Overview

A classic festival!

I defy anyone to not have had a most brilliant time at this year's Guilfest. It was very nearly the perfect festival. Okay so it may not have the range of Glastonbury, it may have a pretty safe line-up and it may not have the anarchy of festivals of old or the intimacy of a really small festival but it works. It works on every level. I'd like to thank the organisers for a truly wonderful festival which all the family enjoyed.

Okay the line up wasn't cutting edge, but do you need it to be? The headliners were great and highly entertaining regardless of what age you are. There may not be whatever the latest bling bling band are or todays chart toppers or the latest glo stick waving shockwave but it's a different festival beast is Guilfest.

When we arrived on Friday afternoon it was humid, damn humid and the heat made putting the tent up a tetchy process. Though at least the walk from the campsite to the car park was minimal and the security and marshals we met were helpful and friendly and it's nice to have a hot festival, and this one, overall, had close to perfect weather. We had warm days, with three cooling short showers over Saturday and Sunday, a cooling breeze and balmy warm nights, to the extent one of our party slept out under the stars the whole weekend!

The whole site was relaxing and, okay, for many it involved sitting in fold up chairs in front of the main stage with a picnic, but hey, they fitted in perfectly with those of us happy to just chill on the grass. Note I said grass, no mud, nice! Even when it did rain it was dry again in minutes.

Where to start? Well we missed the first few acts on the big purple Radio 2 stage and got there in time for The Damned, The Stranglers and Blondie and I'm so happy we did. Perfect punk cabaret followed by top tunes from The Stranglers and topped off by the masters of the alternative Eighties. It was a truly rousing performance by Debbie Harry and her band. For many, well me at least, the highlight of the weekend!

The only downside a lack of choice of drinks at the long bar (at 150ft plus, a very long bar) with no ale to be seen and London prices - #3.50 a pint. We trundled down through the market stalls, with a great selection of shops and food vendors and entered the Ambient Lounge.

A master stroke of festival siting, the Lounge not only had a chilled out feel, but some great tunes, sofas, weird lighting, a distracting washing machine and a good gathering of efesters! The Saturday by comparison was just a little too busy and we retreated at our daughter's request to sit outside the Lantern Shop.

Saturday also brought more great acts, lots of day trippers, loads of kids (maybe it's being a parent) but I do like kids at festivals. Talking of Kids, Guilfest has it perfectly set up for them, there is loads and loads to keep them entertained and ours would have been happy as Larry to be there morning, noon and night. Even I was happy to be there to keep an eye on her and there was a packed programme of events and wandering performers from giant puppets to guys in Fezs.

Hats off to the girls manning the gate to the packed field who ensured only parents got in or out. Which made Sunday's Fire display with kids twirling fire poi, juggling fire sticks and breathing fire and a firework display all the more special, as only parents and their kids saw it!

Anyway back to Saturday's programme, and what a choice on offer! Cosmic Comedy from 2pm, the mighty Alarm and god like Rolf who entertained a packed crowd superbly! There was also ex-James frontman Tim Booth, Ian McNabb and Katie Melua for the girls, plus, festival veterans The Levellers playing to a packed Uncut stage.

The Red Kites, Egofreak, Tribryd and Intervurt on the Anderton Live Stage which also offered many more fantastic local acts. Who, hats off to them, patrolled the main stage the night before handing out fliers and promoting themselves. I like to see bands committed to the cause!

While in the lovely bedecked Tropical Tent we were treated to plump DJs and an escape from the heat when it wasn't packed. Infact the whole area down there was a delight of festival shops, one even selling lighters on strings (at last after 4 festivals!), great food, The Olive Shop had to be my favourite and had no queues all weekend as well as the delicious Paella place.

Headliners for the Saturday were those Eighties heroes Simple Minds and I think they surprised many with their immediate tunes and audience interaction. Possibly not the strongest of the three headliners but still a great show and we all returned to our tents to chat to new friends happy.

Sunday brought the rain, well not for long in fact long enough to get some sleep in the tent which remained cool and to head off to the nearby Spectrum to watch a bit of ice Skating and consider playing in the fun pool.

Once the site was open some tasty pig based products bought at the Organic Pork stall recovered much of the energy needed for a day full of the mighty Space Ritual with women in various states of undress. A quick go on the huge DropZone a free fall from 30ft up and lots more lager!

Some jigging about to Ireland's very own Saw Doctors and some happy weirdness with Ocean Colour Scene were also the order of the day. Monkey Toast were a delight and bizarrely have just reminded me to mention that the toilets all weekend were the best I have ever, yup ever experienced at a festival, stocked with paper and clean!

Plus more comic delights from the eFestivals Cosmic Comedy tent including laughing 'til I cried to Postman Pat and Jess! A wonderful smoothie in the Ambient Lounge and some upbeat warm vibes.

Then to close UB40s brand of happy British reggae, delivered note perfect as the sun set over the festival was a perfect ending.

We had a weekend full of fun and so did our daughter, as a family we've been to six festivals so far this year and this one rates as the best family festival.

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