That festival that puts a smile on everyone’s face is celebrating its seventh birthday in one week.
With no Glastonbury festival to light up June and with all the rain that’s been falling, the beginning of the summer has felt like a bit of a non-starter, but the weatherman has some good news because the Somerset sun will be returning next Tuesday. The clouds will be clearing and the temperature rising just in time for the solstice and the festival, so there’s every excuse in the book to head from the lush green, organic fields of Gilcombe farm and Sunrise Celebration festival 2012.
From students to families, and music lovers to food lovers Sunrise has something for everyone and that’s what makes it unique!
Many students will be finishing their exams just in time to celebrate the end of those long hours studying with a nonstop four-day party. A perfect way to spend a night at Sunrise would be to start at the outdoor main stage, then head for ChaiWallahs, move on to Solar Dance stage and finish with dawn and a chai at the Eartheart Chill.
The visually stunning outdoor main stage will have music of the highest quality from the likes of The Imagined Village, Sheelanagig and The Egg, which will be interspersed with death defying circus and carnival acts to gasp and wonder at.
Chai Wallahs have been providing the festival’s indoor main stage since 2008, offering an eclectic program of reggae, dance, folk, and everything in between. Described by PRS, ‘M Magazine’ as ‘The stage that showcases the best in up-and-coming bands and really knows how to throw a party”, their highlights for Sunrise 2012 include Gabby Young and Other Animals, and Joe Driscoll and Sekou Kouyate, with both groups having brand new albums to showcase at the festival.
The Solar Dance stage will be pumping out some great beats and a myriad of dance music. Gaudi, Master Blasters and Benji Vaughan (Younger Brother/ Twisted Records), will be some of the DJs keeping everyone dancing through the night.
If those exam years have passed in a haze of sunshine and the kid years have arrived in a haze of nappies and soft kisses. Then Sunrise, winner of the Green Parent, best festival award 2 years running is also the place to be next weekend! With an expanded kids area for 2012 that includes a giant Helter Skelter and enough to keep toddlers to teens happy, entertained and educated.
If neither A’levels or kids are the focus then relax and listen to some awe-inspiring talks on all things about green living at the Green Talks Dome with ‘Extreme Pilgrim’ Peter Owen Jones and 1 Giant Leap’s Jamie Catto to spirited performances from The Lani Singers of West Papua and Sheikh Ahmad Dede’s Sufi whirling dervishes…..or learn how to make a self-build eco home at the tin Village….or shop for and eat all things eastern in the Goan market…grab a pint of local cider and some hog roast and watch England in the UEFA, followed by the dancing girls at the Wild South West Saloon bar….or come to the Bollywood Ball at Pussyfoot on Saturday….Phew! There is a lot on offer at Sunrise this year!
Published on 15 June 2012 by Wayne Feltham
