Posted on Tuesday 24th November 2020 at 10:53
Since this year's festival season was a bit of a non-starter, we're filling the gap by daydreaming of our perfect festivals. So in this series, we're asking some of our friends to plan their ultimate festival, from line-up and location to food and drink!
Next up, DHP Family's Procurement Officer Ben Dudley talks us through what would be his Dream Festival!
Would you go to Ben's festival? Let us know on our socials!
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LINEUP
The Killers
Easy pick for my first choice. The ultimate festival headliner of the 21st century. 2019's Pyramid Stage set at Glastonbury showcased a band at the top of their game after 15+ years. Brandon Flowers' stage presence, vocals and song writing has aged like a fine wine as he takes The Killers to new levels on each tour. Their latest album ‘Imploding The Mirage’ may be their best yet with massive stadium filling anthems. Hopefully the summer of 2021 will see them return to the live stage with UK and European dates planned.
IDLES
I first saw Idles in a tiny upstairs room at The Venue in Derby in 2017. Since then they've gone on to become one of the biggest and most important bands in the UK music scene. Their music and live shows promote a sense of belonging and unity and mosh pits are places for people to come together and forget how shit the world is! Any festival line-up is better for having them on it.
Skinny Lister
The perfect band to be watching late afternoon when you're in need of a pick me up if you’ve been nursing a hangover. I'd be lying if I said I'd ever seen Skinny Lister sober, which is the best way to watch them, not because the music is bad but because they're a great drinking band! When the band pass round the flagon filled with mystery booze and start up John Kanaka, there is no place I'd rather be!
Death Cab For Cutie
I am a huge fan of DCFC, for me Ben Gibbard is one of the 21st century's best lyricists. His ‘Live From Home’ shows were a God send at the start of lockdown v1.0. Their 2003 release, Transatlanticism is one of my favourite albums ever. The emotion they capture on their albums is perfectly replicated in their live shows. Watching a lot of their songs live is a weird experience from any other show, as a packed-out room stands in silence in awe of these masters of their craft.
Foreignfox
The best way to describe one of my favourite music genres would be 'moody Scottish men with beards feat. heavy guitars.’ Frightened Rabbit, The Twilight Sad and Fatherson to name a few fit this description. One of my favourite discoveries this year has been Foreignfox, who fall perfectly into this genre. Last year’s single release 'Birthday Flowers' was my first introduction to them and since this I've been eagerly anticipating what they'll put out next. Their latest two singles, Exit Frame and Fractions are full of dark lyrics and loud guitars. Hopefully 2021 will be the year to catch them performing live.
LOCATION
It has to be Upcote Farm in Cheltenham, the home of 2000 Trees. My first time at Trees was in 2014. A mate and I went purely because it was the closest festival to where we lived (when you live in Ledbury your options are slim pickings!). Everything about the first year was perfect and we've been back every year since. The people, atmosphere and music make this my favourite festival around. Its stayed loyal to what makes it so special over the years and continues to grow in popularity as a result. Hopefully we'll see it return triumphantly in 2021!
FOOD & DRINK
Apologies for not remembering the name of the company but whoever makes the breakfast burritos at 2000 Trees were sent from the heavens. Who knew the cure to a hangover was guacamole combined with sausage, eggs and all the other good shit that goes into them. I can happily live off these for the entire festival.
As for drink, you can’t go wrong with a cold pint of cider on a hot summers day. As a Hereford boy I'll have to go local with a pint of Mortimer’s Orchard from Westons Cider. Perfection!
