QUENCH magazine, FESTIVAL issue 188, May 2022 by Cardiff Student Media

FESTIVAL issue, no. 188, MAY 2022

Deputy Editor’s Letters

Here we are again, facing the end of another academic year, and with it comes my final letter as Deputy Editor. In my first letter for Quench, I claimed that this year would be the best yet of university, and I don’t want to brag, but I was completely right. Perhaps it was the knowledge that this year was my last, but I have appreciated every moment of it; each outing with my friends, the weekly YOLO sessions with my socials, and of course, Quench. I have had an incredible time working for Quench, every article written and every issue released has blown me away. The sheer talent that has surrounded me this year has motivated me to work to the best of my ability. My passion for journalism has grown beyond any limits since working on Quench, both as Deputy Editor and writing my own articles- it has even inspired the career path I have chosen to follow. I am truly sad to see it go, it has been a fantastic experience.

I grew up in Poland watching people meet One Direction in London, easily get concert tickets and wallowing because there was no way I could go to Reading Festival. You probably don’t know this but for times of concerts Berlin is commonly referred to in Poland as part of the country as it is the closest destination that is bound to be one of the tour dates. But then I discovered Open’er Festival which takes place around the time of Glastonbury. Because of the closeness in dates, they often share the headliner performers – Open’er being much more affordable *insert laughing emoji here* I got my first tickets in 2017 and that was the day I fell in love with festivals. I enjoy standing in the rain and watching crew mop the stage as Lorde performs. I think running from one stage to the other is fun. I adore the overpriced chips and waffles.

I can’t finish my time at Quench on a sad note though; Summer is arriving. Although we have the dreaded exam period to get through, those warm days of freedom are on the horizon- and what theme preps us more for Summer than that of Festival? The endless festivals to come in summer 2022 are what motivate me most to get my exams done and out the way! And I’m sure many of you are looking forward to them as well. Whether you are looking for festival outfit inspiration, deciding which festival is exactly right for you, or wondering what food is going to fill you up whilst you’re there, Issue 188 of Quench is perfect for you! This issue is filled with absolutely incredible articles which will have you restless for summer.

However, as you will see in this issue – there is much more to them. They can break friendships. They can inspire dark tales. And they can be a facade for big corporations collecting funds for charities we don’t necessarily agree with (I’m looking at you,Coachella). I wish I could say that festivals are all about camp, joy, inspiration and spending time with friends – and we tried to keep this issue the least depressing as possible. After all, this is our last print issue before we break for summer and hand over to the next editorial team (good luck!).

One last time, I thank our wonderful contributors who fill Quench’s pages with their journalistic talents. To every Section Editor who consistently creates such great article pitches and look after the magazine sections so well. To the Editor, Isabel Brewster, who has made this year for Quench one to remember always. To the entire team of Quench, a huge thank you and well done. We hope you enjoy Issue 188 of Quench.

Phoebe Williams x

It was an amazing year working with such magical group of people. I would like to thank those who made this possible: everyone who talked me out of feeling inadequate and too scared to apply for this position, our Editor-in-Chief Isabel, my fellow Deputy Phoebe and Hope, our Spotlight editor, who was excited to work with me as I took first steps as a section editor before applying for this position. At last – I want to leave you with this: I dedicate this time, effort and work to myself. Learn from it what you will x

Maja Metera x

Editor’s Letter

Hi everyone! I can’t quite believe we’re here… this is the last issue of Quench that we’ll be releasing this academic year, and I really wanted it to encapsulate all the fun and excitement that summer brings. With that in mind, it seemed that there was no better theme than Festival - to celebrate coming together and having a good time in (hopefully) glorious summer sunshine. I’ve used the word celebrate a lot throughout this year. For the first issue of the year, Identity, I wanted to celebrate what it is that makes us who we are. For our second issue, Joy, I believed it was important for us to celebrate what brings us happiness, especially as the new academic year had entered full swing and winter was fast approaching. Romance and Revival held similar intentions, where celebrating love and celebrating the things that were coming back into the art and culture scene felt important to do too. At this point, it’s been on my mind that perhaps the word ‘celebrating’ has been overused. However, I think that, perhaps especially for students, it’s needed now more than ever to recognise and honour the milestones we reach and what we have managed to achieve. Although my role as EIC at Quench has been challenging, and pushed me in ways I never thought it would, it’s been so wonderful to be a part of something that so many of us are involved in. From my deputies and our section editors, who I really can’t thank enough, to our design team, who are so creative, to our social media team who work so hard to keep Quench active, and finally, to our contributors, who make Quench what it is, there are literally hundreds of us who have helped to celebrate what is important to us as Cardiff University students. On that note, I’d like to turn it back around, and say that we all deserve to acknowledge what we have achieved this year. I can’t imagine a better bunch of people to have worked with, and I’d like to say thank you to each and every one of you. Thank you for your patience, your dedication, and your talent. To our readers - thank you for picking up our issues, or flicking through in the digital world, and giving us such lovely feedback every time.

Whether you have tickets, or are intending to buy them, for a festival this summer, it doesn’t really matter. This issue does have a comprehensive list of every festival worth going to, and it also has some essentials you won’t want to be going without. However, it is also just a really fun, colourful edition of a magazine that wouldn’t be possible without the students here at Cardiff. I’ll take what I’ve learnt from Quench far into the years after uni, as I’m sure many of the team will too. If I’m honest, there was definitely a point (perhaps several) where I wondered how to keep moving forwards, but I think that this is the most valuable lesson that Quench has taught me - that you can, and you will, and it will be worth it. Before I sign off, I’d just also like to say thank you to my friends and family for supporting me as I tried to navigate my way around this role I found myself in (and the complicated world of adobe indesign and print centre systems). I am very lucky to have such patient, kind, and supportive friends, and I hope they know how grateful I am for their endless encouragement over the past year. I wish you all a very lovely, relaxing, happy summer. For those of us who are graduating, best of luck for the future. For those who still have a few more years in Cardiff, enjoy! It’s all worth celebrating. With love,

Meet the Team

Meet the

ISABEL BREWSTER Editor-in-Chief

SHIVIKA SINGH Literature Editor

CATRIN LEWIS Clebar Editor

PHOEBE WILLIAMS Deputy Editor

CATARINA VICENTE Literature Editor

LYDIA TOMKINSON Features Editor

MAJA METERA Deputy Editor

ANGHARAD ROBERTS Clebar Editor

MADDIE BALCOMBE Features Editor

Meet the Team

Team

BETH MENDLETON Food Editor

HOPE DOCHERTY Spotlight Editor

EMUN YEAT Food Editor

GEORGIA MEROPOULOS Features Editor

MAGGIE GANNON Fashion Editor

SURAYA KAZZUZ Fashion Editor

PUI KUAN CHEAH Film and TV Editor

ZAINAB JAVED Film and TV Editor

Meet the Team

Meet the

ROWAN DAVIES Music Editor

HANNAH LAYTON Head of Photography

SHAFIA MATULEB Head of Design

RUBIE BARKER Music Editor

SAHINA SHERCHAN Photographer

RAHIMA BHATTI Page Designer

HOLLY CHAPMAN Page Designer

SIAN HOPKINS Illustrator

ANNABELLE INGRAM Page Designer

Meet the Team

Team

ESZTER GURBICZ Page Designer

MANON JONES Social Media Manager

MIA WILSON Page Designer

FATIHA PRATIWI Page Designer

EVE DAVIES Instagram Co-Manager

KATIE LESLIE Page Designer

TILDA SKENE Copy Editor

SARAH MASON Instagram Co-Manager

ALEKSANDRA BUBIENIEC Twitter Manager

CONTENTS Film and TV Film Festivals: Shaping Film History page - 12 -13 The Music Festival Documentary page - 14 - 15 Scores Like Summer page - 16 - 17

mUSIC Songs That Scream ‘Summer’ page - 18 - 19 Festival Firsts: The Highs and Lows of the First Taste of Freedom page - 20 - 21 It’s a Man’s World: The Gender Imbalance in Festival Lineups page - 22 - 23

literature cARNIVAL galore page - 24 - 26 Why is the summer season a literature favourite? page - 28 - 29

FEATURES My Dream Festival page - 30 - 32 Tailor Your Festival Choice To You page - 32 - 33

CONTENTS FOOD AND DRINK Is it Really a Festival Without Food? page - 36 THEME PARK MADNESS page - 37

clebar

eTIFEDDIYAETH PERFFORMWYR CYMRAEG PAGE 38 - 39 Yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol - Gŵyl wrth graidd diwylliant Cymraeg page - 40 - 41

Fashion “Cwtchella” celeb festival fashion page - 44 - 45 The Best Beauty Essentials for Summer Festivals page - 46 - 47 Our Past Festival Looks page - 48 - 51

Spotlight Hookup Culture at Festivals page - 52 - 53 Sex Festivals page - 54 - 55

Photography by: Sahina Sherchan, @sahinasherchan

Film and TV

Hearing the names Pulp Fiction or Kill Bill (whichever volume your heart desires) feels so natural that it’s impossible to imagine the world of film without a director like Quentin Tarantino. While his first filmmaker role, as a writer for True Romance, put Tarantino’s name on the map, it was Sundance Film Festival that accelerated him to star status with 1992’s Reservoir Dogs. Sundance has historically screened multiple cinematic hits, from the experimental indie footage of The Blair Witch Project (1999), to devastating documentaries such as Blackfish (2013) and Leaving Neverland (2019), and racial commentary films such as Fruitvale Station (2013) or Jordan Peele’s Get Out (2017). There are plenty of mainstream film festivals, and while they have become to some extent less about promoting independent cinema, they do help new filmmakers market themselves as well as let audiences get a taste of the more experimental cinema. While streaming services are taking over with quickly-made reality TV shows and big-name films, cinemas only recently became fully accessible again as there was this little thing called a pandemic happening. Many recent cinema releases have tended to be blockbusters, with high-profile names attached to them and high budgets. Film festivals offer a platform

for the indie and the edgy and the movies that are normally kept in the dark by what Bong Joon-ho called the ‘one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles’. Film festivals such as Cannes often promote international cinema more than streaming services and help popularise foreign film as a category of its own. Film Festivals can also have niche targets, or specific to either a genre or a group of filmmakers. Black filmmakers can submit their work to The American Black Film Festival or the Pan African Film Festival, while the Miami Jewish Film Festival showed around one hundred Jewish-made movies in 2020. Genre wise, horror fans can keep an eye out for FrightFest, which Guillermo del Toro called ‘The Woodstock of Gore’. There are even festivals such as Palm Springs International ShortFest, focusing on short films, which will be returning this June. As with music festivals, a big part of film festivals’ charm is the ritual, the special occasion of it all. Now that we all have so much entertainment in our houses, and with just a few clicks can bring up every actor’s filmography, there is something special about going out of your way to watch or promote a film. Entertainment has been commodified to the extent that it’s no longer an escape, but rather an activity to do, it’s background noise for scrolling

