Standon Calling strikes a cosmic chord in our hearts

Standon Calling 2016

Thursday 28th to Sunday 31st July 2016
Standon House, Standon, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG11 1PR, England MAP
£147 for an adult weekend pass

Daily capacity: 10,000

Standon's 11th year washed up an impressive array of festival production and a well-behaved but lively crowd, themed around the Legend of the Lost Seas.

As first-timers to this festival, we were surprised at how tame the Friday seemed. We even began to wonder if this was going to be the vibe for the remainder of the weekend; people seemed relatively sensible, the atmosphere calm. This came with it's plus points though: getting into the festival was super quick and pain-free, there was hardly any queue for the cashless top-up, and never any queues for toilets or bars.

Saturday was when we really felt Standon come alive. All of a sudden people were out in imaginative fancy dress, really going to great effort to get creative with the theme. We found ourselves amidst a colourful myriad of mermaids and pirates, not to mention many giant floating jellyfish umbrellas that twinkled up the sky as soon as night fell.

The site itself was a visual delight. We came across big wooden shipwrecks, quirky art installations tucked away in the trees, even the bars were adorned with tidal treasures and curious sea-faring characters.

Stage-wise, there was the Main Stage, Big Top tent, Laundry Meadows and Groove Garden hosting most of the music we were keen to see. On top of that there were a few other smaller stages and despite being told capacity was 12,000 this year, there was so much space to roam and catch your must-see bands. And the site was very easy to get around, taking no time at all.

First band we caught on the Friday were indie-pop foursome Flyte, who gave us a dreamy performance consisting mainly of new material. Lead vocalist Will Taylor really tuned into the crowd, playing whatever he thought would match the vibe. We were treated to flawless harmonies and big choruses, with plenty of catchy melodies to drift off into the warm summer's evening.

As a 2-man (and woman) band, Blood Red Shoes never cease to impress. With an infectious energy they smashed their way through a high octave set, rocking out favourites including "Cold" and "Light It Up". Snarling riffs and pacey drums pumped up the crowd and they drew in an audience full of loyal fans.

Swedish rockers-come-comedians The Hives dominated the Main Stage, delivering some absolutely raucous entertainment. Front man Howlin' Pelle Almqvist gives 110% every single time I've seen him; prancing around the stage, jumping like a loon and clowning like a mad man he has the crowd in stitches not to mention screaming along to hits like "Hate To Say I Told You So", "Tick Tick Boom" and "Walk Idiot Walk". As per usual the band were donned up in their trademark black and white suits and each exuded extreme amounts of character and mischief. A great choice of headliner for Standon.

In between the music there was plenty to see and do. For the grown-ups there was massage, pamper, yoga and meditation, plus trapeze. And for the kiddies, a whole programme including readings by children's authors, costume parades and circus activities. There was even a nanny service for when the parents wanted to break loose for some playtime of their own.

While there wasn't a huge variety of stalls, what was on offer was very impressive. Bo ho gypsy jeweller Bo Boutique offered a treasure chest brimming with a collection of unique necklaces, earrings, rings and dreamcatchers. Magpie-eyed customers would spend an age painstakingly deliberating over what goodies to buy; pieces collected by owner Jo Hobden who travels far and wide to collect her gems which also include bumbags from Morocco, hand beaten brass items from India, and rare healing crystals and gemstones. We got involved in a macramé workshop which is her speciality – and made intricately woven necklaces taught by a very patient craftstress. Within one (very therapeutic) hour we'd made ourselves some beautiful festival souvenirs and were pretty chuffed with our work!

Food-wise there was a decent selection with prices that didn't break the bank. Feeding time was spent largely at Club Mexicana or Made of Dough, while pop-up restaurant Ceru Souk provided some delectable eastern Mediterranean dining.

Saturday's music kicked off with local boys The Hunna, 4-piece indie goodness hailing from Herts. Having been listening to their stuff prior to Standon I had high hopes for this gig that were far exceeded. Oozing charm and cool charisma, the boys gave a performance rammed with perfectly packaged feel-good songs laced with the distinctive swooning vocals of front man and guitarist Ryan Potter. The band sparked an awesome chemistry and totally captivated the crowd with their vibrant positivity, delivering moorish tracks such as "Bonfire" and "You and Me"…Which I'm still singing along to now.

Sunday's favourites included an exceptional show from the Hot 8 Brass Band who I can't wait to see again. They're the kind of band that are made for festivals; they not only look the business but they get the crowd partying to countless funky covers. Playing the socks off instruments nearly as big as they are, they're simply awesome to watch. If you haven't already seen these guys, I highly recommend!

Too Many T's are another firm favourite. Dubbed as Britain's answer to the Beastie Boys, these guys are all about the swag and speed rhymes. They're real pranksters too, and another great addition to any festival in my opinion. Lyrically slick and synced rapping from duo Ross Standaloft and Leon Rhymes was backed by the hip hop mix mastery of Sam Lewis-Wall aka DJ Savage Henry, resulting in another stomping set in the Big Top tent.

Although Kelis was the main headliner for the Sunday, we far preferred the funky soundtrack provided by the London Disco Society. The boys played in the Groove Garden, a fitting stage next to the pool for the most delicious house and disco we'd heard all weekend. These guys play the kind of music that leaves you grinning from ear to ear at the ridiculous shapes you can't help but pull, as soon as you get remotely within earshot of their music. Spinning tunes from then to now with a good dose future boogie, the duo partied as much as we did. And rightly so too! Its music like that that brings the magic and makes the world a groovier place to be.

A noteworthy and most credible addition to Standon is the cashless system, which made life and logistics so much easier. On your wristband there was a small chip that simply got scanned whenever you made any purchase. You could top up in bundles of £20, and even ask for an auto-top up ensuring you never ran out of funds. Not only did this mean getting served was a lot quicker, it removed that ever-present risk of losing your wallet. And the refund process was a doddle in terms of getting back any leftover funds; you simply had to log onto the website a few days later, enter your wristband number and bank details, and hey presto – Standon reveals your amount due and within 14 days it'll hit your account.

Other aspects that made for an easy festival included well sign-posted stages, lanyards with set times and map, re-useable cups and regular litter-pickers keeping the site clean and tidy. And having great weather always helps! My only gripes are not enough water points, and policies such as not allowing the food vendors to serve coffee (so as to keep things "fair" for the coffee vendors).

Overall Standon Calling turned out to be a pretty cosmic affair. People were very friendly, there was plenty of silliness and sparkle, and the festival had a huge personality that was extremely welcoming and inclusive. We made some very special memories and came home feeling thoroughly spoilt. Congrats and huge thanks to the team for a stellar festival to be proud of!

review by: Carrie Tang

photos by: Carrie Tang