Normally, when attending a festival or event in its early years, you expect a certain number of rough edges. With Fools and Festivities, a festival put on by blues-rocker Cam Cole, I was certainly slightly worried on my way down, fearing that the event might have been rained out, or worse, that the entire thing (taking place on April 1) was an elaborate April fools’ trick. Thankfully, I need not have feared any of that.
Fools and Festivities, a free one-night festival organized by the New Age Collective, aimed to revive and revitalize the old culture of the free festival. Led by the rising blues rock talent of Cam, the Collective comprised a host of fantastic artists and an extremely hardworking crew. Despite a rainstorm, they managed to prepare a piece of land surrounded by the Somerset levels near Glastonbury, setting the stage for one of the first bursts of festival activity this year.
The event was based around a single central stage and the associated homemade soundsystem. Built to travel with Cam and his crew in his amazing converted horsebox, the staging and sound set up are more elaborate than those employed by many mature festivals, and the mixture of a quality set and warm clear audio gave the performing artists a chance to shine nestled among the trees and floodplains.
First to take to the stage was Jedi. Sporting long blond hair he delivered a rumbling series of blues folk songs, his sound and wildman demeanour making the joy present in them even sweeter in contrast.
He was followed by De Ja Vu, whose Shruti Boxes mellow evocative tone instantly took the crowd to a mystical fantasy world. Playing a mixture of Irish, American and English folk songs her set ranged from the ethereal to the genuinely funny. My particular, nerdy highlight was a fantastic rendition of JRR Tolkien’s Misty Mountains cold.
While the musicians and crew were prepping the stage for each set, the dance floor was taken over by the amazing Lucky and Andy. Performing a incredible freeform acrobatics show, before indulging in some hilarious audience participation, their intermission performances added fantastically to the jovial friendly atmosphere the event cultivated.
Later in the day, a number of fantastic bands took to the stage, led by the Bristol-based Americana sound of the True Strays. Offering a varied and deeply cathartic sound celebrating the traditions of alt-country and blues rock, their music has an anthemic quality which has taken them to festivals across the country, and, if the world is a fair place, should let them grow into firm favourites.
They were followed by the Dead Reds, who carried on the Americana blues sound like a rolling train. Featuring twanging guitars, soaring flutes and deep dark dual vocal lines, the Brighton-based band played music that felt like it belonged in the swamps of the southern US, rather than in the flooded marshes of Avalon.
Next were the Gulls. Currently touring across the country with a gaggle of followers playing secret gigs, this Rock and Roll three-piece started off their 2023 Robin Hood tour performing to a wild bunch of hippies and travellers to great acclaim in the wilds surrounding Glastonbury.
With a wide-ranging sound reminiscent of acts like the Doors, Dire Straights and King Crimson, they are absolutely a band to catch given the chance.
During this whirlwind of live rock and blues, a crew of fire performers had set up shop on a neighbouring horsebox, and between the band’s sets burnt litres of paraffin conducting a fantastic show. The standard was great, and felt close and intimate, while still seeming safe for all involved. Raise Hell, and all others involved did a fantastic job.
However, the greatest praise goes out to the man the myth the legend himself, Cam Cole who both led the organisation of and headlined Fools and Festivities. Active on the festival scene for the last decade and change, Cam and his iconic green horsebox have picked up thousands of fans with his sludgy, aggressively powerful one-man band show.
His performance at Fools and Festivities was earth-shaking and had the feel of music pumped through a swamp. The crowd leapt into action, with a very respectably sized mosh pit opening up in the front. If you ever get the chance, go to one of his shows, they are an experience and a half.
As an event in its totality, Fools and Festivities was a briliant blast of fresh spring air to clear the winter blues. While not a full festival, and not featuring much in the ways of amenities, campers still had enough to go round with a BBQ and composting toilets providing partygoers with all they needed, and nothing went seriously wrong.
In conclusion, Fools and Festivities ranks among the best events being put on in the UK. Featuring exciting, innovative music, fantastic crowds and a comfortable community feel, all set in the beautiful Somerset countryside, the festival was a smashing success, despite its youth.
I’m going to be keeping a close eye on everything the New Age Collective put on from now, and I suggest all of you do the same.
INTERVIEW: Cam Cole on his new event Fools and Festivities
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