Film and TV

on your phone. Cinemas and film festivals offer that level of detachment where you can be enthralled by what’s being shown in front of you and share that joy with a room full of people that wanted to see this specific work. The two can’t exist without each other: cinemas for accessibility to everyone, and festivals for the experimental level. Festivals are there to fill a gap, to promote diversity in what we consume and watch. Underwire Film Festival was created to address the gender imbalance in filmmaking, putting the spotlight on the women in the industry. Its current director/ex-producer Anna Bogutskaya has stated in an interview with Screen Daily that ‘festivals have the power to (…) provide a platform for films and filmmakers that don’t have the support of distributors and marketing campaigns behind them’. When in competition with multimillion budgets, independent and small-scale productions need extra support, and it is through festival screenings that they can get increased exposure, sometimes to an international audience. Film festivals have helped launch some of the biggest names in the industry, and with each edition, they serve to promote smaller-scale talent,

otherwise going undiscovered or under-promoted. While they are less accessible than other forms of film screenings like conventional cinema, their tradition is worth upholding and supporting, as one of the last pillars of independent cinema. words by: Francesca Ionescu design by: Holly Chapman

Film and TV

Music festivals are an integral part of music culture, and the same can be said of music festival documentaries to the respective film genre. The music festival documentary comes in all shapes and sizes, celebrating the many music festivals around the world, or even investigating the pitfalls of some. Either way, they both aim for what Masterclass says is the purpose of the documentary genre: “to inform and educate”. Just like the extensive range of music festivals out there, the music festival documentary is a broad umbrella term. As with the rest of the film industry, music festival documentaries have been ventures taken on by more than just major film studios. 1970s Woodstock was distributed by Warner Bros., while the recent Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) was distributed by Searchlight Pictures and Hulu. Even YouTube Originals has taken on the genre, with 2020’s Coachella: 20 Years In The Desert. For those not in the know, music festival documentaries are a great way to introduce festivals, sometimes more obscure and unknown ones. It opens up a world of discovery into this subculture of sorts and can give festivals a backstory rather than just being simply perceived as a massive dayslong concert that people party at.

Capturing heritage Just like historical documentaries detailing the history of an area, music festival documentaries can be seen as a form of heritage documentary, especially since many music festivals have a fairly long history to their names. Here’s a question: while many might be familiar with Woodstock, how many have heard of the Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969? That is where Summer of Soul, directed by Questlove, comes into the picture to introduce this (arguably) iconic festival to audiences. The Festival took place in the same month as Woodstock and yet failed to receive as much cultural recognition in the long run – until now. The Harlem Cultural Festival celebrated African American music and culture annually between 1967 and 1974, starting around the time of the end of the Civil Rights Movement. This timing made it ever more important, bringing joy to this population that was likely much needed. However, the 1969 edition that Summer of Soul focuses on is particularly noteworthy, given how much it had going for it. Huge names in music like Nina Simone, B.B King, and Stevie Wonder, among others, performed, making it no small matter. It is through this documentary that audiences will now know this festival that has sadly managed to go unnoticed all these years, despite being an equally significant cultural event to its counterparts.

Film and

Just like how other documentaries can give voices to the underrepresented, Summer of Soul has given the Harlem Cultural Festival the attention it frankly rightfully deserves, through unveiling archive footage that has stayed buried until now. The Fyre Festival documentaries Perhaps the most notable music festival that was given the documentary treatment in recent years was the infamous Fyre Festival (which then begs the question if it could really be counted as a music festival). Fyre Festival was covered by not one, but two streaming services in this documentary format – Netflix and Hulu released separate Fyre documentaries within mere days of each other, likely capitalising off the controversy that arose at the time. However, no two documentaries are made the same. Both films decidedly took different directions and perspectives on the ‘Fyre controversy’, interviewing and spotlighting opposing parties involved in the situation. As such, audiences are treated to a more well-rounded take on Fyre Festival and its downfall. Though the Fyre Festival never actually happened, these documentaries bring another approach to the music festival documentary. They were essentially cinematically shot video alternatives to

to a hypothetical investigative journalism piece. Every music festival has a story to tell, and music festival documentaries are a subgenre of the documentary film that have risen to tell these stories, to define the ‘music festival’ with more depth and through a digestible medium. The popularity and demand for these films do not seem to be dying down anytime soon, which makes it all the more intriguing as to which festival will be covered next. words by: Pui Kuan Cheah design by: Rahima Bhatti

Film and TV

E K I L S E R O C

R E M SUM 2022

Film and TV

Call Me By Your Name (2017) Sufjan Stevens’ ‘Mystery of Love’ for Call Me By Your Name (2017) freezes audiences in a humid time capsule of summer nostalgia. ‘Mystery Of Love’ begins playing on a creaking bus as lovers Elio and Oliver pull away from the watchful eye of family and friends on their travels; subtly transcending the two from a place of caution to a space of freedom and acceptance. Accompanying a tranquil yet invigorating montage of Elio and Oliver during their travels, Stevens’ score captures the softness of late summer through calm acoustics of whispering lyrics and mellow mandarin. The wonders and vulnerability of first love are translated through Stevens’ probing lyrics, expressing both euphoria and nostalgia, leaving audiences both mourning and yearning for a love they have not experienced. Stevens’ poetry is perfectly framed in the final line of the score; ‘Oh, will wonders ever cease? Blessed be the mystery of love’ – here, the notion that love is never something to regret, but is always something to celebrate, is expressed. The soft yet stinging acoustics, thoughtfully set alongside panning shots of the rolling Italian countryside, beautifully transcend the travel montage into a poetic and bittersweet depiction of lost summer love.

17 (500) Days of Summer (2009) Marc Webb’s (500) Days of Summer aesthetically whirls in the glory of summertime love. It is reminiscent of a time gone by and the music of the film encapsulates these sensations in unprecedented ways. It captures the laid-back mood of the film, augmenting the high and lows of Tom and Summer’s 500 days together. Midway through the film, in one of the most iconic scenes, Daryl Hall and John Oates’s ‘’You Make My Dreams Come True’’ punctuates Tom’s joyful attitude after his night with Summer. The choreography of the scene, his interaction with others in the park, and the miniature animated animals add the muchneeded uniqueness that it requires. It is as breezy as a warm summer day. The music in the film is so consistent that it is almost elevated to the status of another character in the film. Take Regina Spektor’s quirky “Us” for instance, which fills our screens with Spektor’s light and airy vocals. Like every summer, the song takes you on a ride, promising you an unconventional story of love and friendship. This thoughtfully put-together soundtrack makes me want to close my eyes and take in whatever summer wants to offer. We all know it won’t last forever. By Zainab Javed

By Ella Dorman Luca (2021) Everything about Pixar’s Luca screams summer, and it’s only fitting that it’s featured here. The soundtrack immediately transports you to the Italian Riviera, more specifically Cinque Terre, which inspired much of the films’ production design. Just like the three characters in the film, Luca, Alberto, and their newfound friend Giulia, the soundtrack is full of childlike whimsy, wonder, and playful energy, likely partly due to the film being inspired by director Enrico Casarosa’s childhood. All it took was, as stated in Variety’s article on composer Dan Romer’s lush score, “a bit of accordion, a little mandolin, a lot of acoustic guitar and pizzicato strings”. “Walking Is Just Like Swimming”, which starts playing during the scene when Luca first steps ashore and learns to get used to his new human legs, encapsulates this perfectly. The hilarity that ensues in the scene makes this the perfect accompaniment and expresses Luca’s joy at this new world above the water. It also marks the point where he befriends Alberto – who later becomes almost a friend-for-life. If listening to this score doesn’t make you feel pure jubilation, I don’t know what will. By Pui Kuan Cheah

Design by: Annabelle Ingram

Music

Songs That Scream ‘Summer’ Design by: Fatiha Nur Pratiwi Words by: Alanya Smith Let me set the scene; you’re walking out of your lecture to meet your mates in Bute Park, the sun is slowly setting and you can hear music buzzing from a nearby speaker. The glowing warmth of summer is teasing a season of festivals, BBQs and spontaneous pub trips in Cathays. The soundtrack for the occasion? Electric Light Orchestra’s ‘Mr Bluesky’. Not only does the song combine catchy lyrics behind a funky bassline, but it’s also all about celebrating the returning serotonin of the radiating sunshine. The song can be played with your mates, your family, and it’s probably on your Dad’s Spotify playlist; but is there any better type of music? No other song can simultaneously get both your flatmates and your Nan hyped for the summer, making it the perfect backdrop for any sunny day. I’ll never forget hearing the song played on BBC Radio One for the first time this year, watching the sunset fill the room of my small flat and hit my mirror to decorate the wall with rainbow spectrums. It was as If the sun was saying that everything was going to be okay, stretching across to envelope me in a warm hug. When I changed the radio station the song was being played again, only to be playing on my flatmate’s speakers in the kitchen as well. The power that song has in brightening the gloomiest of days and bringing a smile to anyone’s face is so unique that it can’t really be replicated by anyone else. Afterall, there really is no better image of summer than a perfect blue sky. Words by: Esther Juniper Give A Little by Maggie Rogers I first heard this song in July of 2018. I had come out of an intense two years of A Levels and was faced for the first time in my life of the reality that I was not going back to school come September. I was confronted with possibilities and uncertainties about my future plans like never before. I came across the music video for this song first during a YouTube deep dive. Maggie is there singing in a skate park with a freckled face, shorts and white cowboy boots. Her friends sing and dance alongside female skateboarders in the sunshine. I watched it feeling nostalgic for teenage summers past and a level of scared and excited about what the coming months meant for me. Maggie’s voice triumphantly swells as she sings about a relationship that she wishes they could escape to a place where no one knows them. This struck a chord in me with her singing of the unknown, especially the outro where she sings that there’s a whole new world waiting for them. I had spent the past final months of college craving this summer to come quick, and when it did, it left me feeling more confused than ever. Maggie singing this made me feel secure in these emotions of uncertainty and gave me a sense of faith that it was all going to be okay. I spent the whole summer listening to the song on repeat, the sense of hope flooding me each time. I relisten to this song at the start of the warm summer weather and the wave of nostalgia hits

