Cuppa and a nice book? I’d rather be at a muddy festival!
Thursday July 21, 2011
By Elin Berta
It’s been raining a lot lately. And it’s getting dark earlier and earlier. On days like this, it feels like summer has already departed, and that the cold, rainy part of the year is on our doorstep.
Last Sunday, I managed to pop into the Lovebox Festival in Hackney’s Victoria Park. Despite the thunder and lightning hovering over London earlier in the day making me less than enthusiastic about heading out, I plucked up the courage and off I went.
I questioned my judgment as soon as I neared the park and encountered the many soaked victims of the mud-splattered festival. My only thought was: ‘Oh dear, I could be curled up on the sofa with a reading a book right now!’.
But as the music grew louder and I got closer, there was no way out. And once inside the gates, ticket checked and with a deep breath, I saw the messy masses getting together to enjoy the music - dancing, drinking and eating the day away. The atmosphere won me over. So despite the rain, for me summer has just arrived. And it made me realize - one of the best things about summer is all of the music festivals!
So if you are a metal fan, you will love this weekend’s High Voltage Festival, also in Victoria Park, with rock legends such as Judas Priest and Thin Lizzy headlining.
And for all the youngsters out there, Victoria Park hosts the Underage Festival on August 5. It’s a whole day of rock ’n’ roll and young bands – with no parents or guardians allowed!
Down in Clapham Common, the South West Four Festival is sure to attract all of the electro lovers in west London on August 27.
And what I’ve learned is that at festivals, it doesn’t really matter if it’s raining or muddy.
You can always put on wellies, or simply go barefoot! Even if it may be a bit hard dancing around in mud up to your ankles, you will probably have a really good time doing it.
So, don’t let the rain stop you. Enjoy the rest of the summer at any of London’s music festivals. The book can wait until winter!
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.
