In 2006, a small group of friends native to Somerset made the decision to host an intimate, cost-effective festival for their friends as an alternative to the events dominating the English Summer. Farmfestival's subsequent success has seen attendances grow organically through word of mouth, from an initial 400 to its capped 4000 capacity.
Year after year, loyal followers and newbies alike make their way down to its countryside home at Gilcombe Farm, Bruton, for the promise of wallet-friendly good times and acts on the cusp of stardom, acts such as Friendly Fires, Egyptian Hip Hop and Man Like Me who have all played previously.
The festival remains adamantly sponsor-free, the lo-fi DIY aesthetic combining with the genre-busting music policy to create a unique atmosphere. Previously quoted as one of the UK's best-kept festival secrets (Dj Vadim / Venue Mag), the cat is slowly being let out of the bag.
The festival celebrates its surroundings with the best local fare and organic Somerset ciders and ales. Families and kids are well catered for with their own camping space and plenty of activities to keep the little ones busy, including Punch and Judy, magic shows, kids assault course, bouncy castle, crazy golf and the ever-popular arts and crafts tent. This year we will also be screening the opening weekend of the Olympics for those keen to watch the sports, and for those who want to take part, we'll be hosting the inaugural Farm festival Farm Olympics, which everyone can get involved in. No qualifying times needed!
With profits donated to charities Practical Action, Somerset and Dorset Air Ambulance and The British Stammering Association, you can't say fairer than that.
Oh, and don't forget to wear a hat, it's compulsory (and the best hats gets free tickets to next year's festival!).
For tickets to this year's event just go here - hurry before they sell out!
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