Deemed as one of UK's best value, family friendly festivals, APP-FEST 2024 saw a mix of well known names, '80's legends and some of the best tribute acts in the country sprinkled with new up and coming talent to offer something to everyone in a field in Gloucestershire. Lucky for me it was only a mile down the road from my house so I could trot home each night to recharge the camera batteries and download the pictures.
With about 4,500 punters attending, there was ample parking and a great campsite full of camper van's caravans and tents. The weather was scorching for most of the weekend, apart from a 40 minute thunderstorm just before the Boomtown Rats so no soggy tents and muddy puddles.
The facilities on site were excellent with a wide range of food and drink at reasonable prices and the toilets were astoundingly clean all weekend. The site was made up of 2 stages, a large outside main stage and a tented second stage and bar.
App-Fest UK originated in 2008, under the original name; Farmers Arms Apperley Festival. The Farmers Arms, located in a small rural village near Tewkesbury, where the event ran in the pub’s large gardens and adjacent farmer’s fields for over 10 years. During the first few years of Farmers Arms Apperley Festival, it was suggested by locals from the village to rename the festival App-Fest. This was where the charity, community festival was born.
Daniel Pardoe, festival director and the App-Fest team envisaged the festival as a way to bring together the local communities and raise money for local and national charities through our love of great music. Over the years, the event has raised money and awareness for many charities including Winston’s Wish, Cancer Research, Help For Heroes, Air Ambulance and many more. After 10 very successful years of growing, a difficult decision had to be made to relocate the festival to a new venue that could support the numbers and continue to benefit the local communities and charity partners.
After two years of postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, App-Fest returned to the new venue in 2022, increasing from a 2-day to a 4-day festival allowing for an even larger line-up than ever imagined! Regarded as the UK’s most family-friendly festival, with circus skills, a funfair, and lots more for people of all ages to get involved with and enjoy!
2024's line up was the best yet. Headlining the mainstage on Thursday were the Boomtown Rats. Thankfully the rain stopped before they took to the stage and Sir Bob Geldof, belying his 72 years, bounced around the stage and belted out classics from the late 70's / early 80's. Earlier in the day we had seen the wonderful Gabriella Cilmi and Dan Budd's Robbie Williams tribute gracing the main stage. Millie Mason opened the second stage and this Cardiff based 16 year old had an amazing voice and a lovely rapport with the crowd. Caitlin McCarthy, a 19 year old singer songwriter was first up on the main stage and really got things going with a bang, she has an incredible voice. The day also saw Nathan Evans, Gipsy Kiss, Vince Freeman, Kara Marni, Kezia and Emily Lockett.
Day 2 had Scouting for Girls healining and bringing the house down with an amazing performance. App-Fest favourite Chesney Hawkes got the afternoon crowd moving and even got to serenade a newly married couple who decided to have their reception at the festival. Rebecca Ferguson (X Factor) belted out her tunes (through a few sound and dress issues) in a resplendent flowery dress and Wakefields Skinny living put on a fantastic show. One Step Beyond, masters of Madness, got the day moving and the day was just packed with one great band after another; Oasish (Oasis Tribute), Flora Fiora, Caitlin Maria, Roving Crows, Amy Moore, Tivertons and the brilliant Captains Beard. And just when you thought it was time to go to bed (it was 23:10!) the ShowHawk Duo brought out their gutiars and thrilled the crowd playing old school trance classics and modern funky house...... with 2 acoustic guitars. Incredible.
Day 3 just got better still, after a few 'technical issues' U2UK opened up the day on the manage stage with so classic, umm U2, while Alex Lipinski and the Crown Electric welcomed Saturdays punters to the tent with a really cracking performance. The very talented Connie Talbot continued the day on the main stage followed by Jaime Grey, the brilliant Leylines and Callum Beattie. Lianne Kaye was a revelation on the second stage, an incredible voice and promise of a rockier edge when the whole band is behind her. DJ Sparky kept the energy up and the tunes flowing in between the bands. Each break between bands had a different theme and kept the atmosphere bouncing. Florence Jack played 'all' of the instruments, bass, guitar and keyboard as well as singing, very talented. Nahli closed the night in the tent but Feeder rocked the main stage deep into the night with an incredible set.
The last day, was deemed 'Heritage Day' a didn't disappoint. Millie Mason played another cracking acoustic set to kick things off in the tent before performances by Jess Chivers and Faith Louise. The One and Only Adele set the tone with a fabulous set on the main stage. The Korgis headlined the second stage in their 50th year of being together. Throughout the day and night we had Fleetwood Bac, David Bowie, Talon (best of The Eagles), Abba Angels, the amazing Gordon Hendricks as Elvis, Rob Lamberti as George Michael, BonJovi UK and the night ending brilliantly with Nik Kershaw and Katrina (without the Waves) 'walking on sunshine' until bedtime.
It was my first time visiting App-Fest in Gloucestershire and it was a great experience. The music offered something for everyone and the old and young amongst the crowd had plenty to bop along to for the 4 days. The food was varied and great quality, the queues were short for everything and the toilets nearly as clean as those at home. There were plenty of seats to sit if you wished and the glorious sunshine just added to the mood. Did I mention there were lots of dogs as well? And a fun fair. And circus skills and stalls. It had it all.
A wonderful weekend spent in a field. Don't believe me? get your tickets for next year while they are cheap.... https://app-fest.gigantic.com/app-fest-tickets
