Beginner’s Guide to Beat-Herder
Hidden deep in Lancashire’s Ribble Valley is a well-kept northern secret. Having previously attracted the likes of Chic, Jimmy Cliff, Happy Mondays and Basement Jaxx, Beat-Herder is a relatively small-scale festival boasting big lineups. This year looks to be no different as music fans of all stripes gather for a weekend of beat driven fun!
What’s On
The organisers have shepherded a broad range of artists onto this year’s bill and the diverse lineup has something for everyone; rock, house, hip-hop, electro, reggae, indie, jungle to name but a few…
This year’s top picks includes German electro pop duo Digitalism, Scottish rockers Primal Scream and Swedish indie outfit Miike Snow. Chronixx, rising star of Jamaican reggae, will be bringing the sounds of the Caribbean t’ Lancashire. Other reggae-influenced acts performing are Easy Star All Stars, as well as the UK’s own Dub Pistols and Gentleman’s Dub Club. Local icon Mr Scruff will be bringing his energetic brand of jazz-infused dance music. The likes of Claude Vonstroke, Andhim and Derrick Carter are some big names from the lineup’s strong house/techno contingent. General Levy and Deekline will be bringing the best in jungle.
One of the festival’s biggest assets is its setting with the organisers having gone to great lengths to create fantastic backdrops to artists’ performances. As well as the large main stage, ‘The Fortress’ is the fire-spitting raver’s courtyard of a corrugated steel castle, and ‘Toil Trees’ will house in-forest performances and ‘The Beat Herder & District Working Mens Social Club’ will provide a refuge for those sick of thumping basslines.
For full details of the lineup, visit http://beatherder.co.uk/line-u p.
Tickets, Travel and What to Bring
The festival takes place 15th-17th July. Adult weekend tickets currently cost £144.70, rising to £158. ‘Is this a family festival? No, this is a music festival!’ exclaims the website, however tickets are available for young festival goers keen for a glimpse into the adult world of getting inebriated in a field. Those aged 13 to 17 pay £90.40 and 12 and unders pay £27.50. There is a dedicated children’s area. Day tickets are not available – but would you really turn the chance of summertime camping in the north of England? Beat-Herder benefits from its location; it is a very manageable journey from Manchester and is also not far from Leeds and Sheffield. Despite its proximity to several major cities it is set beautifully in the Lancashire countryside and still feels remote.
The festival organisers recommend taking to Facebook to find/offer lift shares, but there is also a bus running from Preston to Skipton (X80 service) that passes the festival gates.
Keep your eyes peeled for the release of this year’s fancy dress theme!
For further information, see the festival’s FAQ page.
Tom Horton