This Lakefest Review has a slightly different spin for 2025. Due largely to Official Photo Pass hassles, FFA ditched the camera kit, ripped up our stage schedule, and decided to do our own thing, enjoy the freedom, and simply become part of the Lakefest crowd - to absorb ourselves fully into the magical Lakefest scene. Life as an everyday Lakefest trouper – and it was truly wonderful! FFA became one with this fantastic slice of humanity blessed to walk those Lakefest fields. We became the crowd – they became us. The Lakefest buzz flowed through us all. The sense of oneness with our fellow beings was sometimes overwhelming. Why? There is such a strong sense of community here, with a heady spirit that permeates everyone and everything. Many festivals never attain those heights, remaining little more that events in fields – Lakefest is a FESTIVAL. It’s all about its People of course. Everyone at Lakefest is in play – they bond - it creates The Vibe. The air crackles. You become part of something bigger. Something good. Something positive. A collective whole with a spirit that transcends the everyday... and FFA loved it!

You want to know the mechanics of it all? All the logistics? What fantastic value this festival delivers? The quality ethos that underpins everything? The 400+ artists? The absolutely brilliant depth and breadth of its fantastic non-music offerings? All the Workshops and crafts, the fun-packed and extensive kids and young teens offerings? Then you can find all about that stuff and more over at Lakefest if you wish. This Review is all about FFA’s Lakefest 2025 as we walked with that Lakefest Spirit - So buckle up and off we go:

Thursday

First up, and always will be – Beaker’s Bar. A moment of quiet reflection, a toast, and the 8.5% Cider at £5.50 a pint. He’d love it.

Largely a set-up day to be fair, but due to admin grief, FFA arrived late for the must-see Kula Shaker. No matter, we caught a splendid and extended ‘Govinda’ and all appeared well with the world. A fine outfit who can still cut the mustard. Sorry we missed most of it.  Now then, what about Echo and the Bunnymen? FFA favourites, a back catalogue to die for, and one hell of a band. When they played, they excelled. Thursday nights take on ‘The Cutter’ for example, was exceptional. Bizarrely, the whole band periodically wandering off stage without a word, leaving FFA, and the up-for-it crowd somewhat bemused. Was there ever a mumbled explanation? Technical hassles, Prostate problems, who knows. The same thing happened a couple of times, until they simply didn’t return. There may be good reason, but if it was all just some post-laconic gesture, or an attempt to be dark and mysterious, then it came over as simply dissing the crowd. Great set, but do explain yourself Mr McCulloch.

FFA decamped to what would become the beating heart of this wonderful festival – The Cocktail Tent! The Indigos (and all the other late-night bands over the weekend), somehow managed to play every torch song known to man. A fabulous party crowd, large G&T’s @£9, and the first of four stonking nights to kick-start the festival proper. Welcome to Lakefest Ladies & Gentlemen.

Friday

Lakefest has always gone that extra mile to provide a much-needed platform for young performers and unsigned bands, and should be commended for it. With venues across the country seemingly going to the wall on a weekly basis, Lakefest hosts both the BBC Introducing Stage and The Road To Lakefest to give these artists a chance to perform, and hopefully progress. FFA caught a number of these acts over the weekend, but Friday’s RTL act Lemonade Hand Grenade certainly impressed as one of the best of the bunch. A charismatic frontman with the looks and the moves, and a polished rock sound with enough nuance and subtlety to set them apart. Go watch ‘em.

Oh Lordy – hold my coat - it’s only the Wrestling!!! Lakefest, what have you done? An inspired regular addition to the Lakefest goodie bag. You’ve single-handedly turned Mrs FFA into a grappling fan. I’ll spell it out if you missed it – the wrestling is ace. SWW Wrestling runs bouts across the whole weekend and it’s an absolute riot, the kids love the pantomime and cartoon violence, and it’s not just Hiss, Boo, and Cheer time, the wrestlers are all super-skilled performers – there is a lot of talent to watch in that ring. It’s a great show.

Listen Up – An FFA Set Of The Festival Contender Alert - Wille and the Bandits!!! For sheer musical perfection, this band blew virtually everyone else FFA witnessed off the stage. A masterclass in performance, style, passion, and excellence. Not only have they a mighty Hammond Organ for goodness’ sake, but throw an old piece of twine at this crew and it will resonate with harmonic bliss. From ethereal to manic. They nailed it. A wonderful hour in Funky Town.

Laugh of the Day?...  A notice displayed at some wood/metal working stall in the craft village offered a ‘Sharpening Service’ – just how many punters are cruising around Lakefest with a dull set of kitchen knives and think ‘That’s opportune’! Another two Funky Town classics followed in quick succession – first up, The Beat. Little left to say about these Rude Boys. A festival scene staple – always value – always a performance – always hugely entertaining. It doesn’t take much for the Lakefest crowd to fire up, and the whole tent was bouncing. Truly a class act.

The Buzzcocks knocked out a fair ol’ racket (a complement, btw), to maintain the Funky Town buzz into the night. Steve Diggle is no Pete Shelley, and I’m sure does not profess to be, but there is still more than enough substance in this band to deliver a stonking set – with an absolutely sublime ‘Why Can’t I Touch It?’ the FFA song of the day. Lakefest – keep hitting me up! First the wrestling, then BMX stunt cycling, and now, bloody Burlesque! The Cheshire Cat Club is home to the fabulous The Flaming Feathers. A dance extravaganza (the perfect noun) taking in a medley of global vibes, and finishing, as always, in the Moulin Rouge. Throw in a talented MC/Juggler and Lakefest once again proved the merit of a full portfolio of quality non-music entertainment.  Although only Friday, the Cocktail Tent had now become habit forming, and we were forced to remain until closure.

