The perfect combination for a summer’s day has finally been discovered! First rate music plus all you can eat Ben & Jerry’s ice cream for the sweet price of £18. With over 20 flavours to try, funfair attractions, petting farm, arts and crafts and the hilarious mystic moo- yes, a cow who tells your fortune- there was plenty for everybody to get involved with. The relaxed atmosphere reflected the ethical, yet fun filled nature of Ben and Jerry’s, who are always proud to offer their fairtrade produce to the masses.
This relatively low-key festival, which runs annually in Manchester and London, drew a massive crowd who enjoyed bands such as indie-rockers ‘Little Comets’ and folky New Yorkers, ‘The Duke and the King’, who warmed up the festival goers, lounging in the sunshine. However it was Gary Numan who really picked up the pace, with his legion of dedicated followers. The crowd swelled in anticipation for headliners ‘Maxïmo Park’ and front man Paul Smith did not disappoint, giving an outstanding performance, reeling off tracks from all three of their studio albums. However, it was their older and more accomplished tracks which really got the crowd going, such as ‘The Coast is Always Changing’, ‘Books from Boxes’, and ‘Our Velocity’. Unfortunately the lack of an encore left the audience a little deflated, but I wasn’t too troubled after such an absorbing set, which definitely cemented my love for Maxïmo.
A loyal lover of Ben and Jerry’s, I initially anticipated my entire day to be spent merely consuming excessive amounts of ice cream. However, the festival exceeded my expectations by far, as the entertainment successfully lived up to the Ben & Jerry’s brand. I will definitely be returning next year!
Kimberley Smith
