Now, if you’re a fan of fermented apple drink you best be getting yourself down to deepest darkest Dorset cause there be a perfect cider festival hidden in the trees at Mycen Farm.
Taking over the farmers fields for the weekend of the 24th to the 26th of May, Cursus is a wild celebration of indepedent anti corporate art, music and cider, filled with wonderful artists, craftsfolk, and lovely shiney people.
Last year we were completely enchanted by its wonderful rural ambience, and shocked by a lineup which a much bigger music festival would struggle to match. Here are our five reasons why Cursus could be the best cider festival happening this year.
1. The Cider
Now, its no suprise that a festival in Dorset would have some of best cider going, but Cursus tends to smash peoples already high expectations. Featuring locals, Cranbourne Chase, a variety of different presses on the bar, plus apple juice freshly squeezed on site, people can sample either the nectar of the gods, or scrumpy that will blow your head off. Its even good enough to please the famously cider loving Dreadnoughts, who’ve got half a dozen songs about the stuff.
2. The Music
Musically, Cursus is extremely overpowered. There’s no way a tiny festival like this should be delivering artists of the grade they do. Last year, the headliners were folk mega stars The Longest Johns, the barnstorming Skinny Lister and ska legends Imperial Leisure, and this year looks to be no less impressive, with Mille Manders and the Shutup, 3 Daft Monkeys, and Mista Trick Collective leading an impressive bill of acts. Others set to perform include Freeborn Brothers, Black Water County, the Skimmity Hitchers, Gecko, Shanghai Treason, Gavin Osborn, the Wilswood Buoys and Nick Parker & The False Alarms, with many more still to be announced.
3. The Countryside
For a country boy like myself, Cursus allows me to connect back with my rural roots in a way few events do. Wheras most festivals simply happen in the countryside, Cursus embodies the land its on and the country way seems to integrate itself into every aspect of the party. This goes from the rural antics of acts like The Skimmity Hitchers, to the fact they have a bloody traction engine parked up steaming away nicely.
4. The People
Another thing which makes Cursus Festival amazing is the fantastic people who attend it. Ranging from grumpy irish musicans who’ll love you for singing along, to the ever growing badger cult that now makes up more than half of the attendees Cursus shiny, wonderful crowd offers a lot more than most festivals. Just be careful around them, and don’t you threatern their furry friends- elsewise you’ll find out what happens to Londoners who overstay their welcome in the west country.
5. Fuelled By Cider
The final thing which makes Cursus the perfect cider festival is the dedication and attitude of the organisers. From fixing things which go wrong with a smile to hiring polite, sensible security who aren’t on a power trip, Fueled by Cider are some of the best festival organisers about. Expect good old fashinoned no nonsense fun, and fantastic music and cider, whichever of their events you’re at.
Tickets for Cursus Festival are available for £99, while for those under 18 its only £40 and for under 5’s only £10.
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