LeeFest secures future through Kickstarter

This summer's three day LeeFest, the charity event which 25 year old Lee Denny started in his garden 8 years ago has reached the target of investment from fans to develop the festival to grow to more than double the size whilst remaining independent.

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 wanted to develop into a 5,000 capacity event.

Instead of taking a traditional route of sponsors, or corporate investors, LeeFest decided to try and raise the money through crowd funding website Kickstarter (see news here), and has succeeded, becoming the second festival so far this year to achieve this, following in the footsteps of next year's Alt-Fest.

The £50,000 'growth' target was pledged by over 600 'backers' who are set to receive rewards including a place on The Campfire Cabinet, the festival's board of directors. This group will make key creative decisions about the way the event is run in the future.

Festival organiser Lee Denny said, "Most crowd funding projects give very physical rewards. We took a risk by going further and offering creative involvement – we're delighted that over 600 people have jumped at the chance! I can't wait to have them all involved in building the most unique festival in the world."

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 Noisettes, Delphic, King Charles, Friends and Clean Bandit, The Other Tribe, Public Service Broadcasting, Man Like Me (live), Fiction, Stanton Warriors, No Artificial Colours, and more. For the line-up details as available please click here.

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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