As I made my way to Blissfields from Brighton and the fog descended and the rain poured down, I thought I knew exactly how this weekend was going to pan out; yet another washed out festival that our pathetic attempt at summer will claim this year. Arriving on site and meeting with friends it took several goes to pitch a tent in the blustering winds and it was already soggy on the inside. But after the hard work was done and I sat down to crack open my first well-deserved cider something miraculous happened; the sun came out, and within mere minutes I was sunburnt.
This, happened to be the first of many delightful surprises that happened over my weekend at Blissfields – though I believed a festival boasting of 10 years of excellent weather was just asking for trouble. Tucked away just just off the M3 outside of Winchester, it’s just a minutes walk from the car park to the campsite, and less than that into the arena, through friendly security who chatted and joked with punters as they passed by, which any festival goer will tell you is a rare (but great) thing. The arena is pleasantly laid out with many a Glastonbury/Camp Bestival style decorations, not to mention the cosy looking hammocks right in the middle.
First port of call as soon as an arena opens is food and drink, and whilst the number of food stalls is small the quality is far higher than the majority of festivals I’ve attended and the price much lower! Whilst you still may struggle if you’re one with a specialised diet or strictly on salads, there’s still enough variation and even some pretty good vegetarian options. Alcohol is also quite a surprise, to receive any change at all from a fiver is a rare thing but here, drinks range from £3 (cider) to £7(spirits and mixer), even a jug of Pimms is a respectable £15.
Starting my day at the festival’s second stage, Bradley Bubble which hosted a large number of excellent local bands from the Southampton area over the weekend, beginning with Oresteia, who’s eclectic sound with and eccentric frontman and plenty of saxophone set us off on the right tracks. Back outside to the main stage saw the public making the most of the glorious weather, with many bodies sprawled out on the floor (or inflatable arm chairs) with Pimms in hand, ready to be serenaded by the lovely Lucy Rose. Her folk charm on this lazy sunny afternoon was perfect she played through the likes of ‘Middle of the Bed’ and ‘Lines’. She even popped down to the barrier once her set had ended to sign autographs and have photos taken with her fans.
In contrast Man Like Me were ready to ensure that everyone knew they were onstage, and doing everything to get the most out of their early time slot. They quickly availed, as the audience leapt to their feet and a large crowd formed ready for some afternoon dancing. Vocalist Langer even ma
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