On it’s seventh birthday, the Secret Garden Party pulled out all the stops to entertain the uninitiated and reward those returning for another four days of outlandish costumes, quality music and good old-fashioned hedonistic fun.
With its theme of Babylon and Eden, and ticket-buyers assigned to one of two opposing tribes, the festival stated its intent to explore both aspects of the psyche in an attempt to find balance between the decadence of the Babylonians and the earthly peace of the Edenites. Sociological experiments aside, the organisers know the split-tribe aesthetic only goes to make the mud wrestling that little bit more gripping and the dance-offs a thing of bizarre beauty.
The festival site, set in a lush corner of Cambridgeshire, is one big playground for adults and kids alike (those adults bringing kids will likely be answering a lot of questions in the car home such as: “What was the man dressed as a giant willy putting in his nose just before he rode the tricycle into the lake?”.
Everywhere you turn there are things to see and do, from medieval duelling in full chain mail (and exaggerated beards), gypsy bands performing suspended from trees, and tea rooms staffed entirely by young men dressed as old ladies (complete with 24-hour Monty Python-esque comedy voices).
If it all gets too much, simply climb into the “land of soft things” enclosure, a 10m square ode to acid, where the most angular object you’ll find is a pillow. Emphasis really is on fun and interactivity and with just 6000 people spread over the beautiful site, it’s easy to get involved in whatever takes your fancy. This year’s festival was a decidedly damp affair, but the sloping camp grounds meant the site never became boggy and it was easy to forget the drizzle as you danced to reggae and drunk brandy tea in the Chai Wallah tent.
Dance music devotees were well catered for with storming sets from Evil Nine and Hexstatic while Adam Freeland’s otherwise immaculate live performance on Friday highlighted the one complaint from the festival – night-time sound restrictions seemed to be a little over-zealous – this would never have happened in Babylon!
All in all, an amazing weekend of interactive fun, friendship, sweet music, sporadic sun and constant reminders that it’s more fun to wear chain mail and a feather boa than a suit and tie.
With good food, clean toilets, friendly staff, great music and an unrivalled dedication to fun and laughter, unless Bestival can get Jacko to play, the Secret Garden deserves to retain the Best Small Festival award it rightfully gained in 2008.
Words and Photography by Ian Greenland
