and nights, Sunday morning will see the festival spring back to life for a final few hours before the journey home. A welcome distraction from that sore head will come in the form of a Great British Brunch, a New Forest farmers market, kids fancy dress finale, and most importantly the chance to put your feet up with a paper.

Festibelly DJ Competition

November 18, 2018July 24, 2012 by Summer Festival Guide

Would YOU like to DJ at Festibelly? We’re offering sets to two DJs along with weekend tickets for two runners up.

How to enter:

1. Record a 30-40 min mix of music: any style, any genre
2. Upload your mix to your account at mixcloud.com – entries MUST:
– Be titled “Festibelly DJ Mix Competition – Your Name”
– Be tagged with “Festibelly 2012?
– Have a full tracklisting
– Feature this artwork: goo.gl/7ODcF (right click/save the link)
3. Email the link to your mix to [email protected] before 6pm on 10th August 2012

Entries will be judged by a panel of Festibelly DJ experts. The top four will be posted to our Facebook page on Monday 13th August to battle it out for the two sets with winners decided on Friday 17th August at 6pm.

More info here: festibelly.com/djcomp

Gold Panda & Willy Moon to headline Festibelly 2012

November 18, 2018July 9, 2012 by Summer Festival Guide

Headlining Saturday, sharp suited Willy Moon fuses rock'n'roll and hip-hop; or “Bo Diddley as imagined by Timbaland” says Q Magazine.

Gold Panda headlines Sunday, whose magnificent debut LP ‘Lucky Shiner’ scooped accolade after accolade (“a masterclass” – Dazed & Confused, “stunning” – Q Magazine, “blissful” – NME) and went onto win The Guardian’s First Album Award.

Also joining the bill is BBC Radio 1 DJ and Bestival host Rob Da Bank, rave heroes Ragga Twins, perennial ‘Belliers Man Like Me and many hotly tipped bands including Clock Opera,Bluebell and Bastille.

Amongst those already announced are three-piece rock ’n’ roll family band sensation Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, folk group Skinny Lister, who won the title of 'Hardest Working Band in Britain' following their record number of festival appearances last year, Mr Nice aka Howard Marks, rising French band We Were Evergreen and London collective Reggae Roast.

Festibelly, now in its fifth year, is a hidden gem on the festival calendar. Nestled among the woodland on the edge of the New Forest, there is something for the entire family. For the first time it opens its doors as a two day party, a double dose of the intimate charm it had become known for.

As well as the usual dazzling selection of musical talent on the main stage, the Festibelly field will play host to a number of venues and attractions including Terrapin Station, Le Disco, brand new Le Roller Disco, Massive In China and Autumn Shift – together creating a kaleidoscope of psychedelic gypsy to dirty disco, wrong cabaret, circus performance, wonky gameshows, cosy cafés, poetry, painting and more. This year Festibelly flings its arms wide open to those with young Festi Critters, bringing new kids entertainment area The Owlery to site.

As ever, Festibelly stays close to its grassroots ethos and remains brand and sponsorship free and is always guaranteed to have friendliest Festi-goers to be found. Previous artists to play Festibelly include The Big Pink, New Young Pony Club, Ghostpoet, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Rob Da Bank, Drums Of Death, Man Like Me, Hollie Cook, James Yuill, She Keeps Bees, Greco Roman Sound System, Psychemagik, Reggae Roast, Oh Ruin, Johnny Flynn, King Charles, My Tiger My Timing, Tek-One, O Children, Skinny Lister and Toy.

Festibelly also throws several warmup events this summer at London’s The Lock Tavern, Bournemouth’s 60 Million Postcards, Southampton’s The Orange Rooms and Festibelly Local events in its hometown of Lymington, Hampshire.

15th July – Kitty Daisy & Lewis (DJ), Draper @ The Lock Tavern, Camden
21st July – Festibelly Vs Durty Sound System, Chichester
3rd August – Man Like Me @ Orange Rooms, Southampton
11th August – 60 Million Postcards, Bournemouth
12th August – Festibelly presents Terrapin Station @ The Lock Tavern, Camden

Editors Notes:
Event: Festibelly 2012
Location: Undershore, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 5QA
Date: Saturday 25th – Sunday 26th August 2012
Times: Gates open 9am 25th August – close 2pm 27th August
Ticket Price: Weekend ticket: £55 // Sunday ticket: £38 – on sale via festibelly.com
Capacity: 3,000

Festibelly announce Kitty Daisy & Lewis, Skinny Lister and more!

