despite the rain the children's area was still buzzing at Beautiful Days
Beautiful Days 2011 review
Thursday 25th August 2011
A bit of a gloomy misty morning; we were treated to a choir practice in the Redwood area; CBBC were filming part of The Big Performance, taking 10 shy children who love to sing and teaching them to perform in front of an audience. They had to do quite a few takes of 'Scarborough Fayre' and in the pouring rain after a while, but it made for a really entertaining breakfast, which we had to have sheltered under a tree out of the rain.
Flip-flops were put away, wellies and waterproofs worn, and we braved it and went for a look around the Big Top area again, having a closer look round the shops and food stalls. We really were spoilt for choice with food throughout the festival, from old favourites, wood-fired pizza and the Mash Shack, to new options like 'Paellaria' serving amazing meat and vegetarian paella, and the Tibetan Kitchen. We found a gorgeous local bakery selling freshly baked bread and cakes, so we stocked up on gingerbread men and chocolate brownies to keep us going for the day. Despite the rain the children's area was still buzzing with activity, and the walkabout entertainers were still wandering around so the happy vibe was still going.
The rain eventually stopped and the sun came out with a vengeance, and we watched Gentleman's Dub Club on the main stage, some live dub-step to shake off the rain and dry everyone off. The Blockheads played some good old Rock 'n' Roll, and Paul Heaton, former Housemartins and Beautiful South frontman played a calmer, acoustic set of familiar tracks; 'Caravan of Love' going down a storm with the increasing crowd.
The increased capacity was really noticeable today in the main arena, 5000 extra bottoms meant the arena got quite cramped, proving very difficult for those with buggies trying to navigate the arena, where even the usual access route up to the camping/dance tent got blocked in the evenings. The additional capacity perhaps also contributed to the litter problem not usually seen at Escot, where bins were often overflowing.
When some of the crowd dispersed to one of the other stages after Paul Heaton we took the opportunity to have a walk and went up the Little Big Top, which was already playing some thumping dance tunes for those needing a good early evening dance. The Bimble Inn was busy with people relaxing on the grass in the warm sunshine and enjoying a pint of something peculiar and listening to the band inside. In contrast, the Leviticus crowd were enjoying some reggae beats to start the evening.
As the sun went down we settled in the main arena for Afro Celt Sound System, and they opened their set with haunting pipes, which mellowed everyone before launching into their afro-celtic drumming. You couldn't help but jump around or toe-tap and sway to their deep drumming and chilling pipes; its the second time I've seen Afro Celt and they really are mesmerising.
Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine headlined on the Main Stage, and though not my cup of tea, they went down a storm with the 90s indie fans, and I did join in with the crowd chanting 'You Fat B*stard!!' before they came on the stage.
Taking my daughter back to the tent, my husband went out exploring the late night entertainment; with bars still open for several more hours, the beats of Dreadzone Sound System and bass of Trolley Snatcha up at the dance tent kept him out for a few more hours.
review by Sandra Pitt photos by Andy Pitt / Danielle Millea / Karen Williams
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