Promotion: It’s official!

Finally, after a few weeks of waiting for final confirmation, it’s happened!

I have been asked to be the new Editor and lead the new editorial team for This Festival Feeling, a website for which I have already been submitting work for over the past year. (see Festivals Page)

I was first inspired to start contributing to the website at the suggestion of my boyfriend who thought it might be a good way of expanding my writing, getting more experience, and of course, getting some free festival tickets!

It worked in our favour in every possible way – I really enjoyed contributing articles each month to the website and it was great to write in a more informal way in comparison to my entertainment section for the newspaper. We also managed to get press tickets to Hideout Festival in Croatia and I had the opportunity to write both a preview and review of the festival.

It was an amazing experience, and one I would thoroughly recommend to any aspiring writers or journalists out there who love music and festivals and want to gain extra experience and a reference for future jobs. You are welcome to contribute as many articles as you want – I gave far more than was required of me because I enjoyed writing them – but with a minimum of one per month (this increases depending on the number of festivals you are covering).

Now, within the space of a year, I have been asked to become the editor of the website and lead a new team in the running of the website for the next year. It is a great privilege and although unpaid, it will more than make up for that in festival tickets, experience and on my CV.

I couldn’t believe it when I was asked, I never expected to be considered for the editor or deputy editor’s role, but I am absolutely thrilled to pieces. I can’t believe what luck this is and how incredibly good it will look on my CV to future employers.

Plus it will offer me a new range of experience in entertainment writing and a chance to work as an editor, so I will see both the editing and reporting side of journalism.

I’m so pleased to finally be able to share this news and I hope that my followers will also become avid readers of the site and my work. If any of you writers are interested in contributing to the website, please don’t hesitate to contact me and I will see what work we have available for you.

Part 1: A busy summer touring round as many festivals as possible – Wyndstock and Hideout Festival

Now that the summer is clearly drawing to a close, I’ve spent the last week huddled under an umbrella with soggy feet in my sad-looking ballet pumps, shivering despite wearing several layers and the token pashmina has come out of storage. I find myself reminiscing and feeling pretty happy with the way I spent my summer, after a short holiday in Croatia for a music festival, forgoing my usual two-week break abroad, I spent the rest of the summer touring around music festivals across the UK and for once getting to make the most of the beautiful, if late, summer we have had in the UK.

After discovering music festivals last year when I went to Manchester’s Parklife Weekender with my university friends, they ignited something in me that although already aware of, had never really unleashed before now. My love of music, dancing and meeting all types of new people from across the country was perfectly suited to the lifestyle and I had no choice but to further indulge when I went along to Glade Festival and Zoo Project Festival – all attracting very different crowds, from the chavvier types to the laid back hippies, I had a fantastic time at all and quickly decided that 2013 would be my festival summer.

Thankfully, my friends, family and jobs all helped to make this happen and despite going to five festivals this summer, I actually only paid for one set of tickets – top blagger, I know.

It all started at Wyndstock, a new addition to the scene which is marketed as the anti-festival. Set up by Victor Wynd as a party for his friends and like-minded individuals to enjoy a Midsummer Ball in the beautiful setting of Houghton Hall, in my home town, the event is for the more upmarket festival-goer. There was dancing, feasting, fireworks, literature talks, petting of prize bulls, a “fox hunt”, falconry, puppet theatre, lawn games, tours of the stately home, jazz, storytelling and stargazing amongst many more amazing activities. My favourite was the swing-dancing lessons and competition, which my boyfriend won and was very proud about. I love anything vintage-inspired and Gatsby-esque and this was an amazing opportunity to get very glammed up and go to a banquet of lobster and venison before partying the night away with some amazing people.

Before the hunt, meeting the horses and hounds..

Glammed up for the banquet and a night of dancing..

Meeting the host for the evening, Victor Wynd himself…

Our swing-dancing teachers shared dinner with us..

Mark winning the swing-dancing competition..

All in all, a very fun festival with amazing benefits such as being a small and intimate affair, and very posh toilets and showers!

Then we boarded a plane to the Island of Pag in Croatia for Hideout Festival which was very much a festival for the beautiful people – everyone had amazing bodies and the perfect tan. But I wasn’t bothered about all of that, we had a team of friends with us and more meeting us out there for one thing only – to dance until the sun came up every day. 

There were a lot of amazing DJs coming along to play the festival and I was very excited to see a whole range of them including Julio Bashmore, Chase and Status, Skream and Benga, David Rodigan, Rudimental, Seth Troxler, Andy C, Pendulum, Redlight, B-Traits and many, many more… Here are some of my snaps:

Sunset on the first day in Croatia.. such a beautiful country!

Packed out stages…

The King’s Lynn crew ready to rave until dawn..

David Rodigan – one of my favourite sets of the whole week!

Raving is even more fun when you do it with some of your best friends…

Chase and Status were pretty intense…

Boat party with Midland, MK and Julio Bashmore playing… so nice to get away from the festival for a short time..

And sadly, ending with Rudimental, who only gave a rubbish DJ set rather than a full show – such a disappointment!

I wrote about my experiences at Hideout Festival in a preview and review for This Festival Feeling in exchange for press tickets.

Check out my next posts for the rest of my experiences…