If you prefer, you can watch a video version of this interview on the UK Festival Podcast Youtube Channel
Noisily Festival is one of the best-loved gems in the UK scene. From its secret motto, “only bring the good ones,” to its intimate magical energy, the event has become the archetypical party in the woods which others now seek to imitate.
With a lineup including Bart Skills, Dubfire, Ida Engberg, Antix, John 00 Fleming, Liquid Soul, and headliners such as Break, Camo & Krooked, DJ Marky, and Calyx, the 2024 edition of Noisily Festival promises an unforgettable experience. The festival also features extensive wellness programs, art installations, and performances that make it a holistic celebration of music and arts.
One of Noisily’s co-founders, Lachie Athie Gordon, spoke to us from his home in faraway Kenya. Lachie began his festival career working for the enigmatic Freddie Fellowes of the Secret Garden Party, which is one of the events that inspired Noisily.
Lachie explained, “That’s where I started my festival career, working for Freddie almost 15 years ago at the Secret Garden Party. I was very inspired by SGP and other amazing events like Glade. Glade was the one which really made its mark on me and stood out as a very transformational event. Just an amazing atmosphere of people who were there to get on with each other and have fun. It was just an incredible vibe.”
Speaking about the first Noisily, Lachie said the opportunity came along to work with his now great friend Will, who is his co-founder, and Will had a farm where they could hold the event. “So, yeah, it just happened, and I didn’t even think twice about it. I mean, the whole thing was a mess, but it was also awesome. It was the least sleep I’ve had in a week-long period in my life.”
Indeed, the event was far from problem-free. Lachie recounted, “At the very beginning, when we said the gate was open and people started coming, we suddenly realized that while we said the gate was officially open, there was actually no physical way of entering the woods because there was a fence in the way. So, we completely failed to find a way for people to walk into the woods.” Eventually, they got a screwdriver and took down the fence. Lachie added, “I think we had about 500 people. But for the first few years, we had no idea who was there because we didn’t have close enough tabs on the gate. So, about 500, I reckon.”
However, despite setbacks like these, Noisily has grown enormously over the years. Lachie mentioned, “There are so many different people involved. Our core team is hard to define because we have so many committed people who work on it year-round, some full-time, some part-time. There are probably 20-30 people who work on it year-round, maybe a few more, but not full-time.”
Talking about finding Noisily’s new site, Lachie noted, “It was a huge challenge. Will and I spent a lot of time tramping around the country, looking at different locations and calling a lot of people. We’re grateful to have found this new spot because it couldn’t have been more perfect. It’s also only about half an hour from our previous site, so we lucked out.”
It was on the cards for Noisily Festival to move as far as Bristol. Lachie added, “We went down the line with a few different locations further south, but this one worked out perfectly. Our new location has a wonderful feel, all the woodland there, and it allows us more space to be creative. Being flat has allowed us to expand things like the Noisily stage, which will be enormous this year. The new site gives us space to breathe and spread our wings, which wouldn’t have been possible at our previous site.”
While the festival faced severe adverse weather last year, the site survived fairly well compared to some other locations. Nonetheless, plans are afoot to reinforce and prepare Barkestone Woods to fit thousands of ravers in the rain. Lachie said, “The mud is inevitable to some extent because we’re in England, but we’ve done a lot of groundwork this year, adding culverts, gravel, wood chips, and hay to deal with it better.
Offering advice to small festivals looking to grow themselves into something on the scale of Noisily, Lachie advised, “Buckle up. It’s a hell of a ride taking an event through that stage. It’s challenging to balance not over-commercializing while making it work financially. Just keep at it and be tenacious.”
Emphasizing the importance of community, Lachie discussed how the festival maintains its unique vibe. “Most people who come to Noisily have been invited by friends. It started with friends of friends and has grown from there. This helps maintain the community vibe and ensures new attendees quickly absorb and contribute to the positive atmosphere.”
Compared to most, Noisily Festival stands out for its playful atmosphere and significant emphasis on circus acts and performance art. Lachie explained that this element evolved naturally over time. “We’ve always wanted to be more than just a music festival. We’ve had performers from the beginning, and it’s grown naturally. The performers love what they do, and it shows.”
Beyond the professional performers, festival-goers are actively engaged in the playful spirit of Noisily, bringing flow toys, poi, and other props to enhance their experience. Lachie mentioned, “I juggled for a while and did some fire batons. Poi never particularly tickled me though. I just feel like you’ll inevitably hit yourself in the face or worse.”
Discussing his favourite kind of dance music and favourite stage at Noisily, Lachie shared, “I think the techno stage is my favourite. That’s where I always end up, but I love it all. Drum and bass is where my heart is; it got me into electronic music and the party scene. I DJed drum and bass on vinyl for a long time. Psytrance really got me into the euphoria of being on a dance floor connected to everyone in the crowd. But techno is now what really keeps me going.”
When asked about the plans for expansion that couldn’t go ahead last year and hopes to resurrect those, Lachie explained, “I think we might do it in a different way. Never say never. Our focus is on consolidating what we’ve got. We’re not going into the live music side of things in the near future. We’re looking to expand the Nook and other down-tempo offerings.”
Being primarily focused on DJs and producers, Lachie noted that this does simplify the production compared to managing live bands. “Yes, it does simplify things. Live stuff adds a whole other level of complexity. We do some live stuff in Mind Body Soul, but it’s not the same as getting big bands on and off quickly. The music we provide generally focuses on DJ performances, so it fits our style better.”
When asked if this was the plan from the start or a matter of convenience, Lachie responded, “It’s where we’re comfortable and where our crowd sits well. It’s not about convenience. We wouldn’t write off live music, but with the complexities, it’s one of those things we’ll consider as we grow in confidence and capacity.”
Discussing potential collaborations to bring a live music stage to Noisily, Lachie said, “We’re always interested in collaborations. It’s always worth discussing. For us, it’s about acting as a platform for others and fostering creativity.”
Talking about personal highlights for the 2024 lineup, Lachie said, “Mirror again. She’s fantastic and is coming with Chris, who she plays with. Pan Pot is another highlight for something a bit heavier. There’s a lot to be excited about. I’ve become less involved in that side of things now, so some of it was an exciting surprise. Camo & Krooked from my drum and bass days are epic. I’m excited about seeing them.”
Explaining his current role at the festival, Lachie said, “I was the main production manager, overseeing all aspects from production to artists. I started stepping back in 2017 as I got involved in other things. Will, my business partner, has taken on more, and now I have an advisory role. We check in weekly to sign off on budgets, artist lineups, and other things.”
Lachie mentioned that during the festival, he now spends time managing the event for 24 hours in shifts with the other founders. “We handle any decisions or crises that come up. The rest of the time, I’m bouncing around, enjoying the music, and trying to do everything at once.”
When asked if there was anyone who has done anything above and beyond for the festival that he’d like to thank, Lachie said, “So many people. I couldn’t start naming them because I’ll forget someone. All the people who run the venues, the stage managers, the artists—there are just too many to even start.”
It is clear that Noisily Festival continues to thrive thanks to its dedicated team, loyal community, and commitment to providing a unique and transformative festival experience. For tickets and more information, visit Noisily’s website.
