BEAT-HERDER

Sawley, Ribble Valley - July 2016

IF you're looking for a friendly, eclectic and colourful festival with a real heart then look no further than Beat-Herder.

Now in its 11th year, the three-day event remains true to its roots with a cap on numbers at about 12,000 and still shunning any corporate sponsorship — not a rip-off £5 bottle of beer in sight.

Head to Toil Trees to experience the beating heart of Beat-Herder, where it all began. Along with throngs of people dancing in the woods to the sounds of the likes of Chicago house stars Derrick Carter and Marshall Jefferson, who played storming sets on Friday and Saturday respectively, you can also explore 'The Street'.

Nope, you won't find Norris Cole or The Rovers Return but you will find cars you can dance on, a phone box you can disappear into, a church you can rave in and a tattoo parlour where you can demonstrate your allegiance with a Beat-Herder tattoo.

The rain fell — and fell and fell — on Friday night, sadly scuppering plans to see Radio 1 DJ B.Traits, known for bridging underground music — from techno to jungle to house — in her 1.30am slot in The Fortress.

Needing shelter and the Working Men's Club was the perfect place to go, complete with its quirky decor and acts. Across the weekend it played host to the ever-popular Beat Herder's got Talent competition, bingo and an '80s disco.

Luckily the rain stopped and, although the muddy terrain was tough underfoot on Saturday afternoon, it started to dry out and the sounds of Easy Star All Stars brought a ray of sunshine to the main stage early on Saturday evening.

The reggae collective plays interpretations of tracks from Pink Floyd's classic The Dark Side of the Moon, as well as covers of songs from Radiohead's OK Computer, The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Michael Jackson's Thriller.

Last year's 10th anniversary fireworks were so well-received by the crowds down below that the lovely lot who are the Beat-Herder organisers decided to treat us to some more pyrotechnic delights this year.

The dazzling display went off over the main stage on Saturday night amidst a chorus of 'oohs and ahs' — you're never to old to enjoy a fireworks display.

It was followed by Booka Shade's Saturday night, main stage headline slot and the German house duo did not disappoint with their brand of immaculate, tactile electronic music accompanied with a big stage light show.

One of the joys of Beat-Herder is stumbling across music and bands you have never heard of before and Ushti Baba brought a riotous gypsy-folk vibe to the main stage on Sunday lunchtime — the perfect way to get day three under way.

One of my favourite arenas is The Fortress — a gigantic, home-made corrugated steel castle with fire-toting ramparts and a huge courtyard — perfect for raving.

Krafty Kuts took to the decks on Sunday night, throwing down his speciality electronic dance breakbeats with some fantastic mash-ups including Blur's Song 2 mixed with The Prodigy's Smack My B**** Up.

To cover the whole Beat-Herder experience, you'd need many more words than I have available to me. My advice? Grab your tent, wellies and mates and head to the Ribble Valley to herd some beats in 2017.