Nibley Music Festival (North Nibley, Gloucestershire, Sat July 2nd) is a rare musical gem. Most festivals are commercial operations, quite a few are heavily funded by local authorities and there are smaller festivals that are a great day out and a chance for local bands to turn up and strum their stuff.Nibley is that little bit different!

It is small – deliberately so. This year 3-3,500 revellers will turn up for this one day festival and the organisers don’t want it to get much bigger than that. It is run exclusively by local volunteers – nobody is paid (even expenses!), no profit is made, and any surplus is ploughed back into future festivals or local charities. The difference probably comes in ambition.

Nibley wants to become the best small music festival in the UK. Unlike other smaller festivals they don’t simply round up the local sixth form bands, tribute acts and wedding acts – the organisers trawl through thousands of performers from all over the UK (and beyond) trying to unearth star quality. They are already forging a reputation with agents, bands and record companies as a “good gig” and especially when the ethos of Nibley is explained:Top quality music, incredibly family friendly, stunning setting, at a fair price (and not for profit!)

Set on England’s second prettiest cricket ground (according to The Daily Telegraph) the site at Nibley is perched high on the Cotswold Edge overlooking the Severn Vale and beyond to The Brecon Beacons. Before the festival the only Rock in these parts was Limestone! Now it plays host to some of the country’s best up and coming artists with many already being recognised through national radio airplay on Radio1,2 and BBC6Music. This year there are 14 acts in total with Ska favourites The Beat headlining.

All kids activities are free (another thing the organisers feel passionately about!) and all food and drink prices are deliberately kept low. Chris Gordon, one of the organisers said “We have probably all been to festivals with our families where we’ve ended up shelling out several hundred quid – you enjoy yourself but think that you could probably have rented a cottage in Cornwall for the same money!” This is also reflected in prices – this year discount prices (before May 31st) are £12 for adults, £5 for 4-17 yr olds and free for under 4s. “We work all year for free, we don’t need to turn a profit and we have bands and suppliers that share our dream – why should we fleece people when we don’t have to?” according to Chris.

Although the festival only runs on July 2nd you can camp on Friday and Saturday night for just £10 (both nights!) in a field with yet more stunning views.

If you want to come to the festival then you should book in advance at www.nibleyfestival.co.uk/tickets (it is likely that there will be no tickets on the gate this year due to demand)

Nibley – an exclusive party everyone can afford (but can’t afford to miss!)


Chris Gordon