me. I reflect on the past summers gone and how different I am now than the 18 year old girl who first heard this. I ended up seeing Maggie with my best friend on a cold February night in Manchester, and yet when she began to sing this song, I felt like I was back in the sizzling heat of midJuly all over again. Words by: Eve Davies I’m sure you’ll know what I mean when I say that we all have a playlist purely for summer. Those tunes that we blast out on car rides, windows down and sunnies on, next to a campfire, or while sipping drinks in the garden with the barbecue fired up. For me, the song at the top of this playlist is Bryan Adams Summer of 69 – an absolute classic! Strangely, the lyrics make me feel nostalgic about the romanticised last summer of the sixties even though I never lived through it. However, Adams’ song takes me back to the summer of 2017 – the summer after completing my GCSEs. Days were spent in the sea; evenings were spent around a campfire. My friends and I would listen to Adams’ tune around a fire at the beach or in one of our gardens if we were so lucky to have a parent free house. We’d drink bottles of cheap Echo Falls wine and sing our hearts out. The song was sure to make an appearance towards the end of house parties when alcohol levels rose and levels of ‘coolness’ deteriorated. It was the first summer where we began to feel freedom and I think Adams’ lyrics reflect the sense of joy and liberty that is felt after finishing school. We had completed our first exam season and the choice was now ours what we would do with our Mondays to Friday, whether it be college, an apprenticeship, or full time work. We were young and restless and certainly needed to unwind. Although it seems like eons ago now, that summer did seem to last forever. Words by: Monica Garcia ‘Finders Keepers’ by Mabel ft. Kojo Funds was originally released in 2017. It came from her debut EP ‘Bedroom’ and also featured from her debut mixtape ‘Ivy to Roses’. Whilst I completely admire this song in its original format, ‘Finders Keepers – Remix’, which also features Burna Boy and Don-E, will always be a part of my core memory. Essentially, Mabel is singing about relationship with no real strings attached, where Kojo Funds, Burna Boy and Don-E respond to her desires with their own personal offers. From the beat of the music to the lyrics itself, it is something that has always screamed ‘summer’ to me and a song I will always revisit, without ever getting bored of it (no matter how many times I put it on loop). Personally, I associate this song with the desired summer break that every freshly-finished secondary school kid was looking forward to after A-Levels. I heard and played ‘Finders Keepers’ many times during my Summer 2019: my 18th birthday, after passing my driving test, my

Music

first ‘girls holiday’ to Napa with my best friends, my first time clubbing, collecting my A-Level results where I secured my place at Cardiff Uni etc. This song is definitely the backing track when I reminisce on Summer 2019. Summer 2019 was the period I truly started to grow up, and realise I was not a kid anymore. I was going to be starting my first year of university, and officially be making my own decisions on how I will be living my life. So, the reason I revisit this song every summer, and will be in the futures to come, is because it reminds of the summer that got me where I am today.

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festival firsts By: Rowan Davies Design by: Eszter Gurbicz

In 2015, my father and I took a trip to Download Festival for our first ever festival experience. The tickets were bought last minute after much deliberation with my mother, who was not exactly jumping at the thought of her small, thirteen-year-old daughter spending a day in a sea of headbanging metalheads. Nevertheless, we somehow managed to convince her and were finally off to see our favourite bands at the legendary Donnington Park. Upon arrival, our excitement was temporarily halted as rain began to pour, and our car lodged itself in a field of mud. Not the greatest way to begin the day but once the car fiasco was sorted, we made our way to the main grounds. It was like entering rock n’ roll heaven. Everything blew me away – from the electrifying sound of guitars blaring through the speakers, to the thousands of long-haired, tattooed rockers. The artists were equally as incredible – We danced along to Billy Idol’s classic tunes, and we watched in awe as Mötley Crüe lit up the stage with pillars of fire and

flame-throwing bass guitars. But the highlight of my day was sitting on my dad’s shoulders, far above the crowd, listening to the epic guitar solos of my hero, Slash. In that moment, not even the rain could’ve dampened my exhilaration. The unfortunate fact that I had school the following day put an early end to our festival experience, but not before watching headliners KISS take the stage in a flurry of dazzling explosions. The thrill of the music and the fantastic memories created with my dad made for a first festival experience I will cherish forever. Words by: Francesca Manenti

Music

My first experience of a music festival was Cardiff’s Big Weekend in Gorsedd Gardens. I went every year with my family and friends ever since I was old enough to be pushed around in a pram: it was a free event which made it the perfect way to spend an August weekend. As well as a wide variety of musical acts across the three days, it also included a funfair that spanned the roads of Cardiff University and the museum. As a child, the funfair was definitely my favourite part- the rides were really fun and one year my dad even won us a giant horse toy from one of the archery games. One year that stands out to me the most is the 2009 festival where the headliners included The Lightning Seeds and The Zutons. I remember listening to the original version of ‘Valerie’ on the shoulders of one of my family friends during The Zutons’ set which concluded the Big Weekend that year. The downside of this festival was that I was so young when I attended, which meant I would be half asleep by the time the final acts performed! If Cardiff Council ever decides to revive the Big Weekend, I would be more than happy to attend again. Words by: Rhiannon Farr

real festival experience, it exceeded all expectations while showcasing that when it comes to festivals, you really can’t predict anything. August 2018. There wasn’t nearly as much summer sun as we had anticipated, but being so young and optimistic, none of us had even thought to check the weather app before our arrival. The walk to our camp seemed eternal and I could feel myself rapidly turning into Quasimodo under the weight of my 40kg bag. We were greeted by sunset scenes, but our departure was characterised by sinus infections, a hangover that persisted for the next three days, and a mud slide that seemed to say ‘Good riddance’ as it carried us out of the camp and onto the motorway back home. The aftermath though horrific, could never tarnish the pervasive feeling of euphoria that Reading still evokes in me. Sweat mingled with dirt kicked up from the ground of the dance tent was merely a byproduct of chaos. Pushing to the front of Don Broco and feeling the vibrational thump of the bass in my chest reminded me why I loved rock so much. It’s evocative of disaster but a happy mayhem. When I think of myself at seventeen, I think Reading… Words by: Frankie Salmon

Aged seventeen and with my pivotal A-level exams all to come in the following year, Reading Festival seemed like a good opportunity to let loose before the wrath of year 13 hit. It was a chance to go crazy while we still had the time, and it’s a period of my life I will never forget. My first

the highs and lows of the first taste of freeedom...

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it’s a

MAN’S WORLD The Gender Imbalance in Festival Line-ups

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Nicki Minaj, the queen of rap has been secured to play in London’s Finnsbury park at Wireless festival this summer. It will mark the first time the rapper has performed in four years, taking to the stage alongside some of the most talented women in the music industry. In the past, the festival has received backlash for its dismissal of female performers- with women only accounting for 10% of its set in 2021. Wireless is only a small part of a big problem. Gender parity on the festival scene is a common, sexist occurrence, with gaps in sets lacking a female presence reminding audiences of the change that is still needed in a music industry fraught with misogyny and sexism. The lack of female representation at festivals often goes unnoticed due to the overall success of women in an industry which pushes successful women for six figure sums every single year. A study by music researchers in 2020 discovered that there are higher engagement rates in women than men that take part in creative industries like music and literature, yet veteran festival Reading and Leeds still only filled a meagre 14% of slots with women at its 2021 set, being the sixth most representative festival out there. When confronted by the stats and figures which represent a festival scene that doesn’t want girl power, organisers constantly turn to the lazy and entirely bigotry ridden excuse of a lack in numbers of non-male performers.

of non-male artists is not an excuse. Despite the need to scratch further below the surface for women willing and able to showcase their musical talent, there has been some positive change in the past few years. With the setting up of the ‘Key Change scheme’ festivals are encouraged to sign a pledge to include at least 50% of women and underrepresented genders in their staff and programming. Furthermore, festivals like the ‘End of The Road’ in Dorset continually aims and achieves a 45:55 men/women split every year, proving that gender equality when it comes to festival lineups can be achieved when aimed for and wanted. These smaller, more indie-based festivals are reaching out to aspiring female musicians to propel their careers and help them get noticed in the grand scheme of things. They also give female audience members with the same musical talent and dreams inspiration that they are wanted in festival spaces and signify that there is a chance for them to get noticed as an up and coming artist. With 2022 emerging as a beacon of hope for women performers hoping to break into the festival scene, it is time to celebrate female voices this summer, bridging gaps of discrimination and welcoming girl power onto a stage of equality and representation.

Again, this attempt of a defence against calls of sexism from its critics falls on deaf ears at a time where women in music have never been so successful, with consumption rates of music made by women being at an all-time high. The sexist gap that separates men and women is frequently forgotten about amidst the excitement of leading male headliners and a long-awaited squad of predominately testosterone talent. Emily Eavis, a leading figure behind Glastonbury Festival painted a clearer and bigger picture of the deep-rooted sexism that continues to haunt festival sets. An entirely male booking team sits behind the line-up selection process and Eavis describes there being an embedded ‘laddish culture’ that surrounds this. These men, who have the power to book various successful women are misunderstanding of the drive to give women a voice and instead turn to rebooking the same male performers. Of course, the festival line-up selection process is far more complex than asking any woman performer to take the stage, with album promotions and the size of shows artists are playing at all considered in the booking process, but with small and upcoming woman performers emerging every day the festival scene should not be a predominately male world. When music sensation Billie Eilish was announced to perform at Reading Festival in 2019, 500,000 tickets were sold in minutes, yet Eilish’s name was still below 26 other performers on the line-up advertising. Lacking availability

Words by Lucy Matthews Design by: Annabelle Ingram

Photography by: Sahina Sherchan, @sahinasherchan

Literature

G AL

E R O

Literature

Stephen King’s 2013 novel Joyland is the perfect summer read for mystery and horror lovers. The year is 1973 and our protagonist, university student Devin Jones, takes a seasonal job working at a seemingly average amusement park, as a means to escape a broken heart. Horror, mystery, and romance ensue as Devin uncovers the secrets of Joyland’s murderous past, while the summer accelerates towards the height of the carnival season. As with all of Stephen King’s novels, the writing is superbly crafted, and we immediately find ourselves invested in Devin’s world, from the relatable experience of finding work and entertainment over a long university summer, to amusing tales of customer service horror stories, as well as the even scarier terrors of the ghouls which haunt the thrillingly atmospheric setting of Joyland. Whether you’re a fan of horror, romance, or coming of age stories Joyland has something for you. Words by: Charlotte Harris

Erin Morgenstern- The Night Circus Carnival season is finally upon us – this means long summer afternoons spent on funfair rides with friends, consuming copious amounts of cotton candy and popcorn, mysterious circuses appearing in your town in the middle of the night… Alright, that last one’s just in The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern’s latest book and a favourite of the online book community. The story delves into the appearance of a new, famous circus that is the battlefield for a duel between two young magicians. Trained to battle since a young age, the book follows the two characters’ lives in the circus, uncovering the secrets of its origins and the backstories of its eccentric cast of performers, as they come closer to their fated battle. Though it wasn’t my favourite, the book has a distinctive aura, with rich and enticing writing that feels as entrancing as the mystical circus it explores. The perfect quick read for a summer afternoon at the cusp of carnival season. Words by: Catarina Vicente

Design by: Eszter Gurbicz

Literature

What makes the summer season a literature favourite

Literature

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” - The Great Gatsby This classic summer quote by The Great Gatsby is still iconic though many poets and writers have taken a particular interest in summer literature, gifting us with splendid summer fantasies, scenic descriptions of the season and splendid summer quotes to read when we need a warm hug from our favourite books. Writers as early as Shakespeare have written plots around the season and given us timeless summer quotes. A Midsummer Night’s Dream, one of Shakespeare’s favourite plays, is set in Athens around the summer season. It is comedic, light-hearted and most importantly features romance and marriage. The Summer season is seen as symbolic of youth, innocence, joy, freedom and adventure among other things, hence setting the tone for budding Romances, stories of adventure and new beginnings. Shakespeare’s famous Sonnet 18 compares the lover and her beauty to the summer. Summer in this case sets the tone for passionate feelings, such as love and lust.

