Music
Originally published on Wednesday, 14th May 2008
Country Pile-up
Oh how things have changed. The sun is out, Boris is in, and not even the classless institution of the Great British Music Festival is escaping the advances of modernity. Once rocking up to a field with a knapsack and some loose morals was all it took, but today's requisite pre-registration for mud-holes like Glastonbury is forcing us to look to pastures new and frankly smaller.
And who better than those posh folk with their grand homes to lend a hand?
Wielding a sub-royal title and an Oxfordshire estate, Lord and Lady Rotherwick are hosting the annual The Cornbury Music Festival for a more humble 3,000 revellers. The Secret Garden Party, meanwhile, boasts a Norman Foster-designed stage in the grounds of the 4th Baron de Ramsey. Reserve doesn't get more British than that.
Of course, if those are a still touch too far (or posh) then how's about tomorrow's, at least royal-sounding, Stag & Dagger micro-festival?
If 100 acts, including bands like The Shoes and Hot Chip, rocking across 15 venues in Shoreditch is still too much, you could always just hire your own gorgeous historic country pile with a few friends and throw your own. Just try not to treat it like, well, you know, a mud-hole. Just don't tell them we sent you.
Stag & Dagger - 6pm-midnight May 15
Felin Newydd House - classic country pad
The Cornbury Music Festival - July 5-6
The Secret Garden Party - July 24-27
