LeeFest looks to Kickstarter to grow

This summer's three day LeeFest, the charity event which 25 year old Lee Denny started in his garden 8 years ago is seeking small investment from fans to develop the festival to grow to more than double the size.

LeeFest returns to Highams Hill Farm, Sheepbarn Lane, Warlingham, in Surrey over three days from Friday 12th until Sunday 14th July 2013 and started as a community of 150 young people in a back garden. The festival has now grown to 2,000 people in a field and wants to develop into a 5,000 capacity event.

Instead of taking a traditional route of sponsors, or corporate investors, LeeFest hope to raise the money through crowd funding website Kickstarter. Lee Denny said, "A community of creative and energetic people has been snowballing around the festival since it began. In order to grow the festival we were faced with a choice to sell out to big sponsors and investors, or do something different. We owe our current success to the amazing individuals involved, so raising finance from the people and giving them creative control of the festival in return seemed perfect!."

To do this, the festival has followed the lead of this year's Wychwood Festival (click here), which last year launched an innovative new model that invites fans and supporters of the event the opportunity to become shareholders in the annual family weekender.

LeeFest is now embarking on a similar challenge, attempting to raise £50,000 so it can grow whilst remaining independent and sponsor free. In return fans get to attend an AGM where they can influence creative control of the festival by becoming members of The Campfire Cabinet (their name for the board of directors). The cabinet vote on decisions throughout the year, such as who plays, how budgets are spent and what fancy dress Lee has to wear. Fans have 30 days to pledge their support.

To visit their Kickstarter page, click here.

The festival targets an audience of all ages and offers opportunities for unsigned artists to play alongside seasoned professionals. This year's line-up includes Delphic, The Other Tribe, King Charles, Public Service Broadcasting, Man Like Me (live), Fiction, Stanton Warriors, and No Artificial Colours. Many more acts are yet to be announced, including a host of unsigned acts from around the country.

Tickets are priced at £70 for the weekend. Under 10's get in free and must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 21 at all times when on site. Maximum 2 children per adult.

To buy tickets, click here.

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