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate. Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer’s lease hath all too short a date. In William Wordsworth’s poem, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud, the speaker talks about the blissful feeling of witnessing the beauty of a full field of daffodils. The essence of plentiful nature and the feeling of bliss has been conveyed through the summer season in this case. Although the symbolism of summer is different for different writers, summer in this case acts as a catalyst in conveying the emotions of bliss and natural beauty. McEwan’s 2001 novel Atonement begins in a country house one hot summer day, leading up to events that would change the course of many characters featured in the book. The quote- “I love England in a heatwave. It’s a different country. All the rules change”, reflects the socioeconomic structure and the definition of freedom at the time. The book features an upper-class family in England and brings out a different meaning of summer based on one’s class. It is set in times when the rules were so much more evident, and the existential effect of their loosening

so much greater. A contemporary summer series, The Summer I turned Pretty by Jenny Han, is the story featuring Belly who measures her life in the summers. Everything good, everything magical, happens between June and August. It is a coming of age story of first love, first heartbreak and the journey to one unexpected, perfect summer. It is a contemporary summer novel, following in the footsteps of many classics where the plot revolves around a wonderful summer and first love. Adlestrop by Edward Thomas is another literary gem praising the English summer. The setting for this poem is the railway station located in the English countryside Adlestrop in Gloucestershire. The time is set in ‘late June’ and the poet is on his way to visit a friend. On his way, he notes the summery sounds and sights while the train stopped at the station. The poem captures a moment of English summer tranquillity in a few vivid, evocative images and sounds. Seasons have always played a significant role in setting the mood for the books- from nostalgia during the Autumn symbolized by fallen, crushed leaves and empty tree branches to biting cold and Grey skies of the winter symbolizing loneliness and despair. However, nothing compares to the possibilities the summer offers a writer’s imagination. From conjuring up a reminiscence of youth, budding romance in long hot days lost loves and memories carried on by the breeze to beautiful descriptions of blossoming flowers, colourful gardens fluttering in the summer breeze, clear night skies with twinkling stars, the summer season makes for a literary treasure and a writer favourite. Words by: Shivika Singh Design by: Holly Chapman

Features

My Dream Festival It is every music lover’s dream to be able to design their own festival – to choose the location, the line-up, the food. Often a festival doesn’t quite have everything you want, and as a music lover, I often daydream about what my dream festival would be. My ideal festival would be coastal; I grew up near the north Devon coast and I absolutely love being by the sea. I don’t have a specific location in mind, but I picture it being on a beach with a forest nearby – very much a combination of bonfires on the beaches and fairy lights in the forest. I love the idea of spending the day in the sunshine and being able to retreat to the shade, then sitting by bonfires as the sun is setting. Obviously, the crucial part of the festival would be the music, and my dream line-up would create a very chill, beachy vibe. I would want a lot of Indie-Folk artists such as Bon Iver, Ben Howard, Hozier, Lizzy McAlpine, Sleeping at Last, and of course, Taylor Swift (playing Folklore and Evermore, probably). It would take place over a couple of days, and everyone would camp in the forest. There would be plenty of different food stalls (not charging a fortune, which is how you can tell this is a dream and not reality) and stages for smaller bands or artists to have a go. Ideally, it would be a warm summer weekend, so people could swim and surf in the sea and spend the evening listening to great music with a cocktail in hand. I have been to a few festivals and have enjoyed being in packed crowds screaming along to music I only half know, but my dream festival would be a lot calmer. Music is a big part of my day-to-day life, and I would like to be able to experience it in a setting I love with great friends, lots of drinks, and massive bonfire-shaped fire hazards. Words by: Tilda Skene

My dream festival would be a perfect actualisation of my admittedly selfish desires. The matter of who is performing is central: although a lot of these may not be as feasible, and it’s best not to get carried away, so I’ll limit it to artists who are still with us… otherwise the line-up would just alternate between David Bowie and The Clash all weekend! There is no question in my mind as to who the ultimate headliners are – the mighty Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are still at the top when it comes to unmissable headline acts. Sparks would also be given a lengthy set. I’d like Supergrass there, along with Paul McCartney playing the entirety of his 1971 cult-classic indie-pop-inventing album RAM. There are also numerous bands I’d like to see come back together for my festival if persuaded – The Jam would be epic, so would Roxy Music with Eno, the three-thirds of Led Zeppelin, The Smiths (if Morrissey promised to behave himself), The Sex Pistols if John Lydon promised to not, and most of all Talking Heads. I’d include some newer music too – Yola, IDLES, Wet Leg and Phoebe Bridgers would surely be attending. Music aside, entertainment and activities are vital to any festival. I’d have a petting zoo, and burger vans with loads of hot dogs and assorted meats coupled, complete with an array of steaming hot sauces to lather them in. The toilets would be unbelievably sanitary, and I’d be happily escorted right to the front of the crowds for everything going on. You would be also complementary to an array of decent beers and spirits, plus a large vinyl record fair and fairground rides just for the sake of them. How about an outdoor cinema, showing Back To The Future, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Star Wars on loop? There might as well be an attendant constantly chucking sweets out to every audience member too. There’d also be a house music tent and, right next door to that, a Northern Soul tent full of DJs, most important of which, of course, being myself. Words by: Billy Edwards

Illustration by: Rahima Bhatti, @rahima.creative

Features

Tailor Your Festival

Two years since the pandemic struck and stopped the music industry in its tracks, this summer marks the first return to the British festival season that we all know and love. Last year saw a minority of festivals open their doors to the music-loving public, but this year they are back with a bang. The UK excels when it comes to arts and culture events, so it is no surprise that our festival scene is so vibrant. Whether you’re searching for a laid-back day of food and fitness, or a full-on weekend of drinking and dancing, the beauty of festivals lies in the fact that there really is something out there for everyone. So, why not tailor your festival choice to you this summer? Part of the appeal of festivals is that you can see some of the biggest names in music all in one weekend. So, if you’re looking to see current chart-topping artists, these are the events for you… Reading and Leeds Festival, Richfield Avenue / Bramham Park, 26th – 28th August Boasting a line-up of major names from Dave to Arctic Monkeys, Jack Harlow to Megan Thee Stallion, Reading and Leeds Festival is the place to be if you’re in it for the big names. The line-up is an eclectic mix of different genres: pop, R&B, indie, rap. Festival-goers can choose between attending for one day only, or for the whole weekend. There a designated camping areas for those attending for the weekend, along with water points and food and drink stalls, making this a festival to remember!

All Points East, Victoria Park, 19th – 28th August With a star-studded line-up, All Points East is a week-long festival in the heart of East London. With headline acts such as Tame Impala, Disclosure, Gorillaz, The Chemical Brothers, and Michael Kiwanuka, this is a festival that is up to date with current trends. Much like Reading and Leeds festival, All Points East also provides for kinds of music genres, whilst ensuring that the best names in the business are in attendance. If you’re hoping to have a chilled-out day of relaxed music and good vibes, these are some festivals to keep your eye on. Latitude Festival, Henham Park, 21st – 24th August Latitude is the ideal place to be if you’re hoping for a laidback weekend of entertainment. The headline acts create a chilled-out vibe, with Lewis Capaldi, Phoebe Bridgers, Snow Patrol and Maggie Rogers all in attendance. Alongside these soothing sounds, Latitude provides some alternative forms of entertainment – such as stand-up comedy from Russell Howard, and classed from DanceEast. Boardmasters, Watergate Bay / Fistral Beach, 10th – 14th August Situated in Cornwall, Boardmasters provides the ultimate laidback festival experience. The festival is spread out between Watergate Bay, where music and camping is held, and Fistral Beach, where attendees can surf, shop and chill on the beach. A shuttle bus runs between the two sites, providing a stress-free experience. The line-up consists of names such as Declan McKenna, Bombay Bicycle Club and Kings of Leon. Between these chilled tunes and laid-back activities, Boardmasters is your answer to an idyllic festival experience. If the UK rap / DJ scene is more your thing, these festivals are absolute musts.

Features

Choice To You

Wireless, Crystal Palace / Finsbury Park / NEC Birmingham, 1st – 10th July Taking place between London and Birmingham, Wireless Festival’s lineup is stellar, securing names such as Cardi B, SZA, Tyler the Creator, J. Cole, A$AP Rocky, Nicki Minaj, and Lil Uzi Vert. This year is the first that Wireless has expanded over three locations, giving more people a chance to attend the UK’s biggest rap festival. Parklife, Heaton Park, 11th – 12th June Parklife is Manchester’s answer to a dance, electronic, rap festival. Taking place each year in Heaton Park, it is two days of great music. Headling the festival are some of the best names in rap, such as 50 Cent, Arrdee, Headie One, and Loyle Carner. Playing alongside these rappers are a host of unreal house and electronic DJs, such as Peggy Gou, Four Tet, BICEP, and Eric Prydz. Perhaps you’re in the market for more indie music, if so you have to check out… Kendal Calling, Lowther Deer Park, 28th – 31st July Situated in the picturesque Lake District, this small music and arts festival shouldn’t be overlooked. The line-up is an indie dream. Headline acts include Supergrass, Bastille, Stereophonics, The Kooks, The Vaccines and The Magic Gang. It is not just the music that makes this festival great, however. There is a real ale festival onsite, an American diner hosting secret DJ sets, and an immersive arena for arts and culture. On top of all of this, there is an option to stay in an onsite luxury boutique glamping village… what’s not to love?

Sound City, Cairns Brewery Village, Liverpool, 30th April – 1st May Sound City is one of the UK’s leading independent festivals, providing a platform for some of the best upcoming indie artists in the UK. The lineup consists of Alfie Templeman, Self Esteem, Kawala and Yard Act to name a few. It is so important to support festivals that showcase up and coming talent, and Sound City is the place to do this. It also supports Keychain, an initiative that pledges to achieve a 50/50 gender balance across the 2022 festival line-up. So, not only are you supporting an indie organisation and emerging artists, by attending this festival you will also be helping to realise this vision. Although the UK is renowned for its variety of music festivals, it’s not always just about the music. The Big Feastival, Alex James’ Farm, The Cotswolds, 26th – 28th August Part of the fun of festivals is the endless food stalls on offer, so why not attend a foodie festival? The Big Feastival his hosting a variety of talented chefs: Robin Gill, Lizzie Acker, Brad Carter, and Benjamina Ebuehi to name a few. With the option to camp, or attend just for one day, why not immerse yourself in a weekend of good food? LoveFit Festival, Sevenoaks, 15th – 17th July LoveFit is a festival dedicated to mental and physical well-being. Complete with paddleboarding, fitness classes, yoga and meditation, hiking and hot tubs, this is the ultimate adventure into fitness and mindfulness. Words by: Maddie Balcombe Design by: Isabel Brewster

Photography by: Sahina Sherchan, @sahinasherchan

Food and Drink

Is It Really A Fesitval Without Food? Now we are well into the season of spring, the time for celebration has come around again. The combination of flowers blooming, the sun shining, and a cool breeze in the air is the perfect setting for some of the key religious and cultural festivals of the year. Ramadan

Easter Lastly, Easter. A festival many people partake in beyond religious ties, due to the commercialised nature of the holiday (which gave us the gift of mini eggs so who’s complaining?). Easter food favourites include traditional roast lamb and hot cross buns, to more widely enjoyed Lindt bunnies and crème eggs. There is religious symbolism here, with the lamb representing the sacrifice of Christ, and hot cross buns the cross on which Jesus died. All things Easter egg on the other hand came from pagan origins, representing new life and spring.

Firstly, there is Ramadan which began at the start of April. This holy month is observed by Muslims worldwide and is a time for fasting, prayer, reflection and community. Obviously, with fasting a core part of Ramadan, the breaking of the fast; or Iftar; Suhoor, which is consumed early in the morning before the day begins; as well as the celebration My favourite Easter food has to be hot cross buns, crisp and toasted of Eid al-Fitr, are opportunities to celebrate and cherish food and drink. with lashings of butter. But I have found an even better way to enjoy them in the form of a pudding for Easter Sunday that has now become Muslims typically break their fast with dates, an excellent source of something we enjoy every year. A hot cross bun and bread and butter fibre, and their sweetness helps restore blood-sugar levels after many pudding crossover! With chocolate of course... hours of fasting. Each family’s Iftar table will look different depending on their background and different regions they draw inspiration from. Hot Cross Bun x Bread and Butter Pudding Recipe However, there are staples that adorn the tables of many homes over this holy month. Ingredients: Suhoor usually has healthy options to prepare the body for the day ahead. Fresh fruit brightens up the room and is a great source of hydration for the body. Dishes with egg, bread and beans are common, as they are great sources of protein and carbohydrates to ensure you have enough energy stored. Iftar on the other hand is a chance to fill up and replenish on a good mix of meats, vegetables, soups – and finish off with delectable, traditional sweets such as Kellaj. This is a fried dough sweet filled with a creamy cheese and topped with sugar syrup and pistachios. Yes please... Passover Passover; or Pesach; is next. Food is also central to the customs of this festival, with the Seder plate containing foods that symbolise the plight of their ancestors. The shank bone, the Pescah sacrifice; the egg, spring and the circle of life; bitter herbs, the bitterness of slavery; Charoset (sweet fruit paste), mortar; and green vegetables (parsley), hope and renewal. As well as this symbolic plate, traditional dishes are served for a Passover meal, which again can vary according to different families and their traditions. Common meals are matzo ball soup, gefilte fish, beef brisket, chicken and potatoes.

6 hot cross buns (any flavour) 30g butter 125g dark chocolate 1 vanilla bean (seeds) / or 3tsp of extract 400ml single cream 400 ml double cream Zest of one orange (optional) 3 eggs 170g sugar Icing sugar Method: Slice each bun in half and generously butter each one, place the bottoms butter-side-up in an oven dish. Top with chopped dark chocolate and the buttered tops. Heat the cream in a saucepan with the vanilla and orange zest until simmering. Beat the eggs and sugar together until combined then add to the warm cream – stir continuously to prevent the egg scrambling. Pour the custard mixture into the dish over the buns and leave it for 30 minutes to soak in. Then bake at 170C for 45 minutes until the custard is just set. Dust with icing sugar. If you have been looking for a pudding worthy of following your Easter Lunch – definitely try this, you won’t regret it!

Jewish people also typically do not eat leavened bread during Passover, and instead have an unleavened flatbread – Matzo or Matzah. Words by: Beth Mendleton The Matzah symbolises faith, it is a humble food made of only flour and Design by: Isabel Brewster water without being enriched, linking to the importance of humility in Judaism.

Food and Drink

Theme Park Madness One of my most treasured memories is of my friend screaming her lungs out, hair flying, teeth bared on the Barry Island Pleasure Park roller coaster. A tiny roller coaster - one meant for babies - but that’s exactly what she is. She also has a phobia of heights. Like I said, baby. But this article is not about my friend and her crippling fear of being suspended five metres in the air. This article will be talking about theme parks and all the good stuff that comes with it. No, I don’t mean the rides, I’m talking about the food. Theme park food has gotten so much better over the years. Humanity as a collective has gone from popcorn and hotdogs and roller coasters that were basically death traps to 12-colour slushies and dinosaur turkey legs and roller coasters that are still death traps. Oh and it only gets better. The edible offerings at theme parks are becoming bigger and crazier and more diverse. To save you from getting all muddled up by the dizzying variety on offer, here’s a list of what’s recommended and what’s not at amusement parks here in the UK.

It appears that sugar is a running theme here because we’re going to be covering slushies now. Yes, I’m talking about those obnoxious blue cups with the words ICEE emblazoned across in crimson. They’ve got multiple flavours; from cherry to grape to blue strawberry. Their website also says they have a flavour called mermaid but I’m not sure if I want to know what that tastes like. Experts say to mix all available flavours together and suck that concoction down like a liquified clown wig. I’ve tried that and I have one word for it - ew. Apparently, ICEE is also supposed to be fizzy. I don’t know about you but any effervescence is masked by that excruciating sweetness and accompanying brain freeze. Moving on, popcorn is a perennial favourite at theme parks. I love how they come in giant tubs that you can grab fistfuls out of. Those tubs are one of the few things that I’ll happily lug about all day around the park. A few years back, I spotted a kid staggering along with a popcorn bucket half his height. He couldn’t be bigger than four years old and that container was massive. As he tottered towards his family, he reached into the bucket for some popcorn and simultaneously let fly the biggest effing sneeze I’d ever heard come from a child his size. No prizes for guessing where most of the snot landed.

We’ll start off with a classic - fairy floss. Some call it cotton candy and others candy floss but I prefer fairy floss. A fitting name for something that appears to be neither solid nor liquid, is shaped like a tornado and feels like a cloud. I think the pink and purple ones taste the best. However, if you prefer to go around looking like you’ve swallowed a smurf, go ahead and pick the blue one!

And we’re not at the best part yet. After that earth-shattering sneeze, the little booger monster reached his parents and handed the bucket to his mum. It pains me to type this but that poor innocent woman stuck her hand in and shoveled a mouthful of popcorn into her mouth.

Next up, toffee apples. How did humans manage to transform something so healthy into a one-way ticket to diabetes? But I’ve got to admit, these apples are so pretty. Bright red and glazed over perfectly, they’re identical to the poison apple in Snow White - tempting but deadly. Be warned - I almost broke a tooth after a too enthusiastic bite into one. I’m not sure what I was so excited for, I don’t even like toffee to begin with.

Anyway, I’ll end this list off with a savoury snack. According to Coasters on the Coast, pizza is fast becoming a popular snack for theme park goers to partake in. Why anyone would trek around willingly with a floppy, greasy, trypophobia-inducing slice of pepperoni pizza is beyond me.

I don’t eat popcorn anymore.

Pizza Express exists for a reason, go there instead. And remember to order the dough balls. Words by: Emun Yeat Design by: Isabel Brewster

Illustration by: Rahima Bhatti, @rahima.creative

Clebar

Etifeddiyaeth Perfformwyr Cymraeg Bydd yn anodd i gredu gan fod o nawr yn ei 80au, ond does dim stopio Tom Jones eto! Wrth gwrs mae Tom Jones yn cario etifeddiaeth anghredadwy and mae pawb yn ei nabod yng Nghymru, mae di bod yn canu am dros 50 blynedd! Roedd Tom Jones yn barod wedi creu enw fawr i’w hunain ar ôl 30 blynedd o bod yn y chwyddwydr. Yn y 90au, wnaeth Tom Jones creu y caneuon ‘Delilah’ ac ‘If Only I Knew’, dau can sydd dal yn adnabyddus iawn heddiw. Wnaeth caneuon fel y ddau yma ac ei amser yn Las Vegas helpu Tom Jones i adeiladu ei llwyddiant yn enfawr, yn enwedid ar ôl dadfeiliad yn ystod yr 80au cynnar. Yn 2022 mae’n dal yn fynd, mae’n mynd ar daith mis Mehefin yma ar draws 17 gwledydd yn perfformio 53 cyngherddau! O rhan gwyliau mae’n perfformio yn ‘Festival Jardins Pedrables’ ar y 25eg o Fehefin yn Barcelona a LakeFest yn mis Awst. Ffordd anhygoel i mwynhau’r haul a cherddoriaeth. Mae’n anodd i meddwl am gwyliau mae Tom Jones heb gwneud, gan mae wedi creu enw mor fawr i’w hun. Mae Tom jones di neud o i gyd, gan gynnwys Glastonbury yn 2009, V Festival yn 2015 a Isle of Wight yn 2011.

Ac yn olaf, ond yn bendant ddim yn y leiaf, mae band sydd wedi adaeiladu etifeddiaeth enfawr am cymaint o pobl ifance ar draws Cymru yw Catfish and the Bottlemen. Dechreuodd y band yn 2007, ac maent yn cynrychioli’r Gogledd o Llandudno. Wnaeth ei albwm cyntaf, The Balcony cyrraedd rhif 10 yn y siart albwm y Deyrnas Unedig a cyrraedd statws platinum yn Rhagfyr 2016. Ers hynny, does dim stop wedi digwydd am y band yma. Yn personol, yr wyf wedi gweld Catfish and the Bottlemen perfformio ar dwy achlysuron. Pob tro, mae pawb wedi nabod y geiriau ac mae’r awyrgylch di bod yn rhyfeddol! Y tro olaf gwelais i ni oedd yn ystod Reading 2021, ac roeddent yn bendant yn ffefryn trwy gydol y gwyl.

Enw arall cymraeg sydd yn enfawr o fewn y byd cerddoriaeth yw’r Stereophonics. Cafodd y band ei ffurfio yn Cwmaman, De Cymru yn 1992, ac yr oedd ei albwm cyntaf, ‘Word Gets Around’ (1997) yn llwyddiant enfawr Y Stereophonics yw’r band rôc fwyaf cymraeg, gan hyd yn oed yn gwerthu allan nifer o llefydd gwahanol am ei taith yn 2020. Gan adeiladu cymaint o llwyddiant yn ystod y 90au wnaeth y Stereophonics mynd ymlaen i creu can efo Tom Jones (‘Mama Told Me Not To Come’) gan bwysleisio yr oeddent yn creu enw da, sydd dal yma heddiw yn 2022. Mae’r Sterophonica, fel Tom Jones, wedi gadael etifeddiaeth enfawr hefyd, gan perfformio o fewn nifer o gwyliau. Ychydig o esiamplau yw, Latitude 2019, Tramlines 2018 a Belsonic 2016.

Geiriau gan: Angharad Roberts Design by: Isabel Brewster

Ac wrth gwrs, mae’r tri perfformwyr anghredadwy yma i gyd am bod o dan yr un tô yng Nghaerdydd yn fuan ar y 17eg a 18eg oMehefin yn y Stadiwm Principality! Am nôs am gerddoriaeth Cymraeg!

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Yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Ers ei sefydlu yn 1861, mae’r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol wedi cael ei gynnal a’i ddathlu ym mhob cornel o Gymru (ac yn Lloegr ambell waith) ac wedi ei fynychu gan filoedd. Ers yr Eisteddfod gyntaf, mae’r ŵyl wedi cael ei gynnal a’i fwynhau mwy neu lai yn flynyddol. Hynny yw bob blwyddyn gan eithrio 1914 yn ystod y Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf, 1940 yn ystod yr Ail Ryfel Byd a 2020 a 2021 o ganlyniad i’r pandemig. Mae’n debyg bod y mwyafrif ohonoch yn ymwybodol o beth yw’r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, sef gŵyl ddiwylliannol fwyaf poblogaidd Cymru. Mae cystadlu mewn llenyddiaeth, cerdd a drama yn rhai o’i brif elfennau gyda Eisteddfodau lleol yn un o brofiadau cyntaf sawl Cymro a Chymraes ifanc o berfformio ar lwyfan o flaen cynulleidfa. Mae’r ŵyl yn hybu pobl ifanc i gymryd diddordeb mewn celfyddydau Cymreig ac yn rhoi diwylliant Cymru mewn safle blaenllaw am wythnos gyfan yn ystod mis Awst bob blwyddyn. Nid cystadlaethau perfformio yn unig sydd gan yr Eisteddfod i’w gynnig ac mae hefyd cyfleoedd i amrywiaeth eang o artistiaid talentog i rannu eu gwaith celf boed yn ddarluniad, gemwaith neu enghraifft o ffotograffiaeth.

Fodd bynnag, nid wythnos o gystadlu yw’r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol o reidrwydd. Mae ganddo lawer fwy i’w gynnig ar gyfer plant, pobl ifanc, oedolion a phensiynwyr ar draws y genedl ac mae’r wythnos yn orlawn o weithgareddau sy’n apelio at bawb. Mae Pabell y Plant, er enghraifft, yn caniatáu i blant ifanc gwrdd â’u hoff gymeriadau Cyw ac mae’n siwr bod gan sawl un atgofion melys o dreulio hafau ar faes yr Eisteddfod yn ystod eu plentyndod. Yn yr un modd, mae’r Eisteddfod yn flas gyntaf ar annibyniaeth i bobl ifanc ar draws y genedl gyda Maes B yn brofiad melys sydd yn atgof sydd wedi aros gyda’r sawl sydd wedi mynychu dros y blynyddoedd. Mae’n brofiad mae nifer sylweddol o Gymry ifanc yn edrych ymlaen ato pan maent yn troi’n un ar bymtheg ac yn gyfle i fwynhau gigs a pherfformiadau gan artistiaid hen a newydd drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Mewn gwirionedd, mae Maes B wedi gwneud cyfraniad enfawr at y tirlun cerddoriaeth fodern Cymru dros y blynyddoedd gydag artistiaid megis Gwilym ac Alffa yn canfod llwyddiant ym Mrwydr y Bandiau ac yna’n mynd yn eu blaenau i berfformio gigs ledled Cymru a thu hwnt. Nid lle i bobl ifanc yn unig yw’r Eisteddfod chwaith, gyda’r ŵyl yn lleoliad poblogaidd ar gyfer teuluoedd yn ystod yr haf ble mae sawl un yn aros mewn carafanau er mwyn mwynhau’r holl ddathliadau o ddiwylliant Cymreig sydd gan yr Eisteddfod i’w gynnig. Mae maes yr Eisteddfod yn cynnig cyfle i grefftwyr, entrepreneuriaid ac arlwywyr o bob rhan o’r wlad i werth eu cynnyrch ac i rannu eu talentau gyda mynychwyr awyddus yr ŵyl. Cynigai’r stondinau trawstoriad hynod eang o gynnyrch ac mae’n gyfle i brynu anrhegion gwreiddiol i deulu ac i ffrindiau neu i brynu grys-t neu addurniad Cymraeg ar gyfer chi eich hunain. Yn ogystal, yn ystod yr wythnos mae sawl elusen a sefydliad lleol yn codi stondin ar y maes er mwyn codi ymwybyddiaeth ac arian at achos da tra bod gweithgareddau yn y Babell Wyddoniaeth yn gyfle addysgiadol i blant ac oedolion o bob oedran fod yn wyddonwyr am gyfnod byr.

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Gŵyl wrth graidd diwylliant Cymraeg Nid oes amheuaeth na’r Pafiliwn yw un o’r elfennau fwyaf eiconig o’r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol gyda’r babell binc enfawr yn denu sylw ymwelwyr ac eisoes yn ganolbwynt ar y maes. I sawl un, gig y pafiliwn yw uchafbwynt yr wythnos ble mae rhai o enwau mwyaf cerddoriaeth Cymraeg yn perfformio ar yr un llwyfan am noson fythgofiadwy o adloniant. Tra bu rhaid i’r gynulleidfa wylio Gig y Pafiliwn llynedd yn rhithiol, talodd Gig y Pafiliwn 2019, sef yr un diweddaraf i gael ei gynnal o flaen gynulleidfa byw, deyrnged i ddiwylliant pop a chlwb y 90au. Yn sicr, pan fu’r Eisteddfod yn dychwelyd i’w hen ffurf yn Nhregaron eleni, bydd Gig y Pafiliwn yn un digwyddiad fydd yn siw’r o ddenu cynulleidfa enfawr. Rhan arall eiconig o’r maes yw’r Bar Gwyrdd, neu Bar Williams Parry fel y bydd yn cael ei adnabod o hyn ymlaen yn dilyn cael ei ail enwi eleni. Mae’r enw newydd yn chwarae ar eiriau ac yn cyfeirio at R. Williams Parry, y prifardd o Ddyffryn Nantlle. Mae’r bar wedi ei leoli gerbron Llwyfan y Maes ac felly’n gyfle i dorri syched wrth wrando ar berfformiadau byw gan amryw o dalentau.

Y seremoni gadeirio, fodd bynnag, yw un o draddodiadau enwocaf yr Eisteddfod a’r Gadair yw un o’r prif wobrau caiff ei ennill yn ystod yr wythnos. Yn draddodiadol, mae’r wobr yn cael ei roi i fardd yr awdl orau o dan 300 llinell, er caiff nifer y llinellau weithiau eu cwtogi i 200. Mae’r seremoni’n digwydd ar Ddydd Gwener yr Eisteddfod ac yn ystod y cadeirio mae’n draddodiad bod yr Orsedd yn bresennol ar y llwyfan, sef cymdeithas o feirdd, llenorion, cerddorion a phobl nodedig eraill y byd diwylliannol Cymraeg. Iolo Morgannwg oedd yn gyfrifol am sefydlu Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain yn Llundain yn 1792 a bu’n cael ei adnabod fel Gorsedd y Beirdd hyd nes y cafodd ei ail-enwi fel Gorsedd Cymru yn 2019. Yn aml, caiff y Gadair ei wobrwyo mewn Eisteddfodau lleol ar hyd Cymru gan gynnwys mewn Eisteddfodau ysgol ac mae’n gyfle gwych i feirdd ifanc dderbyn cydnabyddiaeth am eu gwaith llenyddol ac i ysbrydoli cenhedlaeth newydd o feirdd Cymraeg. Er mai gwactod fu ar faes arfaethedig yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf, mae’n sicr y bydd y cyffro ar y maes eleni yn cael ei groesawu gan drefnwyr, cystadleuwyr a mynychwyr yr ŵyl. Braf bydd gweld diwylliant Cymreig yn cael ei ddathlu wyneb i wyneb unwaith yn rhagor ar ôl dwy flynedd o gael ei gyfyngu i sgrin ddigidol wrth i Dregaron baratoi at haf byrlymus, hir-ddisgwyledig. Ers dros ganrif, mae’r ŵyl wedi chwarae rôl greiddiol yn nhirlun celfyddydol Cymru ac o weld yr holl dalentau ifanc sydd wedi bod yn dod i’r amlwg dros flynyddoedd diweddar, mae’n debygol y bydd yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yn parhau i chwarae ei rôl holl bwysig dros flynyddoedd i ddod. Geiriau gan: Catrin Lewis Design by: Isabel Brewster

Photography by: Sahina Sherchan, @sahinasherchan

Fashion

Festival season is approaching fast- it’s time to begin outfit planning. Rihanna’s bedazzled mesh unitard layered with a Gucci vest and denim shorts. We all know the outfit. Whether it features on our festival mood boards or is sought back as inspiration for the latest festival trend, time and time again, we are brought back to an outfit that defined Coachella 2017. You cannot avoid mesh during festival season. Whether it’s a patterned mesh crop top paired with a denim skirt or a pair of mesh flares accompanied by neon underwear underneath, mesh dominates the festival fashion front. Not only is it a light fabric that won’t gather heat in the carnival sun, but you can also style it however you want and still be able to take it off and show off the cute crop you have on underneath. You should never underestimate the power of print—especially when heading to a drum and bass rave this summer season. A zebra print set is not only eye-catching; it also speaks for itself and requires minimal accessorising. Animal print may be associated with the colder seasons. Still, with the emergence of more colourful iterations, cow print has never looked more summer-ready, especially in neon shades, perfect for a funky festival look. Kendall Jenner frequently turns to animal print when heading out, spotted at Coachella in 2019 in a jewelled zebra set paired with a Swarovski-crystallised face mask- and this was when masks were considered cool. Masks in themselves, not that of the blue, government required kind, but the hip, bandana, multi-coloured scarf type can spruce up a lowkey festival outfit. Whether it’s a full-face moment, frequently turned to by Billie Eilish or a jewelled number worn by Hailey Bieber, showing less skin on the face at a festival adds an air of mystery to your outfit whilst simultaneously protecting you from windier conditions. Words by: Lucy Matthews

