WRITTEN BY ANA BULNES CASTILLO
Beat-Herder continues to exist as it did back when it started as a free DIY party in 1998: uncompromising, unwavering and distinguished by an overwhelming sense of community.
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eat-Herder Festival is a unique platform towards the new generation of music, providing many opportunities for those who don’t fall under a one-genre category. The festival takes place in Lancashire’s Ribble Valley, creating a massive party with technicolour schemes and mystical stages. The festival provides a wide range of entertainment, from live acts, DJ’s, comedians, to other surprises. The first edition of the festival was in 2006 when there were only five stages maximum, and now the festival has extended into 20+ stages. Every edition of the festival since its inception has sold out, and this year isn’t any different. Herd ‘em up! Their headliners include Rudimental, Groove Armada, Basement Jaxx, and Sister Sledge. Sunday night’s final performance will be by Sister Sledge, true powerhouse icons who will be sure to give the festival a closing set that it deserves. Other notable acts
include Red Snapper, Hot 8 Brass Band, Hannah Wants, Skream, Sonny Fodera and many more. Beat-Herder Festival is an umbrella for the electronic music spectrum, supporting genres like electronic, house, techno, grime and many more. The festival has been known for being a creative space and has been supporting hand made, DIY concepts since it began. Most of the stuff that you’ll see at BeatHerder will be unique to the festival, from hand-painted signs and flags, restoring old cars, to homemade hymn books. The festival contains unique characters giving the place a great atmosphere, with a wide range of options to do besides watching music performances. Alongside your expected food trucks, bars, stalls are a chance to explore underground tunnels, get inked in the tattoo parlour, take a dip in the hidden swimming pool, sit by the the huge fire pit, or even enjoy some retro entertainment with the site’s very own working men’s club. This festival is definitely one of the best festivals to experiment with different music styles. No other festival brings up the concept that the Beat-Herder Festival gives. Their distinguished stages have been built with impeccable attention to every detail, created by a team that handcrafts every stage to a particular feeling that makes you want to go back.
