Lunar Festival 2016 had a lot to live up to after the wonderful 2015 bash (take a read of the FFA Lunar Festival 2015 Review), but it succeeded with some style. The festival is small in size but certainly punches above its weight in many areas – it really is a little cutey!

Like any good event – this festival is bigger than its line-up. Now don’t get me wrong – the artist roster was as eclectic as ever with quality pervading the whole line-up with some top flight headliners and excellent lesser known acts further down the bill. But this is only part of the Lunar Festival story. The ‘vibe’ is the thing at Lunar. The artists are just part of the story. There is a cracking atmosphere driven by multiple elements; the site, the organisation, the various scenes and happenings, the non-music events... but primarily the crowd. What a varied good-time bunch! This crew are up for a party but we never witnessed a single idiot.  Musically knowledgeable, friendly, and impossible to type-cast. There were all ages, ethnicities, and styles from the young families (of which there were many) to the late-night party crowd. They all gelled together to create that famous Lunar vibe where you just knew from the moment you arrived that you were part of something rather special.

The festival is positively geared for families, but importantly, without being a ‘children’s festival’. The weekend simply oozed kid’s activities from the excellent Nature Club (foraging et al) to the dedicated kids field cram packed with loads of stuff to entertain the younger element like campfire storytelling and baby disco! This was just one facet of the wide range of non-music stuff on offer to all ages of course – Bangra Dancing, a trip to listen to Nick Drake’s record player, or Northern Soul workshops anyone? We said upfront that Lunar was a Big Hitter – certainly in the range of entertainment, workshops, and experiences away from the music - and this reviewer can’t really fault it. They did themselves proud and put a number of larger events in the shade.

On a hot weekend of blazing sun the site looked wonderful with the centrepiece bonfire and the imposing Crow statue becoming the festival’s chill out zone. The burning of the Crow as part of Sunday’s Procession is a key part of the Lunar weekend and great fun. Apart from the main stage there were at least another four zones featuring music and general malarkey / debauchery (delete as applicable). The Bimble was once again another festival within a festival. Excellent stuff.

Lunar is a drinkers paradise with some great bar scenes with everything from Pimms and cocktails to some excellent beers provided by the good folks at Purity. A special Big Up to those nice people at Hogan’s Cider who’s bar provided a superb range of local ciders and a rather spiffing Cider Spirit; which, in a Victor Kiam moment, I liked so much I bought the bottle!  Rather like Lunar Festival itself, if you sniff out the local independent producers, small yet perfectly formed, then you won’t go far wrong in this world.

What we really loved about Lunar was the family element during the day which morphed seamlessly into an absolutely cracking night scene with the imaginatively bedecked Crow Bar in particularly absolutely rocking ‘til 3am. This was when the adults came out to play. Lunar provided as many diverse late night hotspots, each with their own angle, as yer average small town. A magnificent achievement for an event this size.

Now let’s get the one big negative out of the way before we move on to the excellent music – Lunar changed the site parking arrangements in 2016 and it proved a backward steep from previous years, particularly as they levied a £10 parking charge this year. Punters were faced with a good 15 minute walk from the car park to some of the camping fields. We spoke to many heavily laden campers on family camping who were forced to make multiple journeys with toddlers in tow to set up camp. It took one guy over an hour and half simply to load his car. Something requiring a rethink for next year methinks. [Moan Ends].

Musically the festival provided excellent bang for your 115 bucks. It’s all opinion and FFA missed loads and saw loads, if you were lucky enough to attend you’ll have your own highlights in a feast of good music, this happens to be ours...

Josfin Ohrn & The Liberation caught our eye on Friday with a hot mix of psy rock and hypnotic guitar beats that really kick-started the festival. We found the usually excellent Badly Drawn Boy deliver a somewhat sombre and disjointed performance on the night, but in fairness the Friday evening sound in the arena was a bit iffy to these old ears. Luckily it improved dramatically as the weekend progressed. Mercury Rev were excellent. Fine musicians at the top of their game, they rocked the bouncing crowd into the night. The potent combination of the This Is TMRW and Leftfoot club nights did for FAA and we retired exhausted but happy bunnies.

Saturday we simply cruised the festival, the weather was lovely, the beer was flowing, you know the score. The wonderful sounds of the music flowing around us and the afternoon just flew by. Ibibio Sound Machine in particular were splendid; high energy Afro-Funk of the first order. Eno Williams is a fine vocalist and front woman and they delivered a great set to get the hot crowd dancing. Local Lads Bentley Rhythm Ace delivered a storming set and arguably got the best reaction of the day. Again the late night scene was fantastic with Psychemagik’s Arabian tent laying down some excellent beats. Highlight must be the The Crow Bar’s Magic Door Club Night. You entered through a long dark spooky tunnel, got your face / beard / other body parts decorated in fluorescent paint and glitter – and then you were off and away. Great scenes.

Sunday was the day for this reviewer with some great acts from across the musical spectrum giving their all. Matt Berry & The Maypoles were very good indeed. This is no vanity project, Berry has surrounded himself with fine musicians and the band laid down some great Proggy rock. Two folk legends appeared back-to-back in The Bimble. Martin Carthy, the old trouper, wowed a packed hot tent with folk as pure as the driven snow yet again, even reverting to some excellent a cappella when sound hassles threatened to mar the end of a fine set. Traditional folk at its best. Another elder statesman of the folk scene was next up in the shape of sartorially elegant Ashley Hutchings. With a set list bursting with new material and nods to Fairport, The Albion Band, and Shakespeare (!), and ably accompanied by the awesome talents that are Ruth Angell and Becky Mills, this was a splendid performance by three great artists. Both Carthy and Hutchings took time out to pay tribute to Swarbs – which was a nice touch.

The Zombies produced a magnificent performance and no wonder given the calibre and centuries of collective experience on stage. Tight as a nut, they regaled the appreciative crowd with a magnificent back catalogue of work. Blunstone’s voice is still sublime and Argent delivered a cracking version of ‘Hold Your Head Up’ to the obvious delight of a sing-along crowd. Then the last band on stole the weekend in this ‘umble reviewers opinion. Super Furry Animals were simply stunning. The crowd took a short while to warm to the frankly bizarre pys-indie soundscapes but within 20 minutes the place was absolutely buzzing. The band were kicking, the AV stuff was wonderful with imaginative back projections and laser show, (The light show over the whole weekend was exceptional for an event this size), and the bouncing crowd loved it. Throw in a costume change or two, and the collective silliness of this band, and it was a marvellous way to close the main stage. As I said – a stunning performance.

So there you have it. Lunar Festival pulled off the very difficult trick of providing something for everyone with great aplomb. A quality weekend with a great crowd. Nuff said.

Article and Snaps by Barrie Dimond