November 18, 2018May 15, 2012 by Summer Festival Guide

Festibelly fav James Yuill, Mr Nice aka Howard Marks, Balkan folk troop The Trans-Siberian March Band, rising French band We Were Evergreen, and London collective Reggae Roast – many more acts are still to be announced.

Catch Festibelly warmup events this summer at London’s The Lock Tavern, Bournemouth’s 60 Million Postcards, Southampton’s The Orange Rooms and Festibelly Local events in its hometown of Lymington, Hampshire.

Event: Festibelly 2012
Location: Undershore, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 5QA
Date: Saturday 25th – Sunday 26th August 2012
Times: Gates open 9pm 25th August – close 2pm 27th August
Ticket Price: Weekend ticket: £55 // Sunday ticket: £38 – on sale 9th April via festibelly.com
Capacity: 3,000

Festibelly headliner announced

June 10, 2020July 19, 2011 by Summer Festival Guide

Festibelly said ‘New Young Pony Club are an incredible band, not only on record but on stage too. Lead singer Ty is an amazing performer and totally captivating to watch. They’re a perfect headline act for Festibelly, with sing-along pop anthems to disco dance-floor fillers. We’re honoured to have them and pretty ruddy excited to see them in action on the Festibelly stage!’.

The punk-pop disco-rockers achieved massive international success in 2007 with hits such as ‘Ice Cream‘ and ‘The Bomb’taken from debut album ‘Fantastic Playroom. 2010 saw the release of second album ‘The Optimist’ which the NME described as “liquid nitrogen-fuelled pure pop genius”. An album full of beautifully crafted, edgier and darker disco-pop songs, it signified a dazzling progression of the bands sound, with tracks such as ‘Lost A Girl’, ‘Chaos’ and ‘We Want To’ establishing New Young Pony Club as one of the most credible and exciting bands in the UK.

Also set to make an appearance at the festival is the legendary Howard Marks, aka Mr Nice. Howard will be joining for an intimate story-telling session with tales from his extraordinary past.

Other additions include long time Festibelly-favourite James Yuill (DJ), wondrous melody-makers Channel Swimmer,Figures (James Delay & Jamie Blanco), Francis Day and more.

AREAS:

Massive In China
Like a rabbit in a raincoat in a box, Festibelly goers will be in for a surprise when they draw aside the curtains of the brand new Massive In China tent – a kaleidoscope of wrong cabaret and stand-up comedy, musically delightful soft to weird acoustic melodies, a bit of boombastic over to the light fantastic. Or get a bit vintage-crafty whilst watching circus performance and getting involved in a wonky gameshow or magic-not-magic act.

The Nest
A new treetop stage nestled amongst the giant oaks of the Festi-forest. Fear of Theydon will be curating a line-up that befits the mystical setting with luscious sounds of cosmic, disco and Balearic goodness pulsing through the trees.

Le Disco
Featuring everything from dubstep to disco, a full line-up of electronic acts will feature throughout the day and night. Taking it into the early hours Le Disco Silence will be catering for all the night owls.

Terrapin Station
An alternative to the main stage the Terrapin Station combines flavours of acoustic, folk, gypsy and jazz and is home to the notorious Festibelly Folk Off – the signer/songwriter competition where the discerning crowd will cast their vote and crown one lucky contestant Folk King/Queen, winning themselves an opening slot on the main stage for 2012.

Autumn Shift
Following up on their debut Festibelly appearance last year, Autumn Shift will be setting up to provide all manner of musical delights as well as their cosy café, live poetry, painting and massages should you be wanting to unwind after a hard day’s party.

Amazing Radio
Broadcasting live from the Festibelly site, the Amazing Radio team will be providing as-it-happens coverage of the festival, live sessions and interviews and all the latest news and info in the run up to the event.

DETAILS:
Date: 9am Saturday 27th August – 3pm Sunday 28th August 2011
Address: Undershore, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 5QA
Tickets: £36.00 + booking fee via festibelly.com. Under 12s free, no ticket required.
Saturday night camping included with ticket
Capacity: 2,500

Ghostpoet and more added to Festibelly lineup

June 10, 2020July 2, 2011 by Summer Festival Guide

Taking pride in its grassroots ethos, there’s not a brand or sponsor in site at Festibelly and that’s the way things will stay. In the last four years Festibelly has become an essential summer date for passionate, friendly and discerning festival goers and performers alike.

2011 will see additions to performance and arts areas with packed line-ups on the main stage, electronic arena, acoustic tent, arts and performance tents, as well as collaborations from a number of Festi-friends old and new.

Line up so far…

+ MORE TBC

AREAS: