I love it, it is by far one of the best festivals i have ever been too. For those who want to escape the carnage that is Reading or Leeds, this is your best bet. Of course i enjoy a heavy rave untill 5am with mad hatters bouncing around the Big Tops, and beer being thrown in my direction, if uninvited...But what The Big Chill offers is so much more.
While you try to negociate with 14 year olds at reading, the big chill has offerings of maturity. The days are filled with Jazz and Funk from Mr Scruff's tea room on the lake, which also plays 1920's music from its speakers. Fairy stall's and enchanhted gardens are located in the valley's where you stumble across poetry readings on stages no bigger than your dining room table. Buses and floats escourt flowers and cider aroun dthe fields in a beautiful manner, much like santa on his at Christmas. Children run around with bubbles and flowers while parents graze on the grass sipping on ice tea and smoking sheesha. It is one of the great things of the big chill, everything is civilised when it needs to be. Cue 10pm and things get a little darker and messier, which is apropiate at that time of day. After bonobo and Quantic who blew me away i was given a bollocking by Annie Knightingale and Krafty Kutz. This also followed ORBITAL and Basement Jaxx on the mainstage. This year, MIA is headlining with Massive Attack which will be amazing. Last year i got press pass but instead of trying to blag it this year, i bought a ticket. Its that good, i acually spent the money and bought a bloody ticket.
Melt! Is going to be a marathon of dance sweat and tears which will be followed by a mellow 3 days in the Heredfordshire downs, chilling with a cuppa and bopping to Fourtet and Massive attack. It is not a fairy land of magic but it comes close...
After starting of in 2005, the festival has grown so much. It has increased capacity by a further 10,ooo this year with better acts and a higher priced ticket. Think Bestival 5 years ago - only 20 thousand people, a small island in Hampshire that has now balooned to 45k and still on a small island in Hampshire. Lets hope the Big Chill doesnt get greedy now - yes you have to increase the price, but keep the 'mainstream' out and let them go to Reading.
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