Freedom festivals

Festivals are moving on. No longer just music-focused, newer festivals are springing up, many in beautiful settings, hosting events such as interactive art, poetry and wellness in mind and body. We’ve taken a closer look at 5 festivals that offer a complete chance to get away from the stresses of everyday life and free your mind.

Also – Warwickshire, 5-7 July

Set in a Capability Brown landscaped garden with a lake, Also is billed as a ‘festival of ideas’. Alongside an eclectic list of musicians there are talks and workshops on themes such as Why comedy stand up matters, The Subconcious, Urban Birding  and #mindwilding – an Also festival-goer’s ability to bring new and exciting ideas to their consciousness and thought. Oh, and a big lake where you can go boating and swimming.

Find out more at www.also-festival.com

Kelburn Garden Party – North Ayrshire, 5-8 July

Described as an annual explosion of colour, creativity and culture, the Kelburn Garden Party takes place in the Gardens of 13th-century Kelburn Castle, set in a Scottish Glen. The music is a broad-based mix of disco, jazz, electronica, hip-hop and folk, mixed in with interactive art installations, living theatre, pop-up parties, poetry events, glen walks and waterfall plunge pools.

Kelburn also hosts an end-of-season event in September called Psychedelic Forest, which sounds exactly our kind of thing.

Find out more at www.kelburngardenparty.com

Mandrea Festival – 11-14 July, Trentino, Italy

Set in the foothills of the Italian Alps and close to the shores of Lake Garda the Mandrea Festival offers up some truly magnificent scenery. In the evenings the music has a definite dub / reggae vibe to it. In the daytime activities include climbing, canyoning, mountain biking, mountain lake swimming, performing arts and yoga. And because it’s Italy, food and drink have a major role to play – you can get stone-baked pizzas, locally baked bread, Aperol spritzers and, of course, spectacularly good coffee.

Find out more at www.mandreafestival.com

Standon Calling – 25-28 July, Hertfordshire

Set in the grounds of the splendidly-titled private house of Standon Lordship, Standon Calling started life as a birthday barbecue and pool party which has now grown into a fully-fledged festival. The swimming pool is still in use though and is joined by hot tubs, wellbeing areas and er, Rockaoke. Standon Calling also takes its music seriously and the 2019 line-up includes names such as Rag’n’bone Man and Nile Rodgers & Chic.

Every year there is a festival theme with many guests dressing up to match it. Previous themes have included Gods and Monsters and Lost in Latin America. This year its … Twisted Creatures.

Find out more at www.standon-calling.com

Waking Life – 14-19 August, Crato, Portugal

Billed as 6 days of music and art, Waking Life is set next to a lake, close to the medieval town of Crato. There are mini musical events set in intimate spaces around the lake, guests are invited to wander around and see what’s happening. In keeping with its name, Waking Life also has an extensive programme of ‘immersive performances, stimulating installations, cinema, workshops and interactivity for the body and mind’.

Find out more at www.wakinglife.pt

Of course its always good to look the part at any festival, so may we recommend our collection of relaxed-but-on-it summer t-shirts, knits, shorts and jeans here.