The Secret Garden Party is an independent arts and music festival which is now in its eighth year, set amongst the grounds of a Georgian farm house, with its own lake, river and landscape gardens. This is one of a special new breed of festivals; one that connects many varied creative disciplines and develops the aura of a kind of temporary community for a few short days. The theme of this year’s festival is “Origins and Frontiers”, and there are lots of exciting, quirky activities to get involved in, from tree houses, massages, fine dining and bespoke shopping to cocktails bars and ale tents. There is even a cross festival train service! Secret Garden Party is also a genuinely independent festival – they have no sponsorship or any corporate partners.
Music is also very important to the Secret Garden Party. The festival has 15 stages, most of which are tent stages with marvellously idiosyncratic names such as “The Living Room” and “Where the Wild Things Are”. The music is an electric mix, mostly made up of independent and new bands, although there is still space for many established acts such as Chew Lips, The Guillemots, The Mystery Jets, Peter, Bjorn and John, The Pierces and Blondie. There are also open mic stages and a barefoot disco.
This year’s Secret Garden Party is being held near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire from Thursday 21stth July. Unfortunately weekend tickets are sold out, but some are still available as part of their boutique camping package. This is a child and dog friendly festival, although under 17s must be accompanied by an adult aged 21+. – Sunday 24
See this at MTTM at http://www.morethanthemusic.co.uk/focus-on-festivals/secret-garden-party/
