Paul ThomasonCelebrating all things British, The Brit Fest is a fantastic new weekend, summer festival in the north west. Dates are already set for next year and if the inaugural three day event is anything to go by, this family-friendly festival is likely to be even more popular in 2025. Wondering what to expect? Our round-up of the weekend has all you need to know:
Location
The inaugural Brit Fest was held on a 100-acre festival site at Ashley Hall and Showgrounds in Altrincham from 5-7 July 2024. The setting for the main stage was fabulously placed at the base of a gentle slope that allowed wonderful views of the stage and the giant video screen from the vast area.
Glamping, Camping and Parking
Glamping and Camping sites for tweekend ticket holders were located right next to the car park and main entrance, less than a five minute stroll from the main stage. The close proximity of the car park and stages meant there was no need to carry bags and coats around all day because they could be left in the car and picked up whenever needed. For those not wanting to camp but wanting to take advantage of a fruit cider or two, there were free shuttle buses running into Altrincham, meaning the festival was readily accessible from any stops on the Metrolink.
Seating
Picnic benches were available next to most of the food vendors although many people brought their own picnic blankets and camping chairs. Deckchairs were also available to some of the punters who had splurged extra on the VIP package.
ABC+ Warranty Stage
This small stage hosted a variety of different types of performances over the weekend. There were authors, comedians, more yoga, man vs food chilli challenges, choirs that could barely fit all performers onto the stage as well as some up and coming new bands playing original music. Fortunately we managed to catch a young guitar band, The Covasettes with an engaging lead singer who played a really tight set and it is a testament to them that the numbers watching at the end of their set were about t10 times bigger than those at the start. They admitted that their ambition was to play on the Main Stage here next year, and on this evidence, they are well worth a slot.
Main Stage
The artists performing at main arena were the reason people bought tickets and for the majority of the older crowd, once they’d placed their chairs on the grass, they were set for the day and didn’t venture into the other areas. TV presenter Jenny Powell and the Hits Radio DJ Mike Toolan were the comperes on the main stage all weekend with good humour and interacted well with the various competition winners who occasionally got to introduce the acts.
Friday line-up
The line-up on Friday was aimed towards the 90’s indie kid (now in their late 40’s or 50’s so are really pushing the definition of kid at this point). Dodgy, Reef, Starsailor, and The Feeling had taken to the stage before the youngest band on the line-up took over. Fresh from their number one album ‘Anxiety Replacement Therapy’, Lottery Winners were a massive hit with the audience with their chatter and tunes. Songs from Cast’s early back catalogue were well received but the response to their new material was more muted.
The clear highlight though was the headline set from Scouting for Girls with exquisite showmanship from Roy Stride on keyboard and vocals uplifting the crowd and getting them involved in the experience. They knew how to keep a festival audience on-side and threw in covers alongside their own greatest hits and made their lesser known songs into sing-a-longs.
Saturday line-up
The 1980’s inspired line-up ushered in the busiest day and boasted the shortest time between the acts on the main stage. I must admit to being a little concerned when I first saw the timings for Saturday’s performances given many only had 20 minute slots. I’d assumed they would be performing to pre-recorded tracks given the length of time it normally takes to change the kit for each band. I needn’t have worried however, because there was an amazing house band who provided the backing music for the artists that performed earlier in the day. The 20 minute slots were right for the assembled crowd because it allowed hit after hit to be played – it was clear not everyone in the audience had purchased as many Nik Kershaw singles or played T’Pau’s “Bridge of Spies” and Five Star’s “Silk & Steel” as often as I had in my childhood but I loved every second of all three performances.
Sonia hasn’t lost much of her energy from when she burst onto the pop scene. The Real Thing had the crowd boogieing to their tracks before Paul Young’s more mellow set. Young’s ageing rasping vocals gave an indication of what to expect from the headline act also known for her gravelly voice.
The times when an additional break was needed between the acts were filled with other nostalgia shots with the introduction of Timmy Mallett who entertained the crowd by hitting a hesitant 73-year-old woman over the head with his giant mallet and going “bluergh” in her face. That took a lot of explaining to some very concerned children in the audience who don’t see that sort of thing on CBeebies these days. The appearance and an interview with ski jumper turned reality TV star, Eddie the Eagle Edwards, also brought smiles to many faces.
Kim Wilde’s longer set allowed for costume changes (removal of sunglasses, donning of cape and various hats) as well as a surprising number of dance moves. Her enjoyment at performing to a responsive crowd was evident, gone was the anger in her “You Keep Me Hanging On” vocals because she was clearly loving every second along with the audience.
The years have made Bonnie Tyler’s voice even more gruff but that didn’t stop the enjoyment of the crowd when she belted out “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Holding Out for a Hero” sending the day-trippers home happy.