Saturday

Like the rest of a glorious weekend, Saturday was hot. FFA sought shade, a walk around the lake, a shuffle in the Flying Pig and Secret Rave, don’t get this Reviewer even started on Cake Fest, a few drinks, lots of chillin’, OK, OK, and the odd nap (I blame that Cocktail Tent – bloody coming over here, stealing our minds in the night). We floated like butterflies, taking it as it came, or simply letting Lakefest take us, lost in this wonderful sea of humanity. There is a fundamental joy in Positive Inaction. We missed loads of ‘must-see’s’ but know what, there was no guilt trip; at Lakefest it really doesn’t matter, that stuff is all transitory, the festival itself is the THING. Simply being, and being there, is what really matters.  

‘Issues’ have been, erm, an issue for Reverend and the Makers in the past, so it was lovely to see them not only come out the other side – but Better / Faster / Stronger. McClure simply told it as it was... particularly in the lead-in to the excellent and poignant ‘A Letter To My 21 Year Old Self’; a charismatic front man if ever there was one. He had the crowd in his pocket from the off. When they closed, as always, with ‘Silence is Talking’ the whole field went crazy. Marvellous stuff. A fine, fine band.

Brace yer’ self – despite Wille’s best efforts, FFA Set Of The Festival = Faithless. Absolutely stunning. A full band outing, and a mind-blowing audio-visual delight. The side screens didn’t just reflect the show – they were an integral part of the show. Psychedelic live action snapshots interspersed with seamless cutaways to the late great man himself, Maxi Jazz. A big-up for their VT Editor – the effect was mind-blowing, the band let rip, tight and accomplished as hell, the stage a kaleidoscope of colours, the soundscape amazing, all the hits on parade, and this amazing Lakefest crowd turned Eastnor into a ten thousand strong Old Skool rave. FFA have been blessed to cover Lakefest since the Croft Farm days, and frankly, in this old Reviewers ‘umble opinion, Faithless were up there with the very best headliners this festival has graced us with. (Probably James, as you ask. [Discuss]).

FFA hot footed it over to Funky Town for the Dub Pistols. The party hadn’t stopped; it simply shifted venues – it was kicking. A sleazy, meaty, explosive performance, but The Dubs undercut it all with fine musicianship and a mighty stage presence; the barnstormer of ‘Mucky Weekend’ nearly took the roof off. A marvellous good-time band. Mrs FFA had to drag this Reviewer from the fantastic Mr Oakenfold’s deep beats and thunderous drops over in a rammed Retrospective Of House tent; it was wonderous to behold as I pawed at a spell binding laser light show – but we needed to finish in the Cocktail Tent, or the Cocktail Tent needed to finish us (Delete as appropriate).

Sunday

A super chilled day in the heat. FFA let the full Lakefest vibe wash over us and cleanse our souls. More Wrestling (Come On!), some fantastic stunt bike malarkey over at the BMX course, a walk around the fantastic arenas and lake, and Mrs FFA even got this old fart on the Waltzer’s! No wonder we had to retire hurt to Cake Fest for a sugar rush. FFA caught some of Plucking Different in Cheshire Cat. Lose the band name guys, but the set list was diverse, excellent and well delivered. We followed with a stomp along to the entertaining Johnny Clash, who knocked out a splendid ‘In Crowd’, and a snatch of another RTL band – Tv Pins; a polished sound, and fittingly melodic for a lazy hazy Sunday. No Lakefest is complete without a fine Erica gig. These drummer-less twosome manage to knock out a wall of sound, and the crowd boogied on down. All energy and good times. Excellent.

Busted closed the main stage to a fantastic singing and dancing audience, and went down an absolute storm. After McFly headlined in 2023, FFA must say they are with the sign in the crowd of ‘Team McFly’ [Discuss again], but a great performance nonetheless. Only minor niggle would be a shortish set time, exaggerated by a prolonged intro before the guys hit the stage. FFA watched the set perched on high stools with G&T’s served from a converted stretch Limo bar – very Lakefest!

The Silent Disco is a Lakefest tradition. Three channels, but Green was for Go all over the shop, as DJ Shippers did his beautiful thing. It’s evolved over the years of course, and is less of the single big bang end-of-festival shenanigans it once was. Nonetheless, it was still an absolutely marvellous and fitting finale. The sense of community, camaraderie, and bonding, as happy shiny people did their thing, always makes this Reviewers spine tingle. We walked with the spirit amongst the mayhem – no Cans – just watching – listening. Every single person we saw had The Lakefest Smile. That sparkle in their eyes that Lakefest generates year after year. If anything sums up this marvellous festival, and the vibe it generates, that Silent Disco smile encapsulates it all perfectly. Lakefest, you remain a wonderful festival.

A Dedication:  Someone, probably me, said that the Generals win the wars, but it’s the foot soldiers who win the battles. Well, this review is dedicated to Paul Welford, and the rest of the Lakefest Stewards, Volunteers, and Support Staff, who keep the Lakefest wheels turning, and do it all with a smile on their faces. Thank You.

Article and very dodgy snaps by Barrie Dimond