Sunrise Celebration 2009

Sunrise Celebration 2009 - around the site (1)
Photo credit: Phil Bull

Sunrise Celebration 2009

Thursday 28th to Sunday 31st May 2009
Gilcombe Farm, near Bruton, South Somerset, England MAP
adult £105, teen £70, child (5-15) £27, family £232
Last updated: Thu 21st May 2009

Featuring an inspiring mix of the very best in alternative culture, and continually committed to setting new standards in sustainability with an eclectic blend of dub, world, ska, electronica, dub-step, psy trance, breaks, reggae, folk, Balkan beats and all manner of stompingly good tunes from rising stars, established favourites and surprise collaborations, in line with Sunrises shining musical reputation.

Sunrise Celebration is back for it's fourth year and takes place from Thursday 28th until Sunday 31st May 2009 at a new location, on an organic farm - Gilcombe Farm, near Bruton, in South Somerset. The new site is on higher ground, with trees and spring water, and on an organic farm that adheres to the same green principles as the festival, and is less vulnerable to the weather. This year Sunrise is going back to its roots, is now being run by a Community Interest Company.

The live acts announced for this year include Pama International, The Bays, 3 Daft Monkeys, The Fontanas, Nuala & the Alchemy Band, Baka Beyond, Planetman And The Internationalz, King Porter Stomp, Lazy Habits, Roots Union, The Undercover Hippy, Liquid Ross, The Amigos, Dan Arborise, Gaynor O'Flynn, Algi Behrens, Karma Deva, and The She Creatures.

The DJs & electronica line-up includes Far Too Loud, Bridgwater Reggae Sound System, Kings HiFi, Galactic Wind, Red Earth, Aviva, Aliji, Naked Nick, Mandala Mark, New Human, and Chameleon.

Stages include Chai Wallahs, Bimble Inn, Eartheart, Triban and Solarcadia.

There will also be authentic carney vibes with The Invisible Circus and fairground rides, Consious Cabaret, slam poetry, permaculture gardens, alternative technology work shops, solar cinema, sauna, hot tubs, tipi circle, sustainable living talks, workshops, healing sanctuary, central fire, walkabout performance, performance art, non-musical presentations, dress-up mayhem, dance, art installations, Astro speed dating, ethical fashion show, eco innovations, and organic food and drink.

This year Sunday of the event will be dedicated to the Transition movement, with a plethora of talks on workshops on community resilience and going local. Speakers include Jeremy Leggett of Solar Century and Nick Rosen Author of Off Grid Living. With talks from astrologer Jonathan Cainer, Greg Samms and many more on subjects ranging from entheogens, archeo-astrology and earth mysteries, in the Ancient Futures and Avalon Rising spaces.

There were early bird tickets available. The full ticket prices are now:
Full Price Adult £105
Full Price Teen (16-18yrs) £70
Full Price Child (5 - 15 yrs old inclusive) £27
Full Price Family Ticket (2 Adults, 2 Children) £232

Parking for cars is £19 per car
Campervan tickets are priced at £33 per vehicle (A campervan is defined as any vehicle you intend to sleep in for any part of the Festival)
Motorcycle tickets are priced at £5

To buy tickets, click here.

The festival will start on Thursday evening, in a carnival style, with magic lanterns, walk about performance, fire dancing and drumming at the opening ceremony.

The new site has a significantly smaller capacity, so less tickets will be available than there were in 2008. Sunrise are offering festival ticket buyers the chance to pay a £35 deposit on a £99 ticket with the balance paid by Wednesday 1st April 2009. This deposit is for the £99 ticket only. This option is only available on a limited number of tickets. Note tickets will not be available on the gate this year.

Sunrise has a dedicated kids area (where adults will be allowed only as long as they behave themselves!) Features this year will include a new climbing wall, swingboats and rides, kids disco, circus and crafts workshops, parades, a maze, outdoor games and more. For the older kids there will be graffiti walls, breakdance, poetry slams, hip hop, circus shows and skills, bushcraft skills and lots more still to be confirmed.

Speaker highlights confirmed this year include the return of the Avalon Rising Area that will be the place to meet great minds on the subjects of Esoterica, Earth Mysteries, Astrology, 2012 Theory and other realms of the bizarre. Featured speakers will include Jonathan Cainer, one of the world's leading astrologers, Stuart Mason, master astro-archaeologist and Hugh Newman.

The event is expected to be 100% ecologically powered, with a site-wide organic policy which also applies to alcohol. There are full camping facilities will be available including, showers, chemical & compost toilets.

There is a free bus from the nearest train station, information regarding this will be distributed with the tickets.

2008's sell-out event was struck by disaster when freak weather conditions and flash flooding of the old site near Yeovil, caused the event to be called off only hours after it was due to open. With the help of The Big Chill, Sunrise was held in August instead of June, within the grounds of Eastnor Castle.

More information will be here when available.

Sunrise Celebration @ The Big Chill (2)


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