Dua Lipa’s choice of fashion for the festival season is one of my favourites. At Glastonbury Festival back in 2019, Dua was seen wearing two gorgeous outfits- one (on the left) being this stunning metallic bronze loose-fitting dress, partnered with chunky silver and gold bangles and military-style boots. A boots and dress combo is for sure something I will probably recreate when we approach festival season. On the right, Dua is seen wearing a bedazzled bikini top, some oversized cargo tracksuit bottoms and combat boots - similar to those from the other outfit. As festivals are typically in the summer- wearing a smaller top and thicker trousers is such a festival must, allowing for comfort but also keeping up with the trends. She has tied a windbreaker around her waist - to allow for keeping in check with the UK’s unpredictable weather. My style for the festival season is very similar to that of Dua. I wore a patterned dress to a festival I attended last year and paired it with fishnet tights and tied my oversized red shirt in case the temperatures dropped in the later evening, and my black cargo boots. When I go this year to Inside Out, I will most likely opt for a simple outfit; a cropped top with some loose-fitting trousers, but adding a lot of accessories with colour to boost the outfit up even more. It’s always best to go for comfort, especially as festivals last all day and you’ll need room to manoeuvre to cater for all the dancing! And NEVER wear anything with heels. Your feet will thank you later on. Boots ensure that your feet are not only comfortable but appropriate for those muddy fields. Words by: Meg Evans Design by: Rahima Bhatti

Fashion

The Best Beauty Essentials for Summer Festivals

By: Suraya Rumbold-Kazzuz Design By: Eszter Gurbicz

Fashion

Aloe Vera Gel (any brand) The main adjective I think of when I think festival is sweaty. So whatever your gender, it’s a good idea to pack the strongest deodorant you can find for the sake of the crowd as well as yourself. Words by: Charlotte Harris

2. 3. Skin-care essentials When it comes to your actual beauty regimen, you want to remember to bring all of your skin-care essentials so as not to break out during your festival.

Bio-degradable glitter When it comes to glitter itself, you want to make sure you invest in a bio-degradable brand. Not just because it’s better for the planet but also because it is better for your skin! If you prioritise spending a couple more pounds on eco-friendly glitter, then your skin will be all the better for it.

Portable Mirror When planning out your festival essentials, you must make sure you are prepared for anything. My first suggestion would be to buy yourself an excellent portable mirror. There are many different kinds that you can find online, but one with lights would help you to heighten your look and will significantly help when you’re stuck inside a dark tent.

4. Glue for glitter Of course, a festival essential is an abundance of glitter - but what are you using to apply it? Often times I see people at festivals using vaseline, which probably won’t affect your skin but is really poor at keeping glitter stuck to you. By the end of the night, you’ll have glitter smudged everywhere! I would recommend pink honey glue from beauty bay. This glue is meant for your brows but can undoubtedly be used to help you apply glitter during festival season. After all, if it can keep your brows in place, it can keep your glitter looking fresh all weekend!

Gems Another essential are gems! This is the new trend; whether it be tooth gems or gems for your acrylics, gems are the new thing. Once again, you want to prioritise eco-friendly or bio-degradable gems, especially if they’re going on your teeth! But these gems will add that little bit of extra bling during festival season! Words by: Suraya Rumbold-Kazzuz

Fashion

words by: Maggie Gannon

words by: Omo Ifabua After years of procrastination, my friends and I finally went to Wireless festival last summer. Despite missing Drake’s performance, I had a blast, well, except when my top came undone on the first day and my dress kept riding up my thighs on the last day of the festival. On day one I kept my look quite simple. A colourful halter neck top from ASOS and straight-leg jeans from Boohoo. Paired with some blue eyeliner, highlight, and way too much body glitter smeared on in the train toilets, I had the festival look down to a tee - or so I thought. Central Cee was performing his new song ‘Obsessed With You’ and as I got caught up in the mosh pit with hundreds of other youngsters enjoying their first festival after lockdown, I felt my top slipping down my neck. Frantically, I grabbed the two pieces of satin and ditched my cute bow for a double knot around my neck, to avoid such a disaster reoccurring. Granted, everyone was too hyped up by the music to notice, but it was still embarrassing. On the next day of the festival, determined to prevent another wardrobe malfunction, I wanted to wear a short-sleeved button-up shirt, but when my friend Jazz said, “Is that what you’re wearing today?” I knew that my outfit plans had to change. Thankfully, I’d packed a stretch bodycon dress I bought from Zara, that earned my best friend’s approval, and I was ready for another day of festival fun. The moment we left the house, I knew I’d made a mistake. As I stepped out of the car and walked briskly towards the train station, I could feel my dress riding up with every step. Looking back at the pictures, I can’t say I fully regretted my outfit choice, as it delivered the cute vibes I was going for. However, the practicality of the dress was 0/10 and I had to settle for nodding my head and chilling at the back of the crowd instead of jumping in the mosh pits like the day before. As I tackle Wireless again this year and go to Strawberries & Creem and Afro Nation for the first time, I’ll make sure to find a balance between safe and stylish.

Last summer me and three of my friends attended a day at Parklife festival in Manchester, and despite being quite a frequent gig and festival-goer myself, this was one I had never tried out. Although not my normal taste in music it was such a good weekend with some of the headliners including Mabel, Becky Hill, AJ Tracey, and the amazing Disclosure. As Parklife took place in early September, some of the British summer heat was still lurking about, (albeit not that much when it got a bit later on into the day). However, festivals can be notoriously sweaty and crowded and, despite a little bit of rain during the day, this was certainly the case. Although I definitely love planning my outfits in advance, this was one outfit I certainly left to the last minute, and although this being the case, I can’t say I hated it! Starting off I paired a silky, bright green Zara top I had seen in store just a few weeks prior, with a standard black ruched miniskirt that I already owned. Given festivals can wreck your trainers I opted for my docs and to stop them rubbing I used a hack my friend had told me about. You’re really going to have to trust me with this one…. sanitary towels. Yes, I said it – sanitary towels. Essentially acting as huge, padded, plasters, my feet stayed blister free the whole day! To complete the look I paired a cheap, black, zip-up hoodie just for the chillier evenings and of course had to add a bit of glitter on my face. Perhaps a bit basic, this outfit was comfortable and practicable! The skirt was a good length on me and was one I knew wasn’t going to ride up all day with pretty much every step I took. I really liked the green colour of my top and although I perhaps could’ve been a bit bolder with my colour choices, this outfit was pretty cheap given it mostly consisted of things I already owned! I certainly love buying new clothes for summertime and especially for festivals. However, sometimes maybe sticking to the basics means you

Fashion won’t regret your outfit choice so much? At least that’s what I’ve found!

words by: Elinor Pyman I love festivals, but, choosing outfits ahead of time can be stressful, especially if you are indecisive like me. However, after a few festival seasons, I finally found some of my comfiest and favourite looks. So, here are some outfits that I wore at my last festival. My first look is basic but pretty and practical. It is simply denim shorts, a black bandeau or vest top and this brown floral blouse. For a more fun look, this tie-dye dress was perfect for a warmer day, and it was so comfortable and simple. I’m not sure if my last look is to everyone’s taste, but to really embrace the 70’s and for an easy option, I loved this two-piece floral shorts and vest top. With all of these looks, it was a tough choice between Converse and Airforce (basic, I know) but I went for my Airforce, simply because they were easier to clean as it can get quite dusty, (my top tip is to take baby wipes to keep your shoes looking fresh). I decided on a denim bum bag as denim is my all-time favourite and I know it goes with almost everything in my wardrobe. For warmth, I highly recommend an oversized denim jacket (surprise) like this one, as it looks good with everything and serves as the perfect layer for the cold nights. Although my style may not be for everyone, these are some nice and fun options for those who may not feel comfortable in typical festival wear like me. It’s also important to bear in mind the weather. These outfits were all for dry and sunny days, so it wouldn’t hurt to consider switching your trainers for wellies! design by: Rahima Bhatti

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Spotlight

H O O K U P C U LT U R E at festivals With summer approaching nearer and nearer, individuals await trips to stadiums, vast fields, and parks all around the world to unite with strangers in a music, inhibition-reducing joyride known to man as the festival. Festivals are a safe space for those to shake off their winter blues and welcome in the summer fun surrounded by others doing the exact same. Whether it is finger pumping aggressively to drum and bass or floating around carelessly to bohemian folk music, festivals of all kinds have gained prominence within society over time as a means of uniting people - and unite they continue to do. Whether it is simply a quick peck in a mosh pit, or a night’s stay in a stranger’s bed, hook-up culture and love interests are universally known to run rampage during the festival season. After that first sip of warm, illegally-smuggled in alcohol hits your lips you become relaxed and geared up to meet your true love in a field. Surrounded by everyone else in the same alcohol-fuelled, euphoric state makes the likelihoods of hitting it off with an equally-drunk raver arguably high. The same love for British band, The Hunna and an even greater love for vodka, can kickstart a summer fling to remember. Furthermore, music runs deep for couples who met in their late teens at hallucinogenic, hippie carnivals and stayed together ever since, frequently telling strangers at dinner parties how they met over magic mushrooms. The power of the festival should never go understated for young adults who make the pilgrimage every year hoping to find love and come out with a life-long partner and a week-long hangover. With an average of thirty-four million people attending festivals all over the country each year, romantic frissons are unavoidable under the bubbling July sun. The powerful stigma surrounding casual kisses and hook-ups with strangers puts people in a pressure-induced state, drawing attention to the emphasis society now puts on getting with others for the sake of simply ‘getting with others’. This stigma has got more intense in the past decade, making young people in particular even more keen to succeed in the dating game at festivals. The security that is provided in knowing you will

never see that one-night regret again without any consequences makes it easier to engage in casual hook-ups at festivals yet don’t let this prospect override the actual experience. If there is no desire within yourself the next day to text the mysterious boy who had you on his shoulder’s the night before then so be it. This flexibility of hook-up culture-despite slightly cheapening the prospect of meeting others and building relationships is what makes it so freeing and entirely empowering. Like Tinder on steroids, festivals have acted as mass dating projects ever since the beginning of time- quite literally. Transport back to 200BC and you would find yourself engaging in drunk revelry and sexual experimentation accompanied by wild music at the Bacchanal festival in the south of Italy. This magical mixture of sex-stirring sun, pulsating music and never-ending alcohol continue to define hook-up culture, having the power to turn the reserved monk into a sex-hungry hunk, scouring for partners with the sun beating down onto his wife-beater covered back, eager to release his pent-up winter waning. Stumbling across inexperienced teens romping in festival toilets and overhearing two strangers who met in the silent disco make passionate indie love whilst a drunk couple argues in the background is a part of the festival experience. Boys posing as devoted AJ Tracey fans will secretly be awaiting finger blasting of a different kind once the sun has set and the alcohol has washed away any previous insecurity. The message is clear- don’t go to a festival expecting everyone to be awkwardly swaying from side to side avoiding physical touch in a depressingly littered park- the hook-up culture is extreme. The casual and freeing ambience that runs deep throughout a festival can veer some away from the concept of hitting it off with a stranger knowing you will never see them again. The extreme extent to which people choose to engage in casual hook-ups at festivals can put some entirely off the idea, searching for deeper meaning than an intoxicated, awkward fling in a sea of sweat and bucket hats. Again, this choice is what makes the serial hook-up culture at festivals beneficial for everyone.

