Sunday at Shambala gives time to reflect on the festival

Sunday sees a torrential downpour in the early hours, many a person clearly indulging in a night of partying, and then the sun roasting a number of them in their tents as they attempt to sleep. We also have a partial recovery for the son who has tonsillitis, as he enjoys a smoothie from a stall, some crazy golf, and an ice cream before returning to feeling overcome mid-afternoon. We are also lucky enough to witness Pritam Singh and his brother entertain a small but growing crowd as the first act on the main stage. They play what the brochure describes as 'Indian Classical Music' which in actuality means tabla backed by a stringed instrument. It is indulgent but fascinating, an eye-opener for those who make the effort, particularly as after a few songs we are counted into the seven-beat cycle that the music is using. My eldest also points out how tremendously fast the tabla is being played, and we recognise that we were treated to something special. We later hear some sweet countrified gospel music from our tent, which we trace via brochure to an up-&-coming band named Phantom Limb.



I am lucky enough to witness a Krump performance outside The Dance Workshop at one stage. This involves a large crowd of various punters trying, with varying degrees of success, to copy the tutor whilst an enthralled crowd gather round and watch. The tutor is clearly most capable, and treats us to an encore of 'Soldier Boy' through various intricate dance moves. We missed the legions of other dance workshops available, including samba, salsa, reggaeton and creative dance for under 8s, but do indulge in hula-hooping and circus skills that are available to all around the heart of the festival. We also somehow manage to skip any great indulgence at any point in The Craft Area, a Sacred Space full of alternative healers, a Geisha House, The Social Club's selection of alternative cabaret, and an informative Rebel Soul area that explores positive futures, to name but some of the services on offer. And the only slice of Kamikaze Cabaret we witness in its huge tent is some record-breaking skipping. There was in hindsight so much.

Let's now comment on our experience of some of the festival essentials. Toilets were mainly portaloos, with a couple of sets of urinals near the main stage, and some composting long-drops in-between camping and the main site. There were enough overall, and I thought they were kept sufficiently clean if lacking in toilet paper and sometimes hand-foam as the weekend wore on. Overheard conversations and our middle child disagreed strongly, and so it seems there was an element of luck-of-the-draw. Urinals at every set of toilets would surely help, albeit this applies to every festival I've ever attended.



Litter was generally conspicuous by its absence. There were plenty of litter-pickers around at all times of daylight, along with well-spaced litter bins that always gave some recycling options. Additionally most cups and plates I came across, including for beer, were biodegradable, so high praise all round for that. Beer and drinks in general were reasonably priced, with a variety of ales being catered for in The Kamikaze Cabaret Bar, and a selection of not-the-usual-mass-market-brands of allsorts available at other outlets. Plenty of teas, chais, filter coffees, and less common things were also available from stalls ranging from the woodland area to the entrance of camping. And all tasting fine.

Food was similarly available in a variety of forms, vegan to bacon butty, Thali to Jamaican, and apparently a local farmer's market although we didn't come across it. More could be done for children's meals though, as we found for instance a simple pasta with cheese for £3 and two sausages and mash for £6.

Security we found friendly enough, efficient, and well-hidden except where it mattered. Festival welfare, welcomingly entitled 'The Tea and Empathy Tent', were clearly set for and capable of dealing with a variety of people issues, including those lost, down, and over-indulged. I was much impressed with their friendliness, and what appeared to be a 24-hour service, with an ambulance patiently awaiting use next door. Finally, for those who value personal hygiene in the festival environment, wash facilities were available via mobile shower units or solar-powered tipis depending on which end of camping you went, or via a hot-tub near the lake. Wash-facility to punter ratio I would judge as rather strong compared to other fests.



Back to the last day, and we decide to cut our losses after our personal strains, and aim to leave after the engaging folk-beatboxing of Nizlopi. However just before they're due on, we discover that the car won't start. Facing a possible overnight stranding, a fourth emergency service are called and we disappointingly cut out losses further, missing out in particular on a prince of reggae, Horace Andy. Whilst we wait, Back to the Planet can be heard very well from the car park, and I realise that their bass sound seems much more dominant live than on record, which I rate as a good thing. I can imagine their sounds going down very well with many people here who'll remember them from their time as alternative anarchists of the early 90s. They open with 'Human Error' and generally play a selection of their well-known & uplifting tunes.

So there it is, Shambala 2008 through our unique filter. Our 6-year old daughter now rates it as her favourite festival of the three she's been to, and the now-recovered 10-year old son tells me back home that if he was well it would have been a great place as there was so much to do, such as the giant Yes to climb on, the bonfire, and the hot tubs. Our 12-year old has penned his own review (here) and would love to come back next year. What the family-free think is not mine to know, however the atmosphere seemed chilled and friendly, and there was ample to see & do throughout the day and well into the night. So overall, a great success and well-worth the efforts.

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