Sunday line-up
Easy-listening pop was the order of the day on Sunday with The South performing The Beautiful South songs. The Christians were on fine form with Garry Christian chatting between songs in the forlorn hope that some people might rise out of their camping chairs.
When people emerged from the VIP tents to hear “Slight Return” after The Bluetones had been playing for 30 mins lead singer Mark Morriss quipped the band should have learnt by now to put it earlier in their track listing but it was latecomer’s loss as they’d missed the majority of a really enjoyable set.
A Sunday afternoon chillout session was provided by Tunde from the Lighthouse Family who lifted everyone with his super smooth vocals.
Toploader worked the crowd and gave them what they wanted with a mix of their own material and covers before the eruption of “Dancing in the Moonlight”.
A joyous, funky performance from Fleur East had the crowd throwing more shapes and a reminder in a tremendous extended version of “Sax” that X-Factor finalists had better singles than many winners.
Former M-People front-woman Heather Small rounded off the weekend with a tremendous set and performance which was only soured by reminding the audience “Moving On Up” was released 30 years ago. Her vocals are still spot on and on this evidence and back-catalogue, I wouldn’t be surprised to see her deservedly take the coveted Glastonbury legends slot next year.
Activities
In true summer festival spirit The Brit Fest wasn’t all music. Yoga workshops and reflexology foot massages were on offer for those looking to relax. And for those seeking more of an adrenalin rush there was a stunt tower allowing anyone from about the age of six upwards to jump from a six metre tower onto a huge airbag.
Altrincham based ice hockey team Manchester Storm had a fun set up allowing people to shoot pucks at an electronic wall against the clock. We also watched the Extreme Bike Show with BMX riders performing tricks up and over ramps and had fun in the solar powered Sol Cinema walking the red carpet before watching a short movie in the eight seater vintage caravan.
There was a much larger screen inside a bean bag filled tent that was meant to be showing children’s films but the sporting events of the weekend took over making it standing room only for the England Euros quarter final, Wimbledon and the British Grand Prix, but I guess it was to be expected at a Brit Fest.
John Collins Funfair
A large funfair filled what seemed like a field-and-a-half with great rides and fairground attractions which operated all weekend. The Ghost Train had an airhorn that seemed louder than anything coming out of the speakers on the main stage, the Fun House worked for little kids and adults who were also allowed to go down the twisty slide (or at least, no-one said I couldn’t, so I did). The non-musical highlight of the weekend for my son was slamming me into the sidings on the dodgem ride.
Artisan Markets
The Brit Fest boasted lots of stalls selling sweet treats, cheeses and gin as well as the usual festival bucket hat and clothing traders. Unfortunately for them, the layout of the festival site meant their stalls were in an area that wouldn’t get passing trade so it never felt as lively as it could have. No doubt this will be rectified next year because there were many interesting wares on display from local merchants.
Food and drink
For anyone wanting to stick to the British theme for the entire weekend there were fish and chips on offer and hot buttered crumpets but even though the music is British based, the food stalls offered a great variety of tasty food from all over the globe. From posh hot dogs and buttermilk chicken burgers to noodles, gyros and paella, there was lots of amazing looking and tasting food on offer. The meals we had from Big Mouth Gyoza and Grills & Chills were particularly outstanding. Unlike at some more established festivals where it can take up to an hour to get food or be served at the bar, there were no such problems here when the only time there seemed to be a queue of 15 minutes was for coffees and hot chocolates when the sun went down. The bars serving beer, cider and cocktails never seemed to have any queues worthy of the name.
Ambience
It was all very civilised with no flying pints glasses of any liquid and there were no signs of any aggravation or any edge to the atmosphere at all. The majority of people were placing their rubbish in the bins and the remainder was being quickly collected by the many litter pickers. It is likely to be the quickest clean up after any pop music festival. It was a very family friendly festival seeing random children using jumpers for goalposts and going off playing a huge game of football and making new friends. The only time I saw teenagers attempting to hit anything was when they were lashing out to pop the enormous bubbles from Sam Sam Bubble Man. Considering Altrincham is so close to Manchester the difference between a Cheshire festival and a Manchester festival was never as stark as when “Don’t Look Back in Anger” played over the sound system and there wasn’t a mass sing-a-long.
It is clear from my own experience and from overhearing many people when heading out of the festival that everyone had a great time on each of the three days. From the friendly security staff to the sound, lighting and production teams the festival was very well managed. For many, the music, the dancing, the space, the food and the fun will stay long in the memory and hopefully they will all be eager to do it all again at Brit Fest 2025. I know I will.
Reece Donlan
Steve Timms
Carmel Thomason