Standon Calling makes everything effortless

Standon Calling 2013

Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th August 2013
Standon House, Standon, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG11 1PR, England MAP
£125 - weekend sold out, only Friday & Sunday day tickets

Daily capacity: 2,000

I’ve been a long-term fan of this quirky boutique festival set in the grounds of a Hertfordshire stately home since I first stumbled across it several years ago. I’ve seen the festival grow from year to year in terms of everything from entertainment to customer services and facilities, and this year was no different.

In terms of box ticking I don’t think I actually have a bad thing to say about the festival in any way. Arriving on site I stupidly had a bottle of wine in my possessions when glass was not allowed onsite.

The security at the gates brainstormed with me about pouring it into other containers I had and encouraged my friend to drink and decant his cider so as not to waste it. This is merely the first of many examples of the great security working that weekend.

I’d arrived on the final day of entertainment but the site still looked alive and clean, including the facilities and the staff all being on top form.

The thing I really love about this festival is that everything is effortless – the size of it makes it extremely manageable to negotiate and because there are only a handful of stages and venues the quality of entertainment in them is extremely high, as well as the campsite being easily accessible.

The theme this year was circus based so the first thing I saw onsite was people being thrown about on the high trapeze, as well as the whole site being adorned with circus memorabilia and scenery.

I caught the end of the London Afrobeat Collective on the main stage, who had both adults and children captivated by their huge, vibrant sounds in the afternoon sunshine.

Dizraeli & The Small Gods comprised of Dizraeli, who delivered his powerful fast paced hip hop, and was backed by a melodic orchestral band. He was very passionate and although he only pulled a small band of supporters at the front, a lot of people and families were lounging and enjoying.

Wandering past the vibrant costumes and swimming pool filled with delighted festival goers (yep – the only UK festival to have one) I came across the kids area where children were running about delightedly engaging in activities from crafts to playing on a moving piano.

Slamboree were onstage in the Big Top tent with a distinct carnival feel to match the festival tone. The lead lady had the crowd going wild as she launched into her rapping with extreme confidence and at an immense speed with her band, especially the brass section and violinist providing big bass sounds and fun ska-like jumpy beats. Adorned in circus-themed facepaint and costumes and accompanied onstage by performers doing tricks, the vibe was uplifting and perfectly summed up the festival spirit.

The festival was the first in the UK to go cashless this year with everyone having a wristband to top up at stations and scan at the bars and this really worked. The bar queues flowed easily, especially as the staff were very friendly and accommodating.

AlunaGeorge commanded a sizeable crowd with the front singer Aluna entrancing the audience with her dulcet tones and delicate stature. They perform really well live and it’s easy to get swept along with the playful electro sounds and young and old alike enjoyed swaying along.

De La Soul took to the main stage where many legends have stood before and launched into their funky old school hip hop set. They bounced about and seemed really outwardly excited to be there. They jumped into their set with such full energy and injected their quirky attitudes into their interactions with the audience throughout.

They were especially impressed by the amount of children they could see in the crowd and expressed that this made them extremely happy that they could see people bringing their kids to allow their music to transcend generations, while also requesting for people to be careful and not push the children.

They played their biggest hits including ‘Me, Myself and I’ and ‘Ring Ring Ring’ which had the festival’s population throwing shapes and provided a spectacular main stage finish.

At this point I want to mention the security at the festival again. They were the smoothest running and friendliest group I have ever come across at an event of this size and it really made a huge impact on everyone’s mood. When I lost my phone I was helped from start to finish, as well as being given a drink and being indulged in a lot of friendly chat.

When the stages closed and everyone flocked to the revamped Cowshed and other late night venues to dance along to the high class DJs, as well as manning the crowds the security were raving along with the best of us, jumping in for photos with people, throwing glowsticks about, and generally adding to an uplifting vibe.

You completely forget how small the festival is while you’re in the thick of it as every area feels like a whole new world and is so intricately designed from the low ceiling shisha tent filled with rugs to the chillout area nestled between trees and logs with a double bed adorning an upper layer.

The beauty of Standon is that it is a festival that is perfect for children alongside being a haven for people who want to stay up all night raving, and amazingly the two visions work perfectly well side by side.

I think it’s fair to say my love affair with Standon Calling in 2013 has been reignited and I can’t wait to see what the magical, melodic paradise brings to the table next year.

review by: Fiona Madden

photos by: Lawrence Wheeler