FFA caught up with Steve Williams, organiser of the excellent Willowman Festival in North Yorkshire, as he prepared for this year’s eagerly anticipated event held over the Summer Solstice weekend in June.

FFA – 2012 was not a great year for the festival scene with the state of the economy and also the dreadful weather, how is Willowman fairing in 2013?

For Willowman it is looking very very positive this year – we’re certainly up on this time last year … looks like we’re certainly going to have a good year! Mind you, on the value front we’ve been selling Early Birds at £50 for most of the year!

FFA – We don’t know how you managed that offer for so long?

That’s why I’m not a millionaire! (laughs). We’ll also have 2104 Early Bird tickets on sale over the weekend for only £60!  We’ve always had great value Early birds, particularly as they are inclusive of everything – no parking and no camping fees.

FFA – This is Willowman’s fourth year; Why do you do it?

Well, I believe in what I’m doing; a lot of people have given me good support and encouragement; everyone is looking forwards to 2013 and saying its great value for money. It’s certainly the best line-up this year because it’s so diverse. …We get better every year; for instance we’ve improved the children’s area – it’s even better this year with more attractions; and we’ve got a bigger acoustic area with some great acts in there.

FFA - This is the festival’s second year at the Hillside Rural Activities Park, in North Yorkshire – you happy there?

It’s a better location because it’s just off the A19 at Borrowby / Knayton close to the Thirsk turn-off. The site's very flat, it’s professionally drained too, despite the atrocious weather last year the site didn’t get too wet, certainly compared to some. We’ve great views and fabulous sunsets… it really does lend itself to laying a nice festival site out and making it accessible for people.

FFA – You’ve a Steampunk theme for the festival – what’s behind that?

The main stage has been renamed the Audiodrome, and we have the Argonaut stage too as part of the Steampunk idea… the fancy dress theme for the Saturday night is Steampunk and a lot of people are jumping on to that already. I must admit to being a bit of a fan of that myself; although I don’t go out dressed like that on a Saturday night – particularly around these here parts! (laughs). Yorkshire is the home of steam power of course – satanic mills in west Yorkshire – and the railways of course…  The original Rocket was built just up the road from where I live … So we’ve tried to get that as a theme going.

FFA – You are proud of the Yorkshire roots obviously?

We’ve got some great Yorkshire bands of course like New Model Army. We did a production for them a couple of years back and it was the first time I really got the opportunity to stand and watch them as a band and I’ve got to say they were superb. They are always reinventing the wheel with new material.

FFA – There are some quality headliners this year like Space and the Wonderstuff alongside New Model Army – but it’s fair to say that there are some great acts away from the main stage too?

Look at acts like Pikey Beatz – a great festival band, and the excellent Sicknote – a really entertaining live act. I must admit that the band to watch for me is Syd Arthur. They’re a young bunch of guys from the Canterbury area; they’ve loads of influences but particularly the Canterbury Scene. They are actually flying in from New York to do the Willowman. They’ve made great head-roads in The States – really big aspirations for them.

There is also Sarah Gillespie – she’s absolutely fantastic. Nucleus Roots are another favourite and play some great reggae. It’s a particularly good mix this year of mid-range artists, I don’t mean mid-range as a derogatory term by the way, just that every band wherever they are on the bill will give 100% entertainment value.

On the main stage we’ve managed to get Alex Paterson back again with The Orb Sound System… he’s coming back on Summer Solstice, which was the day he performed at the first ever Willowman for me. He’s always been special here.

Away from the music we have variety of interesting traders; foodwide there is Indian, Chinese, Tapas, Vegan stalls plus of course a Yorkshire catering stall! We’ll also have Creative Intentions Chill Out Café which will be hosting the Argonaut Acoustic area. Drinks wise the Willow Wobbly Stage stage will remain wobbling throughout its entire life! It will also be selling our own festival beer again - ‘Willy Wobbly’ from Walls County Town brewery.

FFA – So how would you sum up Willowman?

Value for money; a beautiful setting; a nice chilled atmosphere; great music and entertainment; and very children friendly.  Don’t forget the Mad Hatters dance tent too … It a fusion of Hype and Vibration HI-FI Sound club scenes - they are locally based and are bringing a big following. You can expect everything from hard house to cheese! It’s also nice to see that Glamping has sold well this year - and still for sale of course (laughs again)… It all adds up to a most pleasurable weekend in Sunny North Yorkshire!

We couldn’t have put it better ourselves.

Willowman Festival 2013 at Hillside Rural Activities Park, Knayton, Thirsk, North Yorkshire , YO7 4AN - Thu 20th to Sun 23rd June 2013 - Adult camping tickets from £70

Full Details HERE.

Article by Barrie Dimond