Our calves are still hurting, even though it’s been a week since Big Feastival kicked off, night after night of dancing, singing and enjoying the epic line-up still taking its toll.
Which goes a long way to explaining what a dazzling, fun and hilarious weekend it was, regardless of the weather.
Sod’s law that mid heat-wave and drought the heavens finally opened just in time for the bank holiday, but us festival-goers cared less, just wanting to get out there to sample some of Big Feastival‘s inimitable annual magic and incredible line up.
As always, everyone dressed up in glitter and costumes, people going all out
As always, everyone dressed up in glitter and costumes, people going all out, and Friday night’s headliners Basement Jaxx followed suit with numerous dynamic outfit changes. Hyping up the crowd with their incredible mix of drum & bass, house and pop, the duo demonstrated their versatility as we sang along at the top of our voices and danced like maniacs.
It was just the start we needed, reminding us of the joy of thousands of festival-goers converging for three nights of intense and unashamed revelry of the highest order.
thousands of festival-goers converged for three nights of intense and unashamed revelry of the highest order
Heading off to the legendary Silent Disco afterwards, the team who’ve run it for countless years had departed, but the hits kept on coming, albeit on two rather than three channels, but another tent further up was pounding out drum & bass so we joined the more energised crowd dancing their pants off until the music cut off and we all headed off to our tents.
It’s a friendly crowd that congregate on Alex James’ Kingham farm, its wide mix of ages, from families and little ones to foodies, music-lovers and everything in between, ensuring an eclectic mix.
it’s a friendly crowd that congregates on Alex James’ Kingham farm, ensuring an eclectic mix
Luckily Big Feastival caters for everyone, so if you want to book in for one of the five exclusive dining experiences/fire-side feasts from the likes of the cotswolds Pit Kitchen to guest restaurant’s The Laundry and Goodies, the world was your oyster, although pre-booking is fairly essential.
The rest of use roamed avidly between the hundreds of food trucks, deliberating for hours about what to pick from Beefy Boys burgers to Made of Dough pizzas and so much more.
And while the chef line-up at was a seriously impressive, able to watch masters such as Simon Rogan and Anna Haugh at work, we concentred instead on a Pact cocktail masterclass, the coffee company only charging £10 and ensuring a fun afternoon as we concocted espresso martinis, coffee negronis and even a Cranachan cocktail made with whisky and, yes you’ve guessed it, coffee.
Rudimental was one of our favourite acts of the weekend, if not the best. Unmatched
But then we had to scarper because Rudimental was on – and boy did they deliver, the massive crowd proving their popularity, everyone having the time off their lives. Why they weren’t headlining no one knew, because they picked up the crowd and carried them right to the end with their incredible repertoire of songs, collabs and a strident DJ set featuring everyone from Florence to Katie B and Ella Henderson We knew all the songs, from Gangsta’s Paradise to Feel The Love and Alibi and lapped it up, hoisted on shoulders, singing along, we had the best time, Rudimental one of our favourite acts of the weekend, if not the best. Unmatched.
A couple of us snuck off though to catch a bit of Barrioke – as its Shaun Williamson’s last stand at Big Feastival, his legendary karaoke set always lit, his unabashed cheesy sets a huge draw.
But then came The Streets with their kookie bus shelter set, frontman Mike Skinner getting right down into the crowd, up close and personal, the early delivery of favourite Fit But You Know It drawing the crowds, their fans going mad. It was a great set.
then came The Streets, frontman Mike Skinner getting right down into the crowd, up close and personal
But that’s what is so great about Feastival because everyone is catered for – those with kids in trolleys having a designated area this year, and while we didn’t visit the Village Green kids area, it was thriving all weekend.
Limping on to Sunday, after another late night of dancing and a jar or two, we succumbed to the amazing Bloody Marys from the Fortnum & Mason On The Road van (£12.50) before being further rewarded with a stellar line-up off Doves, Freya Ridings, and The Coral before headliner Bastille hit the stage.
the legendary Cheese Hub was calling, Simon Pegg and his cohorts raising the tempo until it was smoking, the crowd packing in as the hits kept on coming. He was on cracking form
The legendary Cheese Hub was calling though, Simon Pegg kicking off at 5.45pm – the perfect warm-up which ended up going large. The Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead and Mission: Impossible star and his cohorts raising the tempo until it was smoking, the crowd packing in, meaning the action spilled outside as the hits kept on coming. He was on cracking form.
Not that we got much of a rest between Simon Pegg and things kicking off on the main stage, The Doves pulling out all the stops, psyching up the crowd, the perfect breeding ground for Bastille to land.
it was a big coup to nab Bastille for Feastival, trading their usual international stadiums for The Cotswolds
Known for taking notable and lengthy breaks between albums, it was a big coup for Feastival to nab Bastille, who traded their usual international stadiums for The Cotswolds, preparing the way for new album release, Misfits Together, next year.
Sadly tech issues meant that we missed a lot of their big numbers, lead singer Dan Smith singing acoustic for much of it, but they handled it admirably. It was still an amazing set thanks to Dan’s soothing voice and the band’s brilliant harmonies, all aided by the lyrics flowing on stage screens so we could all sing along. Jesus he can sing.
Big Feastival delivered on every front as always
Running out of time for their classics, he apologised profusely before embarking on a rousing edition of Pompeii and it was a privilege to see them in action.
As for the weather, it didn’t rain during any of the headline acts, the evenings remaining clear, and if it had we wouldn’t have cared because Big Feastival delivered on every front as always. Bring on next year.
Big Feastival tickets for August 27-29 2027 are now on sale Go to https://bigfeastival.com
