| The UK festival scene has grown out of all | | | | Festinho - Bedfordshire |
| proportion, from collections of daisy clad hippies | | | | Modelled on early Big Chill festivals (before they |
| camping out and spreading the love, to massive | | | | got all massive) and English picnics, Festinho |
| commercial ventures with all manner of corporate | | | | showcases established and lesser known |
| sponsorship and extortionate ticket prices. If the | | | | musicians from around the globe, cabaret, world |
| idea of 100,000+ people camped in a field, listening | | | | class DJ's and VJ's, cinema, comedy and cakes. All |
| to a playlist not unlike Radio1 doesn't appeal, grab | | | | profits go to the ABC Trust, which helps Brazilian |
| your tents and sleeping bags and take heart, | | | | children and young people on the streets to |
| there's still some intimate, groundbreaking events | | | | transform their lives. |
| out there. | | | | Tapestry - Hertfordshire |
| Aeon - Devon | | | | Tapestry started life as a monthly event at a |
| Billing itself as a ‘shoestring boutique festival' | | | | church social club in Euston, London. Live music |
| Aeon nestles in the beautiful depths of Devon, | | | | from acts in their early stages of promotion, as |
| offering camping on the edge of a lake in | | | | well as an 80's disco and cheap drinks created |
| amongst big old trees, an amphitheatre and | | | | quite a following, and in 2004 the event went |
| resident cricket club. There's a real family focus, | | | | national with a festival - Tapestry Goes West - at |
| but also an excellent line up of music, featuring | | | | a cowboy town in Cornwall; since then it has |
| everything from ska and jazz through to folk and | | | | taken up residence in a medieval village in South |
| electronica. Plus Cabaret Voltaire offers up its | | | | Wales, and now holds a one day event at the |
| much loved mish-mash of artistic endeavours and | | | | lovely Shenley Park - no camping at this event so |
| a mass fancy dress theme rules the festival | | | | don't bother bringing the tent. |
| dress code. | | | | Bimble Bandada - Secret location |
| Trowbridge - Kent | | | | Most famed as a bar/music venue that travels |
| Established in 1973, Trowbridge has somewhat of | | | | the countryside appearing at festivals such as |
| a history tucked under its festival belt. The focus | | | | Glastonbury and Bestival, in 2009 the owners and |
| here is on pitching up with camping chairs, | | | | organisers decided to throw open the tent flaps |
| knocking back dozens of pints of good ale and | | | | for an intimate gathering all of their own. The |
| listening to live folk, roots and blues. The Family | | | | Bimble Inn is a solar powered, tent-like structure, |
| Island keeps the kiddies contained but happy, | | | | which alongside serving great cider (no need for |
| whilst an amphitheatre has been introduced to the | | | | the Thermos flask) and unique entertainment, is |
| cosy site specifically for the purpose of lazing in | | | | generally the haunt of all manner of shenanigans. |
| the sun. Plus, if you're no good at assembling a | | | | We love writing about music festivals - don't |
| tent after a few pints, check out Yippee Yurts, | | | | forget to pack your tent and sleeping bag before |
| who are on hand offering bespoke, luxury | | | | you go. |
| camping alternatives. | | | | |