As avid festival goers but desperate to bring our two young daughters along for the ride my wife and I set out to find the best family festival at the right time of year with a line-up that appeals to both parents and kids alike. Not an easy task, but one festival kept coming up in conversation. Lounge.
Merton Farm, Canterbury is the idyllic setting for one of the gems of the now cramped British festival season. Tucked away in the garden of England and just a short drive away from the capital, LOTF offers a great alternative to the bigger festivals by offering the best bits on a compact easy to navigate site.
This year's line-up really did have something for everyone. From headliners as diverse as The Streets, Ellie Goulding and Echo and the Bunnymen to the new music of Braids and blissed out country folk of Smoke Fairies, the music programme was exceptional. Doubling up on the capacity for 2011 saw the introduction of a new main stage which freed up the cowshed (yes, a real cowshed) to be used as the new dance arena. Headlined by Radio 1's Annie Mac on Friday the shed also featured big names in breaks, dubstep and drum n bass. Other music was catered for on the Sheep Dip, Farm Folk and Meadows stages.
Those with children were well catered for too, with the family parking and camping areas situated close to the site entrance and although only a ten minute walk from the action this was far enough away from the hustle and bustle to relax. The 'Little Lounge' offered plenty for the younger kids away from the music with entertainers, crafts and face painting.
Friday's musical highlights included the sweet sounds of Hannah Peel and her music box in the folk tent. Sound of 2011 nominees and NME darlings The Vaccines who rocked the main arena playing most, if not all of their debut album. Mike Skinner brought The Streets to one of their last ever gigs, while despite the rain lashing down Scouse indie rockers Cast played to a decent crowd at the Meadows stage. John Power and the boys played the classics from albums All Change and Mother Nature Calls but also gave a hint to the forthcoming album with a few new tracks, most notably 'Time Bomb' which followed the formula that brought success in the past.
The site and especially the main arena was visibly busier on Saturday with the addition of day ticket holders but in the afternoon I checked out Visions of Trees in the less busy surroundings of the Sheep Dip. The stage was home to the more experimental artists of the weekend and the Shoreditch duo Sara & Joni crafted beautiful electronic soundscapes such as 'Sometimes it Kills' mixed with tracks like 'Turn 2 U' reminiscent of mid 90's rave. Definitely one to watch for the future
Following a blinding set from Katy B, chart sensation Example continued in the same vein and rocked the hyped up main arena as it basked in the evening sun. Everything he played, including new material from his upcoming second album, all got the same bouncing response from the masses in front of the stage. The highly anticipated Ellie Goulding had a lot to follow and unfortunately couldn't quite hit the mark. Starting too slowly her tired set was in desperate need of some new songs.
A more relaxed atmosphere complemented the beautiful weather for Sunday which was very much the family day with plenty going on in the Meadows area. The house beats that thumped from the Meadows bar the day before were replaced with funk and soul. Circus performers and weird and wonderful acts such as the 'caged canaries' roamed the fields entertaining the punters.
I was given a tip to watch new Nottingham band Dog Is Dead on the main stage and they didn't disappoint with their summery sound a perfect choice for the mid afternoon sunshine. They drew a significant crowd as their set progressed and the lads clearly enjoyed themselves throughout. The weekend was closed out by Liverpool's Echo and the Bunnymen who turned back the clock and the whole world blue with a classics set.
Lounge on the Farm has been growing every year since its humble beginnings back in 2006 and the increased capacity did bring with it some congestion at busy times and there were a few security related incidents reported most notably at the cow shed on the busy Saturday night. That said on the four days we spent on site I only witnessed a couple of fence climbers being ejected.
Organisers need to consolidate what they have and keep the capacity the same for 2012 or they will risk losing that all important 'family friendly' tag and just become another ordinary festival. In other words more of the same please!!
liverpool-live.info