Festival offers arts, outdoor activities, cookery and music
THE Good Life Experience returns to the Hawarden Estate on September 12-15, with a festival of music, food, books, ideas, workshops and the great outdoors.
The festival of discovery and of fun’s co-founder Cerys Matthews curates a knock-out music line-up which includes jazz, blues, classical, world, folk and funk, while Caught by the River bring their line-up of arts/ nature/culture activities.
The musical line-up includes DJs Norman Jay, Jnr Williams and Dave Haslam.
New this year to The Good Life Experience is Tankus The Henge with their funk-fuelled repertoire, their channelling of New Orleans, Tudor England, ratty soho alleyway, Harlem’s The Apollo, Shakespeare, 20th Century American Literature, Oliver Twist and Tom Waits.
Also appearing will be indie-rock three-piece William the Conqueror (which has attracted comparisons to the likes of Kings of Leon, Nirvana and Buffalo Tom), energetic jazz band Cykada, Ese and the Vooduu People (Jimi Hendrix is a clear influence), Errol Linton (nominated this year for best blues act by JAZZ FM), Jack Cooper’s new project Modern Nature and many others.
On a distinctly retro note is the Vintage Mobile Disco, a diminutive, artisan sound system, lovingly assembled within a rickety old laundry truck, with an ethos that is very much back to basics: all music is on 7in vinyl only and has to have been recorded at least 30 years ago.
Expect to hear plenty of soul, disco, boogie and other familiar, nostalgic pieces.
As well as the music there will be demonstrations and workshops of cookery (including foraging and wild cooking) and various crafts including raku pottery, weaving, printing and woodwork), and the chance to try various outdoor activities.
There should be plenty of opportunities to find new interests.
There will also be talks from various people including
Helen Sharman, who became the first British astronaut, who is a great role model and a truly inspirational speaker; Peter Francis, warden of Gladstone’s Library; vet James Greenwood; human rights defender Jasmin O’Hara and many others.
This is just a sample of what visitors can expect, and four-legged friends won’t miss out as dogs are welcome, and people can learn more about how to communicate with their dog.
To find out more about the festival’s numerous activities, which this year is limited to 3,000 guests to ensure a more intimate character, check out the festival’s website: www.thegood lifeexperience.co.uk, where you can also book tickets, camping options and selected activities.