Whilst it is only March, the countdown to festival season has well and truly already begun. By now, lineup investigation has firmly become part of library procrastination, and visions of hay fever tears sparkling in the sun haunt dreams.
Truly, there is no better place to spend part of your summer than at Barn on the Farm. A festival nestled in the Glouster countryside, Barn specialises in showcasing the best up and coming artists to guests and onlooking ostriches alike. Soon to be a decade old, the festival has grown significantly since its inception by Josh Sander (now holding three barns to its name), but it still holds the values of a musical community at its heart.
Heading up Saturday comes Brits Critic’s Choice award winner Sam Fender, whose politically infused guitar tunes infect you with an infatuation you just can’t shake. Newly-released ‘Hypersonic Missiles’, a banger which takes its name from newly developed Russian missiles, is sure to get you moving despite the seemingly serious inspiration.
Fender’s headlining partner in crime, closing the festival on the Sunday, is the America’s sweetheart Maggie Rogers. Having just released a stand out debut and smashed a sold-out UK tour, Roger’s dancing cowboy boots and heart jolting love songs will surely provide the perfect cathartic end to the weekend weekend.
Providing a special tenth anniversary performance is the unstoppable Lewis Capaldi. The last two years has been incredible for this Scottish singer; he’s pole danced in a strip club for a music video, made it to number one in the UK charts, and has bruised even the most guarded of hearts with his charity single ‘Someone You Loved’.
The rest of the line-up is peppered with artists just waiting to take the crown as your new favourite artist. Grace Carter’s soulful melodies are perfectly juxtapositioned with Easy Life’s popping electronic indie pop and Sam Johnson’s sunny folk, so there’s something for every music lover. Moreover, members of the Barn family are making their way back to the fields of gold, including indie-pop outfit Flyte, York natives Howl and the Hum, and Lauren Aquilana (who first played Barn way back in 2013, as can be seen here in this timeless collaborative cover).
Barn on the Farm is a musical oasis. It’s a place where you wouldn’t be surprised to see bands creating an impromptu music circle in the grass between stages, or an invisible sports game to begin quite literally from thin air. It’s no surprise that it won the award for Best Grassroots Festival Award at the UK Festival Awards 2018, but don’t just take my word for it- come along on the 4th to 7th July and meet me in the farm shop picking my own strawberries before long days of exquisite music.
Tickets available here: link