Secret Garden Party - The Countdown!
The secret’s out; SGP is back for one final fling and it’s a party you don’t want to miss!
Ever fancied yourself as a gardener? Are you gifted with green fingers and enjoy nothing more than giving your flower beds a good pruning on a Saturday afternoon? I thought not, but never fear. There is a different type of gardening taking place this summer, and it’s something you definitely want to be involved in, for more reasons than one (gloves and trowel not necessary).
That’s right, Secret Garden Party is returning to Cambridgeshire this year from 20th -23rd July for its final curtain call. The annual independent arts and music festival is back with a bang (and a banging lineup to match), and I’m not leading you down the garden path when I say that this festival is consistently one of the best of the summer, so this year will certainly not disappoint.
All good things must come to an end
As sad as it may be, the saying goes that what goes up must come down, and regrettably SGP is no exception. The festival has had a triumphant run since it opened in 2004 and has been a solid summer staple ever since, blossoming from a one-stage event of 1000 people to holding more than 15 stages and welcoming over 26,000 people. So, the organisers have (quite rightly) decided to end on a high and have confirmed that 2017 will be SGP’s final year. But it’s not all doom and gloom, as this year’s SGP is guaranteed to be an unforgettable party (that’s right, not festival, PARTY) giving the event the memorable send-off it deserves.
What’s On?
Like a rose amongst thorns, Secret Garden Party is so much more than your mainstream music festival (* cue M&S advert voice). It provides an appreciated alternative to the established, conventional festival, offering a wider array of genres including rock, electronic, reggae, folk, dance, house and alternative genres, and with this year’s lineup, the final SGP is looking like a true bed of roses (expect many more garden related puns throughout). The main stage is aptly named The Great Stage, and is home to the main headliners of SGP, including electronic music group Metronomy, London born electro-folk band Crystal Fighters and Jamaican ska group Toots and the Maytals. Alternatively, if you’re a budding Simon Cowell (hopefully minus the high waisted trousers) and love to dig out the big names of tomorrow and claim them for yourself before they shoot to stardom, head over to Where the Wild Things are to be amazed by up and coming musicians like French singer-songwriter Jain, English rapper Akala and dance/electronic musician Bonzai. Get to know these faces and their incredible music before everyone else, and you can say that you’ve already seen them live (before their tickets triple in price!).
Those who are willing to make the leap across the water into the unknown will (hopefully) find themselves at The Lake Stage, which is one of the most celebrated of the entire “party”. Performing here are none other than DJing duo Sexy Kitchen Party (who are literally chef apparel wearing DJs armed with kitchen utensils and the occasional Ainsley Harriot mask. I know, right?). Just a stone’s throw away from the Lake Stage is The Pagoda, which SGP organisers themselves describe as one of the most niche stages in the world, with its very own dancefloor where every gardener is welcome to get down and funky to eclectic mix of music on offer, including offerings from EDM duo Dusky who are renowned for having everyone getting up to get down.
However, what will quite possibly be the highlight of the whole weekend, or “the life of the party”, will be what goes down at The Coliseum, SGP’s very own “hay bale constructed castle of chaos” which serves to entertain with games and challenges by day, but by night is home to megastar DJs, so if EDM is your thing then this is the only place to be. With sets from the likes of Majestic, Nero and Sub Focus, this stage and its performers will ensure that SGP goes out with a bang.
Remember, the grass is always greener on the other side, and in this case that side happens to be the grounds of SGP. So, if you’re looking for something unforgettable to do this summer and feel like SGP could be the place for you, you can grab your tickets from http://www.theticketsellers.co .uk/tickets/secret-garden-part y-2017/10041476 but be quick as they are selling fast: it’s your last chance after all, so get gardening!
Elise Harvey