Spotlight

Even if you end up on the shoulders of an absolute worldie whilst Mabel sings about not calling your ex in the background, the option to exchange numbers, compliment their awfully patterned shirt and never see them again is always on the table and can be carried out a lot safely and easier in a festival setting than in real life. Once you have made it past the festival security who are clearly fed up of searching underage festival-goers underwear for bottles of contraband cider, you are welcomed by an obscenely muddy field and hundreds of scantily-clad fellow festival adventurers like yourself all fired up for a weekend of questionable toilet’s and casual hook-ups. Hook-up culture at festivals has never been more prolific than today due to the golden age of the dating app. Your friends turn to dating apps they have secured specially for the weekend to make it easier to find people to bond with and make navigating a mosh pit for their true love a lot easier when they have already swiped right. This close proximity makes it easier to reach out and find someone you can bond over the over-priced festival food with, providing both parties with a hit of instantly secured gratification. As millions make journeys to all corners of the world to bask in the rays of freedom and sun, cherished music that is passed down from generations will be enjoyed by couples meeting for the first time and by individuals keen for some festival fun. As nervous are-you-sures are whispered in the dark by teenagers who are yet to explore each other, strangers will be meeting in mosh pits for the first time and saying goodbye moments later after a brief but thrilling exchange. Saying goodbye to a festival fling can be a bittersweet way to end a weekend of high emotions, yet sad thoughts are later dispelled on the bus back home when a follow request comes through and discussions surrounding future meet-ups are had, potentially turning a festival hook-up into a partner for life.

Words by: Lucy Matthews Design by: Holly Chapman

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S e X FE S Firstly, Firstly, no we no don’t we don’t mean mean catching catching a UTIa(or UTIworse) (or worse) at Reading at Reading and Leeds and festival Leeds in afestival tent filled in awith tenta lynx filledaroma. with a Though lynx aroma. I’m sure Though many I’m of us sure get around manyatofGlastonbury, us get around Creamfields at Glastonbury, and even Creamfields going worldwide and evenwith going the fanciest worldwide of them withall: the Coachella. fanciest ofThe them music all: Coachella. festival’s prime The music function festival’s is not to engage prime function in sexual is not intercourse to engage if we in sexual are going intercourse to get allif fancy we arewith going the terms to get to describe all fancy it. with There the terms are nototerms describe andit.conditions There aretonowhat terms occurs and inside conditions a shaking, to what sweaty occurs tent and inside thea boundaries shaking, sweaty of consent tent and become the blurred boundaries with major of consent intoxication. become blurred with major intoxication. A festival A festival could could be defined be defined as aasrelease a release of emotion, of emotion, whether whether this this be side be stepping side stepping in a muddy in a field muddy withfield a pint withora apint toeortingling a toe tingling orgasmorgasm as we are as about we to areuncover. about toThen, uncover. questioning Then, questioning further from further the emotional from the emotional side of a sexside festival, of aissex it polyamorous? festival, is it Are polyamorous? there boundaries Are there set based boundaries on consent set for all? based Areon condoms consentprovided? for all? Are Why condoms do people provided? go? Is itWhy a safe doplace people for self-expression? go? Is it a safe Sex place festivals for self-expression? happen year in, Sex yearfestivals out worldwide happen and year I’m surein,many year people’s out worldwide first thought and I’m is sure to picture manyBDSM people’s (bondage, first thought discipline/ is to domination, picture BDSM sadism/ (bondage, submission, discipline/ masochism) domination, but just sadism/ on a larger, submission, festival scale. masochism) This is not butalways just onuntrue a larger, withfestival San Francisco’s scale. This ‘Folsom is not always Street Fair’untrue existing, withwhich San Francisco’s is an annual ‘Folsom BDSMStreet and leather Fair’ existing, subculture which street is fair an which annual fits BDSM this assumption. and leatherThough subculture I think street we fair must which lookfits deeper this thanassumption. this, the festival Though has Ibeen thinkdescribed we must as look San deeper Francisco’s than this, ‘kinkiest’ the event festival where has lovers beengather described to share as San their Francisco’s ‘weirdest fantasies’. ‘kinkiest’ event But looking where lovers gather to share their ‘weirdest fantasies’. But looking beyond the leather and hundreds of booths selling toys you wouldn’t find in Hamleys, there are no rules concerning the visitor’s appearance. Like any festival, it is a time to truly be yourself and self-express away from the constraints of a 9-5. You are free to not stress about getting rubbed the wrong way… Sex festivals could be viewed as a form of self-betterment, working the same way a yoga retreat might do. Australia’s, ‘Festival of Really

leather Good Sex’, and which hundreds leavesoflittle booths room selling for explanation toys you is surprisingly wouldn’t find much in Hamleys, more thanthere just sex. are no Workshops rules concerning at the festival the visitor’s include: appearance. ‘Hold Me Tight’ Like any which festival, explores it is ahugging time to techniques truly be yourself and ‘Porn and self-express yoga for porn awaylovers’ from the where constraints participants of a are 9-5.encouraged You are freetotodevelop not stress a more about mindful getting approach rubbed the to masturbating wrong way… and pornography. Sex Education is sorely lacking in schools and is learning about pregnancy and sexually transmitted Sex diseases festivals enough? could be We viewed are never as ataught form of that self-betterment, sex can be both working fun the andsame non-shameful way a yoga however retreatyou might maydo. choose Australia’s, to partake. ‘Festival The of festival Really Good ‘Kutemajrvi’ Sex’, which in Finland leaves is little alsoroom the more for explanation intellectual isofsurprisingly the sex festivals, much more wherethan professionals just sex. Workshops lead lectures at the in festival all aspects include: of sexuality. ‘Hold Me Whilst Tight’ which reading explores about allhugging these festivals techniques I had and asked ‘Porn myself yoga would for I porn ever attend, lovers’ where and the participants answer changed are encouraged the more Itodiscovered. develop a more I thinkmindful as a form approach of selfto betterment, masturbating maybe andI would. pornography. Sex Education is sorely lacking in schools and is learning about pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases Moving closer enough? to home, We are Europe’s neverlargest taughtsex that festival sex can ‘Swingfields’ be both was fun and located non-shameful about an however hour fromyou themay Welsh choose sanitizer to partake. becameThe thefestival norm. ‘Kutemajrvi’ Ticket holders in Finland who came is also as the a couple more intellectual paid £170offorthea sex ticket, festivals, which where works out professionals cheaper than lead most lectures musicin festivals. all aspects Sun cream of sexuality. was provided Whilst reading by organizers about alltothese stop festivals participants I hadgetting asked myself burnt inwould places I ever outattend, of the and norm theand answer where changed the sunthe does more notI discovered. usually shine I think though as aI form did not of selffind betterment, any mentionmaybe of freeI would. condoms. I presumed that practicing safe sex at these festivals must of course be followed out and that those attending Moving were liable closer fortothis home, on their Europe’s onus.largest What shocked sex festival me ‘Swingfields’ was the secrecy was located surrounding aboutthe anfestival, hour from ticketthe holders Welshwere boarder only told back about in 2019 the location before masks 48 hours andbefore buckets theof festival occurred. The safety procedures were both familiar and separate from that of a music festival, taking wristbands as an example which had to be worn but were different in colours to present a person’s sexual preferences. There was also a glossary of terms issued to festival goers which included, ‘bull’, ‘unicorn’ and ‘full swaps’. The glossary proves that the festival is not only for those who are polyamorous, everyone is welcome to explore how they please. I

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ti V aLS have tried to make them as genderless as possible in explanation: Bull: someone who has sex with other people’s partners. Unicorn: single people who are interested in sex with other couples (normally a woman). Called this as they are rare to find. Full swaps: exchanging partners- normally couples. Rules outlined on the festival’s website also included: -dress code- bottom halves must be covered whilst in the festival arena. -no phones- any seen will be confiscated. -no journalists or press. -only 10% of ticket holders can be straight men. The secrecy of the festival can be viewed as consensual for all with set boundaries for those attending. If someone wanted to go secretly, they could, and I wonder if any of our politicians went. They do love a Downing Street party. I couldn’t quite work out why the 10% rule existed either until further research but I guessed the festival wanted a large differing demographic to attend. The festival wanted to be a safe place and they stated, “It is important to ensure the security of our female guests and to make sure our gentlemen guests understand the basis of the lifestyle as being respectful and polite”. With such strict rules and public announcements made of the consequences of breaking such rules it would be hoped that sex festivals promote freedom and safe sex with those who wish to attend. Maybe we could all learn something by attending. Words by: Hope Docherty Design by: Holly Chapman

QUENCH magazine, FESTIVAL issue 188, May 2022

Articles inside

SEx FESTiValS pagE - 54

Our paST FESTiVal lOOkS pagE - 48

ETIFEddIyaETh pErFFOrmwyr CymraEg pagE 38 yr EiSTEddFOd gENEdlaEThOl - gŵyl wrTh graidd diwylliaNT

hOOkup CulTurE aT FESTiValS pagE - 52

ThE bEST bEauTy ESSENTialS FOr SummEr FESTiValS pagE - 46

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IS iT rEally a FESTiVal wiThOuT FOOd? pagE

TailOr yOur FESTiVal ChOiCE TO yOu pagE - 32

my drEam FESTiVal pagE - 30

SCOrES likE SummEr pagE - 16

why iS ThE SummEr SEaSON a liTEraTurE FaVOuriTE? pagE - 28

SONgS ThaT SCrEam ‘SummEr’ pagE - 18

FESTiVal FirSTS: ThE highS aNd lOwS OF ThE FirST TaSTE OF FrEEdOm pagE - 20

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Film FESTiValS: ShapiNg Film hiSTOry pagE - 12 -13 ThE muSiC FESTiVal dOCumENTary pagE - 14